QUEENSLAND KIDS CONTINUE RECORD ONSLAUGHT
Sydney, April 16: Queensland pair Yolane Kukla and Mitch Larkin created new Australian Age records with sizzling swims on night four of the 2009 Australian Age Swimming Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre tonight.
It could well be a case of watch out Libby Trickett, with 13-year-old Kukla from St Peters Western in Queensland blowing everyone away- including herself - winning the 13 years & under 100m freestyle in a world class time of 55.26.Brooke Hanson Clarke reports....
She set new Australian Age and Australian Allcomers records to win her third gold medal and second record of the championships and she is now arguably one of the fastest 13-year-olds in the world.
Her time tonight would have seen her finish seventh in the final at the Telstra Australian Championships three weeks ago behind six Olympians, world record holder Trickett, Marieke Guehrer, Sally Foster, Felicity Galvez, Meagen Nay and Shayne Reese.
"I actually wanted to go faster, I thought it is was a 55 high when I looked at the score board but a second look made me realise I went 55.26 and I am really pleased with that," said the Year Nine student at Brisbane's St Peters Western Lutheran College.
"I have been working hard on my speed and my strength with coach Michael Palfry and I think that has made a huge difference. I've started to lift heavier weights and I'm feeling really strong."
A MITCH IN TIME WINS MEDLEY SHOWDOWN
Mitch Larkin (Brisbane Jets, QLD) and Jayden Hadler (Commercial, QLD) had the battle of the night in the 15-years boys 
400m individual medley.
The two Queenslanders swam stroke-for-stroke the whole race with Larkin finding that bit extra in the last 10 metres.
Both boys went under the Larkin's old Australian record with Larkin touching the wall in 4:25.45 establishing new Australian and Australian Allcomers records. Hadler finished second in a personal best time of 4:25.94 with Buster Sykes (Brothers, QLD) 4:36.23 in third.
Their times look great for the future as the pair continue to make their way up the rankings. Larkin's swim tonight would have won the bronze medal at the Telstra Australian Championships behind World Championship representative Stephen Parkes and 18-year-old Thomas Fraser-Holmes.
"I've got nothing left, I'm spent and so shocked with the time; Jayden and I always go head-to-head and it's great to get a win," an exhausted Larkin said.
"I don't know how I did it. I saw Jayden at the final turn and I knew how close it was. It was a great battle and we still have more races to come."
AUSSIE ELLEN'S THIRD GOLD IN 200M FREESTYLE
World Championship rookie Ellen Fullerton won her third gold medal of the championships after dominating all four laps of the 16-years girls 200m freestyle final.
Fullerton from Pro Ma Miami QLD won the final by three body lengths, clocking a time of 1:58.79.
Junior Pan Pac gold medallist in the 10km open water event Belinda Bennett (Nunawading, VIC) 2.02.03 won the silver medal with the bronze going to Australian Youth Olympic Festival gold medallist Katie Goldman (Pro-Ma Miami) 2.02.26.
"I'm happy with that swim - it would have been nice to go under 1.58 but tonight wasn't that night. It was such a different race to trials as I was out in front on my own without all the pressure from the other swimmers," said Fullerton who will swim the 200m individual medley tomorrow.
"It's nice to win another gold but I can't wait to get under that time after being so close to 1.57."
KIWI DANIEL PIPS STAPLES IN TRANS TASMAN FLY
In the boys 17-18 years 100m butterfly New Zealand's Daniel Bell was too powerful for the Australian boys, winning in 52.97. Lachlan Staples from Kingswim NSW turned fifth at the 50m turn and looked completely out of the picture.
His 200m background helped him finish off his race to win the gold medal for first Australian in a time of 54.24.
Staples beat silver medallist Grant Irvine (St Peters Western, QLD) 54.60 with bronze going to Phillip Butcher (Lane Cove, NSW) 54.61.
"I'm happy with the time even though it wasn't a personal best I'm still doing a lot of training so to win gold at Australian Age is just great," said Staples who will race his main event the 200m butterfly on Saturday.
ENGLISH ELLEN STRIKES BACK WITH FLY GOLD
Great Britain's World Championship team member Ellen Gandy (59.16) was too good for the Australian girls in the 17-18 years 100m butterfly leading from start to finish.
First placed Australian was Jessica Ash (Norwood, SA) 1.01.72, second Ellese Zalewski (Nunawading, VIC) 1.01.80 who won the silver medal from lane nine and the bronze medal went to Phoebe Cater (Warringah Aquatic, NSW) 1.01.95.
Regan Leong (Townsville Marlins, QLD) 2.14.29 won his fourth gold medal of the week in the 13 years & under 200m butterfly ahead of silver medallist Jacob Hansford (Bankstown Sports, NSW) 2.16.64 with Isaac Jones (Warrnambool, VIC) 2.18.11 taking the bronze medal.
Leong, 53.96, backed up an hour later to win the 100m freestyle taking his tally to five gold medals.
