BOLTON Metro swimmer Emily Barclay is refusing to get downhearted after failing to set a new personal best at the 2016 British Swimming Championships in Glasgow.

Barclay finished in sixth place in the Target Tokyo final – a race designed to highlight potential stars at the Olympic Games in four years’ time – in the 50m freestyle.

She finished just 0.22 seconds behind the top spot in the heats for her age group, but failed to take that form into the final, touching the wall in a time of 26.37.

But while Barclay was inevitably frustrated with her performance, the 18-year-old remains confident she can turn up her speed heading into the summer’s meets.

“That was a pretty difficult race,” she said. “I died off in the last 10 metres but other than that it was really good.

“It was a bit off my personal best but I’m hoping to go faster at regionals and then at nationals.

“Of course I’m disappointed not to have been closer to my personal best, that is always going to be the case, but I know I can do better and with more sessions I can maybe get a title at the national championships.

“I’m going to bump up my swimming sessions and get in the gym a bit more over the next few weeks and then we’ll see what I can do.”

Meanwhile, team-mate James Oxborrow was left wanting more despite setting a personal best in the 100m freestyle.

A time of 52.36 seconds was not enough for the youngster in the first heat of the day to make the junior final at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre, but Oxborrow insists he is slowly getting back to his best after a couple of difficult seasons.

“I went out a bit too fast I think but it’s a new personal best, not as good as I’d hoped but at the end of the day I’m still happy,” he said.

“I couldn’t have given any more out there. The 100m is a bit long for me, I prefer the 50m, which I have later in the week, so I’m feeling really good for that and I think I can make the final.

“Training has been going well, I’ve been working harder than ever before.”

Oxborrow will take to the pool again on Saturday, when he competes in the 50m freestyle.

Tickets for the European Aquatics Championships – the biggest event to be held at the London Aquatics Centre since the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games – from May 9-22 are now available here: www.euroaquatics2016.london