Steven is in line for national selection

Killcare Surf Club national beach sprint champion Steven Munnery was named in the Australian high performance squad last month.

As a result Steven is in line to make the 2004 world championships in Italy as the national team for the world titles is chosen from the squad.

Steven will be competing against the current National champion Brett Robins from Queensland for a spot in the national team.

Despite struggling with injury, Steven said that he was in his best form to date.

"I played footy last year.

"That probably wasn't the best idea," he said.

As part of the high performance squad, Steven is required to attend training camps where the AIS will put him through physical tests for physical power, speed and endurance.

Munnery, who was named national beach sprint champion in 2001 and 2002, was also part of the Killcare team which won gold in the beach sprint relay at the previous world championships in Daytona.

In 2004, the life saving world championships will be held at Viareggio, Italy.

"I've seen a photo of the beach.

It looks good: There's not a lot of surf, but there's plenty of room," Steven said.

"I can't wait.

"I've competed locally and nationally and it would be great to compete on an international level and see different parts of the world while I'm doing it," he said.

Alison Branley, October 13