JUSTIN TIME TO OUT-TOUCH RED NED
In the boys 16 years 200m freestyle the gold medallist at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival Justin James from Mackay QLD 1.51.33 touched out Ned McKendry (St Peters Western, QLD) 1.51.49 by 0.16 to win his second gold medal of the week after winning the 100m freestyle on night one.
McKendry won the silver medal with Canadian Chad Bobrosky (1.53.09) claiming the bronze, third place Australian went to Michael Fell (Blacktown City, NSW) 1.54.93.
In the 14 years girls 50 metres freestyle Brittany Elmslie (Noosa, QLD) 26.00 powered her way to her second gold medal of the championships. Adelaide Hart (Applecross, WA) 26.19 swam another personal best to claim the silver medal ahead of Emma McKeon (Wests Illawarra Aquatic, NSW) 26.32 bronze.
In the 14 years boys 50 freestyle Te Haumi Maxwell (MLC Marlins, NSW) 23.59 won his second gold medal of the meet narrowly missing his own Australian Age record by 0.07. Maxwell won the one lap sprint by just over a second with Zac Whenuaroa (Brothers, QLD) 24.60 winning the silver medal and bronze going to Elliot Long (Willoughby, NSW) 24.93.
TIFFANY FINDS ELUSIVE GOLD OVER GRITTY BRIT
In the 17-18 years girls 200m individual medley Tiffany Papaemanouil (Norwood, SA) 2.15.95 won her first gold medal of the week adding to her three bronze medals. Papaemanouil held off a fast finishing Ellen Gandy of Great Britain 2.17.28 with the second Australian going to Amy Levings (Pro-Ma Miami) 2.18.28 and Caitlin Mitchell (Waterworx, QLD) claiming third in 2.18.80.
Mikkayla Maselli-Sheridan took her medal tally to six gold and one bronze when she won the 14 years girls 400m freestyle. Maselli Sheridan (Commercial, QLD) 4.21.11 was pushed the entire race by Canadian Jacqueline Keire 4.21.49 with Stephanie Demestichas (Tigersharks, VIC) 4.30.27 finishing second Australian with Elizabeth Stevenson (The Glennie, QLD) 4.30.02 in third.
Maselli Sheridan won seven gold medals at the 2008 Australian Age Championships and tomorrow morning she will be back in the water for another two heats to see if she can equal or even better her performance from last year.
In the final of the 17-18 years boys 200m individual medley Roberto Pavoni (2.03.05) of Great Britain finished first ahead of Thomas Fraser-Holmes (Hunter, NSW) 2.04.02 who won his second gold medal of the championships.
Kenneth To (Trinity Grammar School) 2.18.73 won his fourth gold of the championships in the 16 years 200m breaststroke. Zach Featherstone (Southport Olympic, QLD) 4:07.07 won his third gold medal of the championships in the 14 years 400m freestyle taking his medal tally of three gold and one silver at these championships.
Other night four winners included: Samantha Marshall (Cook and Phillip, NSW) 2.31.17 girls 16 years 200m breaststroke, Whitney Ireland (Norwood, SA) 1.03.36 15 years girls 100m backstroke, Adam Paroz (Academy, QLD) 59.47 15 years boys 100m backstroke, Madeline Groves (St Peters Western, QLD) 2.16.08 13 years & under girls 200m butterfly, Zoe Diamond (Liverpool, NSW) 4.50.35 15 years girls 400m individual medley, Ashleigh Steed (Revesby Workers, NSW) 1.14.18 14 years girls 100m breaststroke, Lennard Bremer (Aqua Attack, WA) 1.07.13 14 years boys 100m breaststroke.
