Bailey's on a roll

The 22-year-old wheelchair racer will contest the 100 metre sprint while he is a member of the 4 x 100 metre relay team. His selection in the Australian team was confirmed this week.

Qualifying for the championships was Bailey's goal for 2019.

"With my times my coach thought I was a good chance for the relay,'' Bailey said.

"But I was surprised to get a start in the 100 metres.''

Bailey moved to Newcastle earlier this year to be closer to his training base and his coach, Andrew Dawes. The move has already paid dividends.

"I'm training every day now, twice a day and on Wednesday's three times a day,'' he said.

Previously Bailey made one trip a week from Wingham to Newcastle for a session with Dawes.

He trained the rest of the time on his own, usually at the criterium track at Taree Recreation Centre.

"This is so much better,'' Bailey said.

His personal best for the 100 metres is 14.31. At the start of the year it was 14.54.

Bailey estimates he'll have to clock in the low 14s to make the final. At this stage he isn't contemplating a medal.

"It will depend on what happens on the day,'' he said.

"Obviously all the top athletes in the world are going to be there. But I think I can make the final, that's what I'll be aiming for anyway.''

The championships will also be a qualifier for the Paralympics to be held in Tokyo next year. That's another box he wants to tick.

"I really want to get one (qualifying) time. That'll mean I won't have to go all around the country next year trying to qualify,'' Bailey explained.

The relay is a mixed event made up of athletes with different disabilities. Dawes is in the process of organising a training session with the four members of the team in Sydney.

"Hopefully we can start training soon,'' Bailey said.

Bailey has the last leg of the relay.

"We've got a quick team; I think we'll have a good chance, so there'll be some pressure on me,'' he said.