Scott strives for even better after winning 200m freestyle

THERE are plenty who would consider it a travesty if Duncan Scott is absent when the BBC Sports Personality of the Year reveals its long list of contenders next weekend.

Based on performances in 2018, there may be a debate over whether he or Adam Peaty merits the designation as British swimming’s No 1 and who is merely 1a.

Beyond doubt is that the 21-year-old European and Commonwealth titles this year have propelled him ever closer to the list of genuine alpha dogs.

Yet despite seven titles inside three days as the Scottish short-course championships concluded in Edinburgh last night, the double Olympic medallist remains arguably his own harshest critic. Pros and cons, perhaps. No leeway to relax, no faltering in chasing greater prizes still.

He ended almost two seconds clear of Craig McLean in winning the 200 metres freestyle but it was neither a domestic record nor the absolute performance he constantly seeks. “It wasn’t effortless,” he declared.

“My rate dropped a bit which was disappointing. But I know where I’m at now, where my skillset is, going into the long course. I feel I’m a bit further behind than some guys, in my dive and my turns. But generally, there’s things I can look at which is good and I can carry that into next season.”

Scott McLay, his training partner and, even now, Scott’s potential successor did claim a Scottish record to underline his growing stature. His time of 23.46 seconds broke Todd Cooper’s existing mark which had stood since 2003, holding off fellow teen tyro Jacob Peters for victory and a splash of history.

“I didn’t hold back,” McLay declared. “I know it would be tight with Jacob but I thought I’d go in and see what I could do but I was quite surprised when I popped my head up and saw the time.”

Former world junior champion Freya Anderson finished off a victory-filled meeting by surging from sixth to supremacy in the 200m freestyle final, barely 30 minutes after the 17-year-old had sustained a surprise loss to the University of Edinburgh’s Tain Bruce in the 50m butterfly.

For a while it looked like Lucy Hope had Anderson’s measure but the Englishwoman’s potency is one reason why she is ear-marked for greatness. “I quite like hunting people down but Lucy was going out so fast and I wasn’t expecting it,” she grinned. “But that felt quite nice. I had to fight a bit over the last 50m but I’ve felt good all week.”

Cassie Wild won the 100m backstroke in 58.72 seconds while Ross Murdoch earned a hat-trick of breaststroke titles with a triumph in the 200 metres with Craig Benson once again his vanquished foe.

‘‘ I feel I’m a bit further behind some guys in my dive and my turns