WA Swimmers Warm up for Worlds

WA’s World Championship bound swimmers competed at the weekend French Open as the final preparations for Budapest intensify.

The local trio of Holly Barratt, Brianna Throssell and Zac Incerti were all in action in Chartres, with the city famed for its Cathedral, located approximately 100km southwest of Paris.

Barratt continued her strong 2017 form, capturing a backstroke double with victory in the 50m and 100m events, ensuring that the Rockingham club member will enter World Championships in full confidence.

The 29 year-old touched home ahead of compatriot Kaylee McKeown in the one-lap race in a time of 27.81 with bronze going to Frenchwoman Mathilde Cini.

She secured the sprint double with victory in the 100m back in a time of 1:00.05 which was just over a second clear of McKoewn, with Cini again in third.

Throssell similarly enjoyed a productive hitout in France, fetching medals in the 100m and 200m butterfly finals. The UWA-West Coast swimmer attracted bronze in the 100m in a time of 58.72 – behind Korea’s An Sehyeon and Australia’s Emma McKeon.

The Rio Olympian elevated one step on the medal podium in her favoured 200m event, taking silver in 2:07.90 behind McKoen with third place going to the 100m victor Sehyeon.

Zac Incerti – who like Barratt is preparing for a first senior world championships – had his best hitout in the 50m back, setting the fifth fastest qualifying time in 26.34. With the 21 year-old racing across a number of events at the French Open, he withdrew from the final to manage race volume.

He also swam in the heats of 100 back and 100m free.

The FINA World Championships commence in Budapest on July 14 and will run through to July 30.