Pettigrew, 22, swam a 400m freestyle time of 4.40.74, well under the 5.59.41 qualifying time for the Australian Age Multi Class Championships.

Pettigrew has qualified for four events at the national championships in Adelaide in April. It will be her first time competing at national level.

"I have four now - 50m free, 100m free, 400m free and 200 individual medley," she said.

She also qualified for the Victorian open championships from January 11 to 14.

Pettigrew, a member of Victoria's multi class squad, was among 200 swimmers chasing personal bests at Warrnambool Swimming Club's junior long-course meeting at Aquazone yesterday.

She took up swimming at 16 and now trains twice a day.

Pettigrew's training regime includes nine training sessions a week and three gym sessions, while she also rides up to 15km a week.

Warrnambool swimming coach Jayson Lamb said Pettigrew's commitment to training was the main reason for her spike in form.

"She's done really well," he said.

"She was almost at the stage of giving the sport away six months ago but is now back loving it."

Lamb said Pettigrew had increased her commitment to training.

"She has really applied herself at training and is reaping the rewards.

"She's trained the house down. Everyone notices those who are training well and see them get the reward. It's a flow-on effect."

Lamb said no Warrnambool swimmers yesterday earned qualifying times for the Victorian aged championships on December 16.

Warrnambool member Ben Raymond swam in Melbourne and won a state championship spot.

"He compete in the under 16 boys 200m breastroke and made it by .01," Lamb said.

The Victorian aged championships are in Melbourne from December 18 to 23.