Preparations for the 2015 FINA and IPC World Championships are heating up with the Dolphins set to descend on North Queensland this weekend for the second Grand Prix competition at the Long Tan Memorial Pool in Townsville, from Friday 19 June to Saturday 20 June.
Unlike the first Grand Prix in Canberra which mimicked a training program, this weekend will revert back to the regular heats and finals race schedule.
The Aussie Dolphins will also get the chance to race some quality international competitors with New Zealand, China and Korea also entering swimmers in the event this weekend.
Four-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Emma McKeon will take on the 100m butterfly as well as the 100, 200 and 400m freestyle events.
The 100m butterfly will be a battle for bragging rights as Mckeon goes head-to-head with an in form Madeline Groves and China’s Xinyi Chen while former Australian swim team member Alicia Coutts will also add some pressure to the event.
Rising star Mack Horton will have a tough weekend of racing, with entries in the 100, 200, 400 and 800m freestyle events. Horton will come up against experienced competitor Grant Hackett in the 100, 200 and 400m free with his regular rival David McKeon lining up for the 200, 400 and 800 free alongside him.
In the Multi Class events, Ellie Cole will test her race preparation when she faces young guns Maddison Elliott, Lakeisha Patterson and Taylor Corry in the 50m sprint freestyle.
While Daniel Fox and Blake Cochrane will go into their pet events, the 200m freestyle and 100m breaststroke respectively, as the ones to beat.
This weekend will be the final chance for the swimmers to race domestically before they depart for the IPC World Championships in Glasgow on June 30and the FINA World Championships in Kazan on July 18
The event is open to spectators with heats starting at 9:00am and finals from 4:00pm on Friday and Saturday.
Information and results will be available at http://www.swimming.org.au
Swimming news courtesy of Australian Dolphins Swim Team.
I swam there last week & the pool temp was 29′ & outside temp 20′ . (84f & 70f) ,. The attendant all rugged up greeted me with – ‘it is a little cold today .
One of the iconic Australian pools .First built in 1926 -$5 entry , bayside , a stroll away from cafes gelato shops , pubs , the ferry to Magnetic Island ,
Due to some of the above I don’t expect fast times but another sort of good times – yep .