The American college student arrived home in Australia yesterday — just two days out from the nationals where he’ll vie for honours in the 200-metre butterfly, 200m freestyle and 400m freestyle.

Jones, 19, has spent the past eight months at the University of Kentucky, plying his trade as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association division one school’s 50-strong swim team.

He will call on that experience as he attempts to better his 2014 Australian open championship results this weekend.

The former Emmanuel College student finished fifth in the 200m butterfly last year in Brisbane.

Warrnambool coach Jayson Lamb, who will be in Sydney for the championships, believes Jones can build on that impressive result.

“He is ranked third going in,” Lamb said. 

“That is based on the time that got him fifth last year.

“He will be hoping to improve on where he was this time last year.”

Jones, who has a FINA Junior World Championships 4x200m team freestyle relay silver medal in his keeping, is one of three Warrnambool-produced swimmers set to compete at the national titles. 

Multi-class swimmers Ashleigh Pettigrew and Caitlyn Mackay also qualified.

“I am looking forward to seeing Ashleigh in the 400m freestyle and Caitlyn in the 100m breaststroke and 50m breaststroke,” Lamb said.

“They are in a number of other events but those are where they’ll be best.”

Warrnambool trio Holly Windahl (14 years 100m backstroke), Blake Turner (15 years 50m, 100m, 200m freestyle) and Jason Pritchard (15 years 100m backstroke) will vie for medals at the national age championships, also in Sydney, from April 13-20.

Lamb said it would be an eye-opener for the promising teenagers.

“They have been training really well,” he said.

“It’ll be interesting to see their improvement. At the end of the day that’s what we’re after.

“It will be a great experience for them — it will be Jason and Holly’s first time (at nationals) and Blake’s third.”