POOLE’S Dan Speers doubled his programme for next month’s Olympic trials as he slashed 0.4 seconds off his personal best time for the 100m freestyle at Millfield.

At 14, he will be the one of the youngest male swimmers at the first swimming event to be held in the London Aquatics Centre.

Speers, who should be at his peak for the 2020 Olympics, was already qualified to help christen the Olympic pool in the 200m breaststroke in which he is the quickest 14-year-old in Britain.

Now he can add the 100m freestyle to his plans after lowering his long-course PB to 54.41sec at the ASA Zonal Meet featuring top swimmers from the South, South West and London regions.

The time earned him a bronze medal in the 16/u final behind Windsor’s Oliver Leonard and George Wilson of Staines, both of whom are more than two years his senior.

In fact he was the only 14-year-old in the first six at Millfield and is now ranked third in Britain in that event, two places higher than after his gold-winning swim at Cardiff a week earlier.

Speers was out of luck in the 100m breaststroke, however – he was disqualified for two dolphin kicks underwater.

Another trials qualifier, 13-year-old Jessie Foster, led a one-two for Seagulls as she won the 14/u 100m breaststroke in 1:13.98 from fellow Bournemouth Collegiate School swim academy member Beth Aitchison, 14, who collected the silver medal in 1:15.49.

Foster, a finalist in last year’s European Youth Olympics, went on to win gold in the 14/u 200m breaststroke by 1.41sec in 2:40.14 and bronze in the 200m medley (2:28.19).

Swim Bournemouth’s Jack Burton and Poole’s Jasmine Holmes each won a silver medal at Millfield.

Burton, 15, who is also heading for the Olympic trials, came second in the 16/u 200m breaststroke in 2:29.57 and fifth in the 100m final in 1:10.07.

Holmes, 12, came second against mostly older swimmers in the 14/u 200m freestyle in 2:13.36.

Poole’s Fiona Hardie, 18, added a seventh event to her programme for the National Youth Championships in July as she recorded 2:23.98 in the heats of the 200m backstroke.

She also won bronze in both the 15/o 200m medley (2:23.50) and the 50m freestyle in an improved national time of 27.07.

Junior team-mate Maddy Kemp, 13, came within 0.2sec of qualifying for the Olympic trials as she came fifth in the 14/u 100m butterfly in 1:06.76.

“She miscalculated her finish and had to glide into the wall,” said Poole coach Robin Armayan.

“But she is going to Sheffield this weekend to try and get the time.”

Swim Bournemouth’s Lucy Kirkham went under 28 seconds for the second time in as many weeks as she recorded 27.97 in the heats of the 15/o 50m freestyle. She swam fractionally slower in the final, placing seventh in 28.02.

Poole’s Naomi Vides, recovering from illness, came sixth in the 15/o 100m breaststroke final.

Six East Dorset swimmers have qualified to swim in the Olympic trials at the London Aquatics Centre from March 3-10.

Several others are hoping to add their names at this weekend’s Derventio open meet in Sheffield, the last competition before entries to the trials close next week.

Swim Bournemouth’s Adrian Todd is hoping to gain a wildcard entry as a Botswana international.

Olympic trials qualifiers – Poole SC: Dan Speers 100m freestyle, 200m breaststroke; Naomi Vides, 100m & 200m breaststroke; Noah Vides 100m breaststroke.

Swim Bournemouth: Jack Burton 100m & 200m breaststroke.

Seagulls: Jessie Foster 100m & 200m breaststroke; Alice Tai multi-disability events including 50m, 100m & 400m freestyle, 100m backstroke.

Bath ITC: Amelia Maughan (formerly Bournemouth Dolphins) 50m, 100m, 200m & 400m freestyle.

Competing this weekend – Poole: Fiona Hardie (50m freestyle, 200m medley); Maddy Kemp (50m freestyle, 100m butterfly); Jasmine Holmes (100m & 200m freestyle).

Bournemouth Collegiate School: Coach and former GB international Zoe Baker (100m breaststroke).