273 of Victoria’s best age group swimmers travelled to Sydney for the 2018 Georgina Hope Foundation Australian Age Championships from the 21st – 28th April. With a medal tally of 75, including 23 Gold, 29 Silver and 23 Bronze, it was an encouraging glimpse into the future of Victorian swimming.
Here’s some of the highlights.
Northcote’s Silas Harris showed us how it’s done in the Boys 16yrs 400m Freestyle, finishing 4 seconds clear of the competition to claim Gold in a time of 3:56.67. He backed it up in the 200m (1:52.15) and 1500m (15:41.74) Freestyle events adding another two Gold medals to his haul.
Young gun, Paris Burlock (Bayside) won 2 Gold and 2 Silver medals and proved why she’s a talent to watch in coming years. In the Girls 13yrs 100m Freestyle she was electric, setting a new Victorian Record with her time of 56.58.
It was raining Gold for some of our championship veterans. Sophie Caldwell (Nunawading) dominated the Individual Medley events in the 17/18-year age group with wins in the 200m (2:16.81) and breaking the Victorian Record in the 400m (4:44.75). David Schlicht (MLC Aquatic) was a force to be reckoned with in the boys’ events, bringing home Gold medals in the 100m (1:02.33) and 200m (2:15.54) Breaststroke and the 200IM, in a Victorian Record time of 2:02.76.
Tara Kinder (DVE Aquatic) was another one of our top performing Victorians, with a golden double in the Girls 14yrs 100m (1:12.07) and 200m (2:30.52) Breaststroke. She also broke two Victorian Records in the 200m IM (2:18.19) and 400m IM (4:55.72), claiming Silver in both events.
For some of our athletes their achievements in Sydney have led to their selection on the team for the Junior Pan Pacs in Fiji in August. Congratulations to Brendon Smith (Nunawading), Kayla Costa (Nunawading), Tara Kinder (DVE Aquatic), Silas Harris (Northcote) and Thomas Pearson (Melbourne University Propulsion). They will be joined by coach, Scott Talbot (Nunawading).
Well done to all our medal winners!
