MAROON TIDAL WAVE SWAMPS AUSTRALIAN AGE SWIM MEET

Sydney, April 18:  Queensland swimmers have dominated the six-day Australian Age Swimming Championships which wound up at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. Brooke Hanson Clarke reports....

 

Highlights:

  - Mikkayla Maselli-Sheridan wins her ninth gold medal….

- Two Australian records fall in one race to Yolane Kukla….

- Pro-Ma Miami win National pointscore…

- Queensland takes 10th straight Inter-State title…while

 - British girl Ellen Gandy shows why she has world title claims

 

Queensland wonderkids Mikkayla Maselli-Sheridan(Commercial, QLD) and Yolane Kukla (St Peters Western, QLD), led the way with extraordinary individual performances.

 

Maselli-Sheridan won a history making nine gold and one bronze medal in a “Thorpe-esque” type performance and Kukla again broke two records in one race – both held by Beijing Olympians.

 

Gold Coast club Pro-Ma Miami, led by Ellen Fullerton and Daniel Smith were crowned Australian club champions and Queensland the champion State for a record 10th year after winning all eight inter-state relays.

 

The Denis Cotterell led Miami held on to claim the coveted title with 1,465.5 points from the fast finishing St Peters Western, QLD (1,388) with Nunawading, Victoria third (1,164.5).

 

FORMER GYMNAST POOLS HER TALENT

 

All eyes were again on 13-year-old Kukla, the Year Nine student at Brisbane’s St Peters Western Lutheran College, who won her fifth gold medal and broke her third Australian record of the championships in the final of the 13years & under girls 100m backstroke.

 

The former gymnast, who is coached by Michael Palfery under the club’s head coach, Michael Bohl, took an amazing five seconds off her previous best to continue who meteoric rise up the Australian rankings.

 

Kukla, better known for her freestyle feats, stopped the clock at 1.03.33 breaking the Australian record held by 2008 Olympic medley relay gold medallist Emily Seebohm (1.03.69).

 

Her time also broke the Australian All-comers record set in 2004 by Great Britain’s Beijing Olympic finalist Elizabeth Simmonds (1.03.55).

 

“I can’t believe it - I’m in shock and so surprised, I don’t train for

backstroke and my personal best coming into Age was 1.08 and I just went 1.03… wow!” said an excited Kukla.

 

“I thought to myself, I have nothing to lose so I just went for it.

 

“I knew I was bouncing up and down in the last 10 metres and I’m so glad I held in there I really can’t believe I swam that fast.”

 

MIKKAYLA STILL THE ONE WITH NINE GOLD

 

Maselli-Sheridan (Commercial, QLD) continued her extraordinary dominance, winning her ninth gold medal in a “Thorpe-esk” type performance – taking her tally to nine gold and one bronze from 10 swims.

 

Ian Thorpe won 10 gold medals at the Australian Age Championships back in 1996 before launching his international career at the age of 14 in 1997.

 

Mikkayla had to fight every metre of the way in her closest race of the week before taking out the girls 14 years 200m freestyle in a time of 2.03.95 and securing her position as the most successful girl medal winner of the meet.

 

The former South Australian, now in Olympic coach Stefan Widmer’s QAS stable in Brisbane, beat her 2008 medal tally making her the most successful female in the history of the Australian Age Championships.

 

“I’m so excited, it was good to have a great week of racing and we swam an extra day than last year and although the sixth day felt like it took forever, it

also went super quick,” said Maselli-Sheridan after winning her tenth medal.

 

“If I had to choose two events out of the ten it would be my 100m and 200m

backstroke finals as I swam personal best times.

 

“I’m extremely relieved the week is over and I’m looking forward to having

a week off and celebrating by going out to dinner with mum and dad, then

it’s time to get back into training and focus on improving my times.”

 

ELLEN OFF TO ROME WITH AUSSIE RECORD

 

Joining in the record-breaking were Nunawading’s British star Ellen Gandy and Western Australian Lennard Bremer.

 

In the first race of the night Gandy created a new Australian All-comers record in the 17-18 years girls 200m butterfly recording a time of 2.07.38.

 

Gandy currently holds the fastest time in the world this year for the 200m

butterfly at 2.04.83 and will go to the Rome World Championships in July as

one of the favourites to win a medal.

 

Gandy was cheered on by her Australian based team mates from the Nunawading Swimming club where she is trained by Olympic coach Rohan Taylor.

