Powell not prepared to concede defeat quite yet

Saturday 12th March 2011, 2:29PM GMT.

IAN POWELL admits he faces an uphill struggle to reach this summer’s World Championships in Shanghai after missing out on the 100m butterfly final at the British Gas Swimming Championships in Manchester.

Powell (pictured) needed a top eight finish to reach the medal showdown of his final event of the week to stand any chance of booking a trip to the worlds at the first time of asking.

The former Millfield School pupil could manage only 12th overall in a time of 55.44 seconds as Commonwealth silver medallist Michael Rock led the way in 52.88sec.

Powell could yet have one last chance to secure a spot in China at the National Championships in June, but admits the odds are lengthening on him boarding the British plane this summer.