Fifer Dawson states strong case for Tokyo place in London trials

An observer from long distance of the Rio 2016 Olympics, Fife swimmer Kathleen Dawson had every reason to feel aggrieved.

The gold and bronze she won at the European Championships, just weeks before the Games, were adjudged too late to warrant a belated summons.

She did not wallow or let her spirits sink but instead set out to ensure there would be no unsatisfactory omission when Tokyo came around.

At the selection trials in London last night, the Kirkcaldy-born 23-yearold made her case beyond any reasonable doubt, claiming victory in the women’s 100m backstroke in a Scottish record of 58.24 seconds.

It was the secondquickest time in the world this year.

And the outcome was doubly joyous with her training partner at Stirling University, Cassie Wild, following her home in 59.51 seconds, inside the required time and all but ensuring both will be bound for Japan in July.

“I wasn’t expecting to go as fast as that but I’m delighted with it,” Dawson said.

“It has been a long time coming, especially as my first 59-second race was five years ago.

“I was a bit stagnant for a while but I’ve put the work in and it’s showing.”

Both can go to next month’s Europeans in Budapest with few stresses but one eye on plotting a path to the podium in Tokyo.

Molly Renshaw claimed outright ownership of the British record in the women’s 200m breaststroke by winning the trials in 2:20.89.

Double Olympic silver medallist James Guy effectively earned his Tokyo slot with victory in the 200m butterfly.

Stirling’s Craig Mcnally was fifth in the men’s 100m backstroke with Joe Litchfield edging Luke Greenbank by eighthundredths for first place.