Ripples squad meets stars

RIPPLES St Marys Swimming Club squad members have rubbed shoulders with Olympians including James Magnussen.

NSW State Open Championships Swimmers

RIPPLES St Marys Swimming Club squad members have rubbed shoulders with Olympians including James Magnussen.

The squad competed at the NSW State Open Championships at Homebush from last Friday to Sunday, where Australian and international Olympians also competed.

With stiff competition, coach Jenny Pilgrim said she was pleased with the swimmers' performances.

"There were many high-profile swimmers here," Pilgrim said.

"It was mainly a hit-out before they go to Adelaide for the national titles.

"It was an experience all in all I was very happy."

Pilgrim said many swimmers achieved personal bests and 16-year-old Mathew Robinson finished eighth in the 1500m, where he swam against Olympian Jarrod Poort.

Poort finished second to Melbourne swimmer Mack Horten, who Pilgrim tipped would be Australia's next Grant Hackett.

Pilgrim said the meet provided an important gauge of the swimmers' progress before the Australian Age National Titles held in Adelaide next month, where a team of about 12 Ripples swimmers will compete.

"It showed where they are and from now their training changes to more sprint orientated and that will bring their times down," she said. "The personal best times are a good indication. When they do go into a new phase of training, they will go even faster."

Squads from Japan and China also competed at the Homebush event.