CENTRAL Aquatic Swimming and Lifesaving Club’s two most promising juniors are pushing towards 2018 Commonwealth Games trials and hope to graduate into open division this year.
Swimmers Adrian Rogers (16) and Jacob Dearle (14) competed at the national championships in Queensland last month, where they recorded personal bests in the 100m and 200m freestyle.
Adrian finished sixth in the freestyle sprints while Jacob swam another personal best in the 100m backstroke.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWThe duo has been training for the short-course season.
Coach Wayne de Lacy said the experience that they gained help their bid to represent Australia.
“It is all about trying to get this sort of national, elite competition just to prepare them ready for hopefully stepping up to open nationals next year and hopefully the 2018 Commonwealth Games trials,” he said.
“Getting someone onto the national team is extremely hard…we’ve had one in Sally Hunter – she was on the team for 10 years.
“There are about 44 people on the national team out of 20 million people.”
He said other juniors have drawn inspiration from the two boys.
“It has given them a huge lift to the rest of the squad and the club,” he said.
“Hopefully we will have three or four kids qualify next year as well on top of these two.”
He said the club were likely going to send eight juniors to the South Australian Short Course State Championships in July before competing in the WA State Championships in August.