Powell aiming for the worlds

IAN POWELL has his sights on the World Championships after finishing third in the 200m butterfly final at the British Gas Swimming Championships earlier this week.

The 23-year-old Sarnian Commonwealth Games star, who is based at Florida State University in Tallahassee, finished behind Great Britain swimmer Michael Rock, who won the race, and second-placed Joseph Roebuck.

To book his place on the plane to Rome for the World Championships at the end of July representing Great Britain, Powell now has to set a time quicker than Roebuck as the top two swimmers automatically make the grade.

'It's another three months away and it'd be another couple of weeks of hard work,' he said.

'But I've put myself in a good position. It will be tough to knock another second off, but I think I've got a good chance of doing it.'

If Powell fails in his quest, he has the World University Games to fall back on which is being held in Belgrade, Serbia, at the beginning of July.

His time of 1min. 58.66sec., which is a personal best, ensures that he qualifies for the 200m butterfly.

Powell will compete at June's Scottish Nationals to try and beat Roebuck to reach the Worlds and to make sure that he is good enough for the World University Games.

'I'll definitely have to go to the Scottish Nationals,' said Powell, who also reached the 100m butterfly final in Sheffield this week.

'That's where it will be decided to what competition I will be involved in. There's a very, very good chance I'll make some sort of team for Britain.'

However, competing in the Scottish Nationals means that Powell will not be able to represent Guernsey in the 2009 NatWest Island Games in Aland as they are taking place at the same time.

'It's looking that way,' said Powell.

'I'd like to do the Island Games, but I think I won't be able to.'