THE NEXT GENERATION
SWIMMING: The McDonald's 2017 Central Queensland Swimming Championships will feature 59 athletes from three Gladstone-based clubs.
Gladstone Gladiators will have the most number with 38 in the three-day event which starts from 5.30pm today at Rockhampton's 2nd World War Memorial Aquatic Centre.
The club's numbers are slightly down because of the surf life saving carnival in Agnes Water this weekend.
Wests will be represented by 16 people, while Boyne-Tannum Bullets has 15 swimmers.
Gladiators head coach Tom Fronek said he was not placing any expectations on his swimmers, but was focussing on the next generation.
"This year is more about getting exposure to get experience and for our swimmers to target certain events,” Fronek said.
The age range for the championships is from seven years and under through to the open category, with distances from 50m to 1500m.
Some of the Gladiator swimmers expected to feature prominently are Federica Tiboni, Brooke Copsey and Tia Crosisca.
Gladiators assistant coach Terry Fellows said the championship was the last event before the 2017 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships in April in Brisbane.
"Jarrod Lee is the best chance to make the nationals in Brisbane and obviously it depends on the number of MC swimmers,” Fellows said.
The Bullets' contingent is Jessica Buck, Ella Davis, Lisa-Meli Eayrs, Courtney Fitzsimmons, Paige Gibbins, Elliah Hamono, Darcy Hinz, Millie Hinz, Brooke Holloway, Mackenzie Huxley, Azahri Loats, Zakota Loats and Sally Vagg.
Wests have Wade Harris, Clara Furness, Kayden Gibson and Sam Spearing, who should do well.
Wests spokesperson Siddi Furness said Caleb O'Mealley was a good chance of doing well in the backstroke and butterfly, after good form at the state titles.