 

Gandy has had a great week of racing finishing with two gold and four silver

Medals.

 

First placed Australian was Amy Levings (Pro-Ma Miami) 2.15.00, with Jessica Ash (Norwood, SA) taking silver and Gianna Leone (West Coast, WA) 2.16.47

the bronze.

 

BREMER’S AQUA ATTACK ON BREASTSROKE MARK

 

Perth-based Lennard Bremer (Aqua Attack, WA) also set a new Australian

Record,winning his fourth gold medal of the championships in the 14 years

boys 200m breaststroke.

 

Bremer dominated the four lap race breaking the six-year-old record set by James Stacey(Barker Aquatics) 2.22.24 in 2003.

 

“It’s hard to describe how I feel because it really hasn’t set in yet. It was a really good race, my fourth gold medal of the meet and definitely the most memorable,” Bremer said.

 

“Winning gold and breaking the Australian record was great, yet I really can’t believe it.”

 

SEVEN UP FOR REGAN IN BACKSTROKE

 

The most successful boy’s medallist of the week was Townsville Marlins Queensland’s Regan Leong who led from start to finish in the 13 years and under boys 100m backstroke tonight to win his seventh gold medal in a time of 1.00.63.

 

World Championship rookie Ellen Fullerton lead from start to finish in the 16 years girls 800m freestyle winning her fifth gold medal of the week in a time of 8:40.56 to finish well ahead of Canadian Lindsay Seemann (8:49.10) with Junior Pan Pac 10km open water championBelinda Bennett (Nunawading, VIC) 8:52.12 finishing second Australian with Miranda Bell(Rocky City, QLD) 8:57.24 finishing third.

 

Fullerton’s World Championship team mate Merindah Dingjan (Southside Wesley, WA) 55.48 won her third gold medal in the 17-18 years 100m freestyle, with Tiffany Papaemanouil(Norwood, SA) 56.45 second and Ellese Zalewski (Nunawading, VIC) 56.94 third.

 

JAYDEN’S SIX PACK WITH IM AND FLY GOLD

 

Jayden Hadler (Commercial, QLD) took his medal tally to five gold when he won the 15 years boys 200m individual medley in time of (2.05.99).

 

Second went to the winner of the 400m individual medley Mitch Larkin (Brisbane Jets, QLD) 2.07.63 with Daniel Egan (Moonee Valley Aquatic) 2:10.10 third.

 

But he wasn’t done with yet…. returning to the pool 45 minutes later to win his sixth gold medal in the 100m butterfly in a time of 54.70, finishing the meet with six gold and one silver.

 

In the boys 14 years 200m freestyle, impressive Southport Olympic swimmer Zach Featherstone (1.56.27) won his fourth gold medal of the championships also taking his tally to four gold and one silver.

 

In the 15 years girls 200m individual medley breaststroke specialist Tessa Wallace (Pelican Waters Caloundra, QLD) turned fifth at the 100m mark then worked her strengths in her back end to win the race in 2.17.07 – to win her third gold.

 

Wallace held off fast finishing Zoe Diamond (Liverpool, NSW) 2.18.11 who won the silver medal ahead of bronze medallists Natasha Fung (Canada) 2.18.98 and Keryn McMaster(Brisbane Jets, QLD) 2.19.36

 

 

TOP TEN CLUB POINT SCORE

Pro-Ma Miami, QLD (1465.5)

St Peters Western, QLD (1388)

Nunawading, VIC (1164.5)

Norwood, SA (1060.5)

Brothers, QLD (803)

Melbourne Vicentre, VIC (726)

Commercial, QLD (581)

Trinity Grammar School, NSW (576)

Southport Olympic, QLD (544)

Liverpool, NSW (534.5)

 

 

STATE POINT SCORE WINNERS

QUEENSLAND

(For the tenth year in a row)

 

LEADING INDIVIDUAL MEDAL WINNERS

 

GIRLS

Mikkayla Maselli-Sheridan (Commercial QLD)

 

9 GOLD

800m freestyle 8:56.33

200m freestyle 2.03.95

100m backstroke 1:03.66

200m backstroke 2:15.49

100m butterfly 1:01.31

200m butterfly 2:14.51

200m IM 2:17.83

400m IM 4:54.84

1 BRONZE

100m freestyle 57.92

 

BOYS

Regan Leong (Townsville Marlins, QLD)

 

