Seven Ararat swimmers will compete at the inter-district championships in Melbourne on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Eloise Wills, Deacon and Chase Briggs, Billie, Ivana and Marcus Donnan, Cooper Sutherland, and Jodan Grant will represent district 12 at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
Competitors had to swim faster than the qualifying time during the Wimmera season to be eligible for the meet.
Ararat Swimming Club coach Jo Donnan said she is confident the squad will compete well.
“It will be pretty hard against the likes of Traralgon who are a strong team and win a lot of the races usually,” she said.
“But they should go well.”
The meet will be Chase Briggs’ first time competing but his brother Deacon has been there before.
Their mother Jenny Briggs said it was about enjoyment, just as much as results, at this age.
"I think they will do great, regardless of where they come,” she said.
"Deacon is top age this year, so he has qualified for all of the races.”
Briggs said the pair were excited to compete at a big event, like the inter-districts, which is hosted at the prominent Melbourne aquatic centre.
"They are both ecstatic about it,” she said.
“Deacon has been there for quite a few years, so he knows what it is all about.
"It is a different atmosphere compared to the local meets, you get your name on the big screen and is usually a lot bigger crowds as well.”
Chase had some issues earlier in the season with an injury but has seen a physio.
Briggs said she has noticed a significant improvement in his results since treatment started.
The brothers will make it a weekend trip by travelling down and training at a Melbourne club on Friday night.
Following the inter-district meet, they will compete at a club event on Sunday, ahead of the Wimmera swimming championships at St Arnaud on March 4.