Jenny Cowen insists that missing out on the Olympics in London will only give her more determination to make it next time round.

The 21-year-old diver from Cross Roads, near Keighley, was an outside bet for inclusion in this summer’s showpiece but was among the early leading contenders at qualifying last weekend.

With two Great Britain spots up for grabs in the ten-metre platform, Cowen was third at the preliminary stage of her event during the British Gas Diving Championships at Ponds Forge in Sheffield.

She produced a personal best in finishing with 343.85 points after a noteworthy reverse two-and-a-half somersaults and an inward three-and-a-half somersaults. But the City of Leeds competitor was unable to reproduce that form in the final and slipped back to seventh with 268.00 points.

Stacie Powell won the ten-metre platform crown by setting a new British record with a score of 376.05. Tonia Couch (361.30) and Monique Gladding (359.30) also recorded personal bests in finishing second and third respectively.

Cowen, a former Parkside School pupil, said: “I was thrilled with getting a PB in the preliminaries.

“Everyone was saying it was one of the best women’s high-board national finals they’d seen in a long time. It’s a just a shame I couldn’t follow up what I’d done earlier on.

“After coming so close this time, I’m determined to go away and work on things and hopefully I’ll qualify next time.

“I’m still young and it was always my and my coach’s aim to target Rio in 2016. I will also be aiming for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow in 2014.”

Five of Cowen’s City of Leeds club mates – Rebecca Gallantree, Sarah Barrow, Jack Laugher, Hannah Starling and Alicia Blagg – have been selected for London 2012.

“It’s great for the club and I’ll be going along with my parents to cheer them on,” said Cowen.

Haworth’s Chloe Hurd was also in action at the Sheffield event and made the final of the women’s three-metre springboard, finishing eighth with 234.45 points having come sixth in the preliminaries with 266.00.