Top swimmers will vie for more than just the honour of being crowned national champions this weekend.

Places at the upcoming World Championships in Barcelona, Spain, and the Pan-American Games in the Dominican Republic are at stake when competitors take to the pool for the annual Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association's (BASA) national championships, starting tonight.

Many of the Island's best will be racing - not only against each other - but also against the clock as they strive to meet the qualifying standards for these international events.

Add to that some overseas rivalry from students of Brevard (USA) and Dalhousie (Canada) universities and BASA president Ian Gordon says it augurs well for some enthralling battles.

“It's going to be a big meet. Hopefully, we'll have good weather and some great swims with lots of excitement. There's a lot at stake,” he declared.

Three Bermudians - Ronald Cowen, Kiera Aitken and, in diving, Katura Horton-Perinchief - have already booked their tickets for both major meets and Gordon is hoping BASA have reason to call their travel agent with increased seating requests.

“We're hoping three or four more swimmers will meet the qualifying standard this weekend,” he said, highlighting particular races.

“The men's 50 and 100-metre freestyle will be very interesting to watch. You're going to have a phenomenal line-up there. I think you'll see Alex Lopez and Chris Stewart (foreign swimmers) competing against our premier local swimmers like Ronald Cowen, Roy-Allan Burch, Michael O'Connor and Darren Woods.

“Actually just qualifying for the finals of those races will be something.”

The men's 1,500-metre butterfly and 100-metre breaststroke as well as the ladies' 100-metre backstroke, 50 and 100 freestyle are also expected to be intriguing.

Gordon noted that this year BASA had set qualifying standards for the national championships “in an effort to raise the calibre of the Island's premier swimming event”.

The championships take place at BASA Pool, beginning at 6 p.m. today. They continue throughout the next two days with morning and evening sessions on both days. Finals will be held during the evening.