After a stellar month in the pool, Benalla's Julia Oakley has achieved her goal and will represent Victoria at the Pacific School Games in November.
The 17-year-old swam three personal bests at the trials in Melbourne earlier this month _ in the 50m butterfly, the 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle _ and will swim in the 100m fly and hopefully a couple of relays at the Canberra event.
``I'm rapt. It's been my goal for the year and it's kept me motivated when I haven't felt like going to training,'' Oakley said.
``Butterfly is my favourite stroke and the 100m is my favourite distance, so hopefully I can improve on my PB of 1:05.62.''
The Beijing Olympics has also been a motivating factor, with Oakley watching her former Benalla Swimming Club teammate Belinda Hocking make the final of the 100m backstroke.
``It's been so exciting watching one of my friends compete over there,'' she said.
Oakley is coming towards the end of a heavy training block as she prepares for the Victorian Country Short Course Championships in Wangaratta this weekend and the Victorian Short Course Championships in Melbourne next month.
After that the Year 12 Benalla College student will study for her end-of-year exams and then get back into training.
``Swimming has been a good escape from study, it clears my mind,'' Oakley said.
``Hopefully I can get through my exams and then really step up training for the Pacific School Games and see what happens.''