FLIPPERS ON SONG FOR AYOF SWIM FINALS

Sydney, January 15: Twenty-one Australian swimmers will be chasing the first Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) medals in the pool on the opening night of finals at Sydney Olympic Park tonight (6pm). Brooke Hanson reports...

The Australian team has been divided into two teams of 18; Australia Green and Australia Gold and only two swimmers from each team qualify for the finals.
 
This morning's heats saw some outstanding racing with both Australian teams leading the way with standout performances in every event.
 
But the young Aussies won't have it all their own way after tough competition from Canada and Japan.
 
Getting the Australian Youth Olympic Festival underway for the Australians were training partners from Pro-Ma Miami swimming club in Queensland Katie Goldman and Kelly Marquenie.
 
The Denis Cotterell trained pair both swam personal best times to qualify first and second for tonight's final of the women's 200metres freestyle.
 
Goldman stoping the clock with a slick time of 2.01.82 with Marquenie taking two-and-a-half seconds off her previous best, touching the wall in 2.02.68.
 
After the race Goldman said: "I'm happy to swim a personal best time, I felt strong in the water and I feel I can go faster tonight.
 
"It's exciting to be on this Australian team and be apart of the AYOF it makes me want to swim faster."
 
Marquenie was excited to swim a fast heat swim and said that the move to Miami has been great for her swimming.
 
"I really enjoy training with Katie along with Ellen Fullerton and Amy Levings who both swam well in Guam last week at the Junior Pan Pacs. This week it's Katie and my turn and it's great to swim that fast this morning."
 
Other Australians who have qualified for the 200m freestyle final are Aleysha Tokai and Jessica Ashwood. Tokai took almost five seconds off her entry time to qualify third behind Goldman and Marquenie with Ashwood qualifying sixth.
 
The men's 200m freestyle is shaping up to be a showdown between Justin James of Australia (1.52.03) and Chad Bobrosky of Canada (1.53.02).
 
James Australian teammates Dylan Watt, Luke Kerswell and Mitchell Pryor will also be challenging for a podium finish.
 
In the women's 200m butterfly Nicole Mee has qualified fastest in a time of 2.15.52 and is confident she can swim two seconds faster tonight and get down to her personal best.
 
Tonight's finals start at 6pm and will feature the following Australians:
 
Women's 200m Freestyle: Katie Goldman, Kelly Marquenie, Aleysha Tokai, Jessica Ashwood

Men's 200m Freestyle: Justin James, Dylan Wyatt, Luke Kerswell, Mitchell Pryor

Women's 100m Backstroke: Whitney Ireland, Catlin Sinclair, Rachael Gorrie

Men's 100m Backstroke: Benjamin Edmonds, Phillip Butcher, Andrew Read

Women's 200m Butterfly: Nicole Mee, Anastasia Osadchuk, Megan Mackay, Madeleleine Van Hunnik

Men's 200m Butterfly : Luke Stirton, Dylan Wyatt, Sam Sheppard