Each state champion enters the national titles in Sydney with the fastest qualifying times in their track disciplines _ Bee in the men's under-20 400 metres, Ryan in the girls' under-18 400-metre hurdles.

The pair headline a 19-strong Ballarat contingent of jumpers, sprinters, throwers, hurdlers and middle-distance runners vying to make a mark at Sydney Olympic Park, starting tomorrow.

Bee, an Australian All-Schools champion, said being the fastest entrant had not created any nerves _ he knew his rivals well.

"No I don't reckon there's any extra pressure,'' he said.

"I'll be trying to win first and run a good time, just go out pretty hard, run my legs off.''

Bee, who will represent Wendouree Athletics Club, is hunting a world junior qualifying time of 47.30 seconds but with an April deadline, his first objective this meet was to win.

The Paul Cleary- trained athlete shaved 0.03 seconds off his personal best for a time of 47.72 seconds leading into the event.

It was the eighth time Bee has run the 400m qualifying time for the championship this season.

Bee has made the step up into under-20s and while the field might be more experienced, most competitors had climbed the ranks together.

Ryan, like Bee, has a heavy program across the championship with both athletes also selected to run a 4x400m relay.

Ryan said she was excited and looked forward to the four-day meet.

At 16 years old, Ryan hoped to run a sub-61 second time and bring home a medal of any colour.

"Training leading up has been pretty good, just trying to fine-tune everything,'' Ryan said.

The Neville Down-trained Eureka athlete posted a personal best time of 62.31 seconds in her state 400m hurdles final.

Her impressive progress this season earnt her an invitational spot at the December Zatopek meet in which she raced against Olympian Tamsyn Lewis.