FREESTYLE sprint ace James Clark will fulfil one of his lifetime goals next year when he competes at Commonwealth trials for the first time.

British Swimming released the qualification times for April’s British Championships on Tuesday with Clark's effort of 23.49 seconds in the 50m freestyle final at ASA Nationals this summer - enough for joint fourth on the day - dipping under the required mark of 24.29 seconds.

That means the 18-year-old former Swindon Dolphin flyer will take on Britain's top sprinters at Tollcross International Swimming Centre in Glasgow, the venue where medals will be decided at next summer's Commonwealth Games.

“I've aspired towards it for quite a long time and it's been a goal of mine,” said Clark.

“As soon as I came fourth I thought I had the time. Being fourth in England, you kind of expect to go to competitions.

“But there's always nerves of have you got it or have you not?

“So it was a relief to find out that I had.”

Clark began a sports science degree at the University of Bath last month which allows him to develop in the pool under the watchful eye of coach Mark Skimming, who has led multiple swimmers to the European Junior Championships including Trowbridge's Charlotte Barnes.

And Swindonian Clark, who joined Dolphin's Learn to Swim programme as a four-year-old, says he is prospering in his new environment.

“It's so different from a club-based programme but I'm settling in well,” he said.

“It's very professional and they have got a lot of technology down there which is great to use as well as a 50m pool.

“Mark Skimming is fantastic, he really knows what he's talking about when it comes to the technical aspects of swimming.”

Still in his teenage years, Clark is young in sprinting terms but it looks as if the 50m and 100m will be his specialties in the years to come, the events in which his fellow Swindonian Grant Turner - a Commonwealth silver medallist in 2009 - made his name.

Clark said: “I find it more enjoyable to do the 50m, but I'd love to be able to step up and do the 100m rather than just be a one-length dash guy, as it's a great event.

“At the moment I'd rather train for the 100m free because if I just trained for the 50m it would be impossible to step up, because you'd never have the back end.”