What a fantastic night under the lights at Gold Coast Aquatic Centre it was for Night 5 of the 2024 Australian Age Championships!
Ciara Jeffs (YPW) surged into the lead to take Gold in the Girls 13 years 100m Backstroke. We then saw Luca Brown (MSC) showcasing his skills to claim Silver in the Boys 14 years 100m Backstroke.
We had some great personal best times achieved throughout the night. A special one being that of Giselle Davey (CAULFIELD) breaking the 2 minute barrier in the Girls 17 years 200m Freestyle. She charged out on lap one and took an early lead, and fought a tough race to hold on for Gold in a time of 1:59:17!
It was then our junior girls who dove back in for another hotly contested race, the 13 years 400m Freestyle. Our Victorians stuck to their race strategy not going out too quickly, trusting their training. By the final 100m it was a two girl race between both our Victorian athletes as Arika Erdenko (SYP) and Ciara Jeffs (YPW) battled it out until the very last stroke, with just 0.11 separating the pair. Arika took another Gold to secure the 800m/400m double, and Ciara earning the Silver medal.
Our girls weren’t done putting on a show yet though, the 14 year olds took to the pool in the 200m Freestyle. It was an exhilarating race with Zahlie Snijders (GEELONG) giving it her all going stroke for stroke out in front to narrowly miss the win but finished with a Silver, and an Olympic Trials qualifying time. Lucy Doyle of Nunawading flew down the final 50m from an outside lane to sneak herself into another Bronze for a Victorian.
It was another memorable evening at the pool as we push into Day 6 of the Championships.
Go the Vics!
Total Medal Tally:
10 Gold, 13 Silver & 19 Bronze
