Lithgow Swimming Club is set to take a very talented squad to contest this weekend's Country Championships at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.
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It is a large contingent that will be competing, with 11 taking part in individual events and six relay teams contesting races from Friday afternoon, February 22 throughout Saturday and Sunday.
Young swimmers representing the entire state, with the exception of the Sydney metropolitan area, will take part.
Lithgow Swimming Club head coach Craig McManus said it was an opportunity for Lithgow's swimmers to come up against the best of the best of NSW's regional swimmers.
The Lithgow squad includes swimmers aged from 9-16 across a range of strokes and distances.
"To my knowledge, we've never taken this many before," McManus said.
"You need to be of a high standard to qualify."
The last opportunity for swimmers to do so was at the recent Mountains and Plains Championship event, hosted by the Lithgow club.
The swimmers set to compete from Lithgow are: Alysha Connor, Emily Dean, Mia Dunleavy, Alex Evans, Paige Field, Amy Kennedy, Elka Lee, Logan McManus, Tyler McManus, Yasmine Turner, Angus Warne, Bridget Warne, Jacob Wilson and Jessica Wilson.
When asked who were his swimmers to watch coming into the event, McManus found himself naming the whole squad, one after the other.
"They are all swimming well, you need to be to get to this level," he said.
McManus recognised the hard work of the volunteer coaches who put so much time and effort into the club.
Unlike clubs who have paid coaches, all seven of Lithgow Swimming Club's coaches are volunteers who give up their time for the young athletes.
Following this weekend's event, the next major goal swimmers will be working towards is the junior State Age competition, which will be held in late March.