THEY could line up alongside current Olympians, but Port Macquarie duo Hayley Kable and Sarah Kendall are looking forward to the challenge this weekend.
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The MacKillop College students will compete in the NSW State Open Championships at Sydney Olympic Park with one goal in mind - achieving personal best times.
If that coincides with their ticket to the national titles it will be all the better for the two teenage stars who recorded the required qualifying times to take their place in Sydney.
Kable has two bites of the cherry - in the 200 and 100-metre backstroke events - while Kendall will also compete in the 200-metre backstroke.
"I'm going because I want to get my 100 backstroke national time and I'm trying to improve my 200 backstroke national time," Kable said.
"I've been there before but not in the open division."
The 15-year-old has been satisfied with her performances in the pool so far this season.
"I've qualified for the nationals for the first time and it's been really good overall; I've done lots of new PBs," she said.
"I think there will be a lot more competition down there and we'll have to go faster, but they will be good races to watch with the older girls."
Kendall admitted this weekend would be her "only good chance to get a national time in" and was looking forward to the challenge.
"I've gone better than expected this season, but I think I can go better," she said.
"I've been away for a bit so haven't been able to train as much because I've been balancing school sport.
"The main challenge is the girls I'm competing against will be harder. It's more about times than results."
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