Australia’s best set for Glasgow Swimming Trials in Brisbane

Australia’s best swimmers will converge on Brisbane in just over a week for the 2014 Australian Swimming Championships incorporating selection trials for 2014 Australian Commonwealth Games Team, Para Pan Pacs and Hancock Prospecting Pan Pacific Championships.

Close to 700 swimmers from across Australia, representing 182 clubs will be in action over the six days of competition at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre, Chandler from Tuesday 1 April to Sunday 6 April.

This year, Australia’s premier swim meet will double as a selection event for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the Para Pan Pacs in California and the Hancock Prospecting Pan Pacific Championships on the Gold Coast in August.

Reigning World Champions Cate Campbell, James Magnussen and Christian Sprenger have all entered their respective world title events and will be a tough trio to beat in Brisbane.

Campbell and Magnussen have stuck to their pet events, entering both the 50 and 100m freestyle while Sprenger will test his skills across the 50, 100 and 200m breaststroke events.

Five-time World Championship silver medallist, and five-time gold medallist at the last Commonwealth Games in Delhi Alicia Coutts, will once again look to demonstrate her dominance across a range of events, entering the 50 and 100m butterfly, the 100m freestyle and the 200m individual medley.

They will be joined by a host of their fellow World Championship representatives including Bronte Barratt, Jessica Ashwood, Cameron McEvoy, Jordan Harrisonand siblings David and Emma McKeon.

The Para Sport events which are also part of the Commonwealth Games program will see talented teenagers Maddison Elliott go head-to-head with Jacqui Freney in the women’s 100m freestyle, while Paralympic legend Matthew Cowdrey will have to overcome two of his gold medal winning relay teammates from the IPC World Championships in Brenden Hall and Rowan Crothers.

Swimming Australia National Head Coach Jacco Verhaeren said the Trials will showcase some of the best swimmers from across Australia.

“We have a good mix of emerging talent and experienced competitors entered, and I think that this will make for an exciting event and some strong times,” said Verhaeren.

“We’ve already seen some really good swimming in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney this year, and I’m looking forward to seeing which athletes are able to step up at Trials.”

“I know the swimmers are looking forward to racing and Australia has a great history of success at the Commonwealth Games and we want to continue that tradition, starting in Brisbane next month.”

Heats will start at 10.00am with finals from 6.30pm April 1-5 and 7:30pm on Sunday April 6.

Finals will also be broadcast live through Network Ten on ONE. Check local guides for details.

To purchase tickets click here

For more information on the event go to www.swimming.org.au

The post above is a press release provided to SwimSwam by Swimming Australia