AUSSIE SWIMMERS KICK START AYOF WITH EIGHT MEDALS
Sydney January 15: Australia's swimmers have kick-started their campaign at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) winning eight medals, two of them gold on the opening night of finals at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre last night. Brooke Hanson reports...
Sixteen-year-old Queenslanders Justin James and Katie Goldman won Australia's first AYOF swimming gold medals.
Justin James from Mackay had the swim of the night in the men's 200m freestyle setting a new AYOF record, touching the wall in 1.51.51.
James broke an eight-year old AYOF record held by Australia's Joshua Krogh (1.51.85) set back in 2001 to finish ahead of Canadian Chad Bobrosky (1.52.60) and Australian team mate Luke Kerswell (1.52.74) who finished with the bronze medal.
"I wasn't expecting a record, I'm just so happy to win the gold medal, it felt like a real Olympic Games hearing the anthem as the Australian flag was raised," James said after the medal presentation.
In the women's 200m freestyle Gold Coast swimmer Katie Goldman led all the way, stopping the clock in a personal best time of 2.01.16.
Goldman's training partner from the Pro-Ma Miami swimming club Kelly Marquenie pushed her all the way in the first final of the festival finishing second in 2.01.98 to claim a one, two finish for the Aussie team.
The Denis Cotterell trained pair were ecstatic with their results.
"We loved the flag going up during our presentation but we didn't know whether to sing or not so we only sang the last three words of the anthem," said an excited Marquenie.
When asked about her one second improvement Goldman said:
"I'm so happy with the result I felt great in warm up and fantastic in the race it's a huge personal best and a gold medal makes it even more special."
Other medallists last night included silver medallist Nicole Mee in the women's 200m butterfly and Benjamin Edmonds in the 100m backstroke.
Our bronzed Aussies included Phillip Butcher and Whitney Ireland in the 100m backstroke and Luke Stirton in the 200m butterfly.
Australian Results:
Women's 200m Freestyle: Katie Goldman Gold 2.01.16, Kelly Marquenie Silver 2.01.98, Aleysha Tokai 4th 2.03.47, Jessica Ashwood 6th 2.04.35
Men's 200m Freestyle: Justin James Gold 1.51.51 (AYOF REC), Luke Kerswell Bronze 1.52.74, Dylan Wyatt, 4th 1.53.07, Mitchell Pryor 8th 1.57.14
Women's 100m Backstroke: Whitney Ireland Bronze 1.03.14, Catlin Sinclair 5th 1.03.35, Rachael Gorrie 8th 1.05.46
Men's 100m Backstroke: Benjamin Edmonds Silver 57.44, Andrew Read 4th 59.25
Women's 200m Butterfly: Nicole Mee Silver 2.13.15, Megan Mackay 4th 2.15.21, Madeleleine Van Hunnik 6th 2.17.52 Anastasia Osadchuk 7th 2.18.83
Men's 200m Butterfly : Luke Stirton Bronze 2.02.92, Sam Sheppard 4th 2.04.54, Dylan Wyatt 6th 2.07.26