David Davies' bronze medal was one of the few GB successes in Athens

The 20-year-old, who was third in the 1500 metres in Athens, could only manage second place in the 400m.

David Carry won in three minutes 50.30 seconds but his personal best fell short of the 3:49.22 qualifying standard for Montreal this summer.

Davies clocked 3:52.35 - exactly two seconds off his personal best time.

Davies said: "It was hard work. I am missing that sharpness. I haven't raced for ages and it felt a bit heavy, a bit sluggish - I've lost the touch of racing."

My first reaction is to be really disappointed but it means I have to get things right for the weekend David Davies

Meanwhile, Kate Haywood laid down the gauntlet when she set a new British record in the women's 100m breaststroke semi-final.

Haywood destroyed the rest of the field to finish in 1:08.14, some way inside the required time for Montreal, but the qualification must be achieved in the final so she needs to replicate her performance in order to be selected.

Elsewhere, Commonwealth champion Sarah Price was the fastest qualifier for Thursday's final in the 100m backstroke with a time of 1:03.41.

Katy Sexton, second in the last World Championships in Barcelona, had the next fastest time of 1:03.55, while 14-year-old Elizabeth Simmonds was third-fastest qualifier.

Francesca Halsall, another 14-year-old, also impressed when she recorded the third-fastest time of 26.59 for the 50m freestyle with Olympian Lisa Chapman fastest in 26.10.

Ros Brett was fastest through in the 100m butterfly while 50m breastroke world champion James Gibson led the way in qualifying for his final with a time of 28.15.

World Championships bronze medallist Mark Foster qualified fourth-fastest for the 50m butterfly while Liam Tancock set the pace in the men's 100m backstroke.