Louis Persent has still not given up hope of competing at this summer’s Olympic Games.

The Colchester Harriers runner suffered disappointed at the Trials in Birmingham, last weekend.

Persent narrowly failed to make the men’s 400 metres final, despite finishing second in his heat after clocking a time of 46.39 seconds.

But the 21-year-old is still optimistic he can record the required A standard time this weekend, when he competes at an international meet in Nottwil, Switzerland.

Persent said: “I’m going to give it one last shot on Saturday.

“In a sense, I’m still in the same situation as I was before the trials.

“The final in Birmingham wasn’t very quick and the times weren’t particularly good.

“The weather will be good in Switzerland and it gives me another chance to get what I want.

“It was very disappointing not to get the time in Birmingham but I still have a week now to stay positive and prepare for Switzerland.”

For more on this story, see Tuesday's Gazette.