2009 Australian Age Championships- Day 4 Medal winners
BOYS
17/18 years
100m butterfly
D Bell (New Zealand) 52.97 - visitor
L Staples (Kingswim, NSW) 54.24
G Irvine (St Peters Western, QLD) 54.60
P Butcher (Lane Cove, NSW) 54.61
200m IM
R Pavoni (Great Britain) 2:03.05 - visitor
T Fraser-Holmes (Hunter, NSW) 2:04.02
A Harrington (Great Britain) 2:05.22 - visitor
D Lester (Albany Creek, QLD) 2:05.42
D Smith (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) 2:06.08
18 & under 4x200m freestyle relay
St Peters Western (QLD) 7:34.19 (R Napoleon, G Irvine, N Cobbe, N Mckendry)
SOPAC Swim Club (NSW) 7:41.15 (A Patruescu, A Gohari, H Pullinger, C Ashwood)
Hunter (NSW) 7:45.52 (T Fraser-Holmes, J Killey, S Parker, H Winning)
16 years
200m freestyle
J James (Mackay, QLD) 1:51.33
N Mckendry (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:51.49
C Bobrosky (Canada) 1:53.09 - visitor
M Fell (Blacktown City, NSW) 1:54.93
200m breaststroke
K To (Trinity Grammar School, NSW) 2:18.73
L Kinneally (Brisbane Jets, QLD) 2:22.39
M Donaldson (New Zealand) 2:23.42 - visitor
S Blakeway (East Brisbane, QLD) 2:26.72
15 years
100m backstroke
A Paroz (Academy, QLD) 59.47
E Jackson (New Zealand) 59.71 - visitor
R Harvey (CA Tritons, VIC) 1:00.16
N Roughley (Castle Hill RSL Dolphins, NSW) 1:00.18
400m IM
M Larkin (Brisbane Jets, QLD) 4:25.45 - Australian All-Comers Record
J Hadler (Commercial, QLD) 4:25.94
B Sykes (Brothers, QLD) 4:36.23
14 years
50m freestyle
T Maxwell (MLC Marlins, NSW) 23.59
Z Whenuaroa (Brothers, QLD) 24.60
E Long (Willoughby, NSW) 24.93
400m freestyle
Z Featherstone (Southport Olympic, QLD) 4:07.07
N Barrett (Gardens, QLD) 4:08.38
M Hutchings (New Zealand) 4:10.58 - visitor
J Poort (Coolum Peregian, QLD) 4:10.63
100m breaststroke
L Bremer (Aqua Attack, QLD) 1:07.13
L Packard (Noosa QLD) 1:07.18
J Arona-Tuifana'e (New Zealand) 1:07.56 - visitor
B Tapley (West Coast, WA) 1:08.47
13 years & under
100m freestyle
R Leong (Townsville Marlins, QLD) 53.96
A Press (TSS Aquatics, QLD) 55.27
A Williams (Gladstone, QLD) 55.87
200m butterfly
R Leong (Townsville Marlins, QLD) 2:14.29
J Hansford (Bankstown Sports, NSW) 2:16.64
I Jones (Warrnambool, VIC) 2:18.11
GIRLS
17/18 years
100m butterfly
E Gandy (Great Britain) 59.16 - visitor
J Ash (Norwood, SA) 1:01.72
E Zalewski (Nunawading, VIC) 1:01.80
P Cater (Warringah, NSW) 1:01.95
200m IM
T Papaemanouil (Norwood, SA) 2:15.95
E Gandy (Great Britain) 2:17.28 - visitor
A Levings (Pro-MA Miami, QLD) 2:18.28
C Mitchell ( Waterworx, QLD) 2:18.80
18 & under 4x200m freestyle relay
Pro-Ma Miami (QLD) 8:11.82 (K Marquenie, A Levings, K Goldman, E Fullerton)
City of Perth (WA) 8:22.70 (O Vorster, I Holm, B Wilson, B Evans)
Norwood (SA) 8:23.01 (T Papaemanouil, J O'Neil, L Cutting, J Ash)
16 years
200m freestyle
E Fullerton (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) 1:58.79
B Bennett (Nunawading, VIC) 2:02.03
K Goldman (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) 2:02.26
200m breaststroke
S Marshall (Cook & Phillip, NSW) 2:31.17
J Legge (Novocastrian, NSW) 2:32.35
B Pasloski (Canada) 2:35.27 - visitor
A Scott (Albany Creek, QLD) 2:37.90
15 years
100m backstroke
W Ireland (Norwood, SA) 1:03.36
C Vanlandandeghem (Canada) 1:03.62 - visitor
E Smith (Hunter, NSW) 1:04.09
J White (SLC Aquadot, NSW) 1:04.32
400m IM
Z Diamond (Liverpool, NSW) 4:50.35
K McMaster (Brisbane Jets, QLD) 4:52.82
L Baker (New Zealand) 4:56.80 - visitor
K Rump (Norwood, SA) 5:01.54
14 years
50m freestyle
B Elmslie (Noosa, QLD) 26.00
A Hart (Applecross, WA) 26.19
E McKeon (Wests Illawarra Aquatic, NSW) 26.32
400m freestyle
M Maselli-Sheridan (Commercial, QLD) 4:21.11
J Kiere (Canada) 4:21.49 - visitor
S Demestichas (Tigersharks, VIC) 4:29.42
E Stevenson (The Glennie, QLD) 4:30.37
100m breaststroke
A Steed (Revesby Workers, NSW) 1:14.18
S Baker (Ginninderra, NSW) 1:14.33
K Dimou (Chandler, QLD) 1:14.41
13 years & under
100m freestyle
Y Kulka (St Peters Western, QLD) 55.26 - Australian All-Comers Record
B Throssell (Kalamunda, WA) 58.02
B McEvoy (Southport Olympic, QLD) 58.62
200m butterfly
M Groves (St Peters Western, QLD) 2:16.08
E Niere (Blue Fin Aquarius, VIC) 2:18.14
T Puskaric (Carss Park, NSW) 2:21.57
CLUB POINT SCORE
Pro-Ma Miami, QLD (1051.5)
St Peters Western, QLD (953.5)
Nunawading, VIC (824.5)
Norwood, SA (713.5)
Brothers, QLD (615)
Full results of Day 4 Finals can be found in the results section of the Swimming Australia website at www.swimming.org.au