Open Slather as WAIS Athletes Prepare for Open Water

Three WAIS open water swimmers will head east next week to tackle the best Australia has to offer at the National Open Water Championships.

World Championship representative Rhys Mainstone along with Mel Benson and Brooke Wilson will fly the WA flag in Victoria as the Matt Magee coached trio look to compete for national titles.

WAIS and City of Perth coach Matt Magee believes the squad and in particular Mainstone have the potential to capture medals.

“They’ve been putting in the hard yards at training,” Magee said. “Rhys has the experience of the world champs and is still a teenager, and after top ten finishes in world cup events, he will be right up there at the finish.”

Mel Benson has also featured for Australia in world cup events but for Wilson, this year’s nationals will be her first attempt in the open level, following titles in age events previously.

WAIS Swimming Performance Manager Greg Hodge suggested Wilson would benefit from the experience, especially at the age of 16.

“Brooke swam well at the recent WA State Championships, winning a couple of gold medals and this trip will be a good experience for her,” he said. “She’s still learning her craft.”

Positions on the Australian Open Water team are also at stake, with Hodge hopeful Mainstone will maintain his standing.

“We would expect that he will retain his position on the national team, especially given the performances he demonstrated in Sharjah and Dubai (world cups),” Hodge said.

“Since Rome (2009 World Championship venue) Rhys has returned with better form and renewed confidence so we’d expect he’ll perform well.”