Genevieve Randall and Jodie Cowie secured a top 25 finish in the Duet Technical prelims at the Kazan 2015 World Championships in Russia.
The British 17-year olds, who are competing at their first World Championship as a Duet pair, scored 74.6512 for their routine, comprising of 22.1 for execution, 22.6 for impression and 29.9512 for their performance of the required elements.
Russia’s Olympic and defending world champions Natalia Ishchenko and Svetlana Romashina lead qualifiers on 94.5715 while Austria’s European Games silver medallists Anna-Maria Alexandri and Eirini Alexandri bagged the final qualification place in 12th on 82.3507.
But having improved two marks on their Duet Tech score of 72.1442 which saw Randall and Cowie finish 14th at last year’s European Championships in Berlin, coach Katie Dawkins insisted it was a positive result for the British swimmers.
“There is an exceptionally high standard at this competition,” said Dawkins, who swam for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games as well as the 2009 and 2011 World Championships.
“It’s a daunting prospect swimming after Spain and Russia but the girls handled the pressure well and pulled off a good performance.”
Randall and Cowie will return for the Duet Free Prelims on Tuesday 28 July.