WEST Wallsend Swimming Club's Jacob Sansom and Matthew Pender are eyeing this year's Commonwealth Games trials as they make the move from age races to open-age hit-outs with the big guns of Australian swimming.
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The pair just finished a successful NSW State Age Championships campaign.
Jacob won gold in the 14 years 100-metre and 200m backstroke events.
Matthew won four gold (100m and 200m backstroke, 200m butterfly and 1500m freestyle), two silver (100m fly and 400m individual medley) and one bronze (100m IM) in the 16 years.
Jacob said his personal highlight was touching the wall ahead of Japan's 14 years No.1 backstroker Kai Ishihara in the 200 metres.
Japan flew over some of its aspiring teenage Olympic hopefuls to compete at the championships.
Both Jacob and Matthew clocked up a number of personal best times and hope to continue their form into their next big competition.
The 2014 Australian Swimming Championships, to be held in Brisbane in April, will double as the Commonwealth Games trials.
Although a spot in the 2014 Glasgow games might be still be a stretch for the pair, both are looking forward to competing at the top level in future.
Jacob, who is in year 9, and Matthew, year 11, juggle school with their training sessions under the watchful eye of Olympic silver-medallist Kengo Yagami at the West Wallsend club.
