Eight on board for Shanghai

Eight NSWIS athletes have been selected on a 52 strong Australian swimming team bound for the 2011 FINA Aquatic World Championships in Shanghai later this year.

Heading the selections is Geoff Huegill, who will line up in the men’s 100m butterfly and 4x100m medley relay. Huegill finished outside the qualification time set by Leigh Nugent before Australia’s head coach decided to take all swimmers who finished first or second in their event, inside the FINA qualification time.

Joining Huegill will be fellow NSWIS athlete Eamon Sullivan and world championships debutants James Magnussen, Kenneth To, Matthew Abood, Jarrod Killey, Jessica Ashwood and Olivia Halicek.

Halicek caused a major upset on the final night of competition by taking out the women’s 50m freestyle. The 22 year old clocked a time of 24.88 to secure her maiden national title in a new personal best time.

The Australian championships doubled as selection for the 2011 Para Pan Pacific Championships in August this year. NSWIS athletes Jacqui Freney, Matt Levy, Andrew Pasterfield and Teigan Van Roosmalen were all selected on the team heading to Canada in August.