 7 GOLD

50m freestyle 24.90

100m freestyle 53.96

200m freestyle 1:59.45

100m butterfly 1:00.21

200m butterfly 2:14.29

100m backstroke 1.00.63

200m backstroke 2:15.53

 

1 SILVER

200m IM 2:18.71

 

 

2009 Australian Age Championships Medal Winners - Day 6
 
BOYS
 
17/18 years
 
200m butterfly
G Irvine (St Peters Western, WA) 1:59.98 
R Pavoni (Great Britain) 1:59.99 V
L Staples (Kingswim, NSW) 2:00.03
C Timms (SLC Aquadot, NSW) 2:02.16

100m freestyle
D Smith (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) 50.30
J Magnussen (Port Macquarie, NSW) 50.57
L Kerswell (Southside Aquatics, QLD) 51.06

18 years & under 4x100m medley relay
Norwood, SA 3.49.76 (B Edmonds, J Palmer, D Potts, C Wong)
Nunawading, VIC 3.51.74 (T Mahoney J Laidler S Sheppard, M Pryor)
St Peters Western, QLD 3.51.74 (N Cobbe J Di Bella G Irvine N McKendry)

16 years
1500m freestyle
N McKendry (St Peters Western, QLD) 15: 46.22
L Friess (Liverpool, NSW) 15.56.08
W Eggleton (Unattached, NSW) 16:05.58

200m backstroke
J Beaver (Tigersharks, VIC) 2:05.70
M Evans (Hervey Bay, QLD) 2:05.83
R Sanders (Noosa, QLD) 2:06.77

15 years
200m IM
J Hadler (Commercial, QLD) 2:05.99
M Larkin (Brisbane Jets, QLD) 2:07.63
D Egan (Moonee Valley Aquatic, VIC) 2:10.10

100m butterfly
J Hadler (Commercial, QLD) 54.70
M Roberts (Novocastrian, NSW) 56.22
N Romeo (Trinity Grammar School, NSW) 57.86

14 years
200m freestyle
Z Featherstone (Southport Aquatic, QLD) 1:56.27
M Jepson (Sea Eagles, NSW) 1:57.54
C Smith (Twin Towns, NSW) 1:59.13

200m breaststroke
L Bremer (Aqua Attack, WA) 2:21.14 (Australian 14 years record)
J Packard Noosa, QLD)  2:27.31
T Dobrunz (Tigersharks, VIC) 2:29.23

14 years & under 4x50m medley State relay

QLD 1:48.05 (R Leong J Packard Z Whenuaroa, Z Featherstone) Australian 14 years, Australian 14 years All-comers records
NSW 1:49.64 (A McNamara, T Cottam, C Smith, T Haumi Maxwell)
VIC 1:52.99 (A Nettleford, T Dobrunz, J Nettleford, M Passaro) 

13 years & under
100m backstroke
Y Kukla (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:03.33 (Australian 13 years , Australian 13 years All-comers record)
H Baker (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) 1:06.40
C Shaw (Mount Annan, NSW) 1:06.55

400m IM
A Guerzoni (The Hobart Aquatic Centre, TAS) 4:54.18
A Williams (Gladstone, QLD) 4:58.81
R Leonard (Macquarie Shores, NSW)  4:59.25

GIRLS

17/18 years
 
200m butterfly
E Gandy (Great Britain) 2:07.38 (Australian All-comers record) V 
A Levings (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) 2:15.00
J Ash (Norwood, SA) 2:15.48
G Leone (West Coast, WA) 2:16.47

100m freestyle
M Dingjan (Southside Wesley, WA) 55.48
T Papaemanouil (Norwood, SA) 56.45
E Zalewski (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) 56.94

18 years & under 4x100m medley relay

Nunawading, VIC 4:17.73 S Bennett L Wong E Zalewski B Bennett
Norwood, SA 4.18.14 C Clarke T Papaemanouil J Ash J O’Neil
City of Perth, WA 4.23.01 B Evans I Holm O Vorster K Jefferies

16 years
 
800m freestyle 
E Fullerton (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) 8:40.56
L Seemann (Great Britain) 8:49.10 Visitor
B Bennett (Nunawading, VIC) 8:52.12
M Bell (Rocky City, QLD) 8:57.24

200m backstroke
C Sinclair (MLC Marlins, NSW) 2:17.28
L Seemann (Canada) 2:18.89
M Bell (Rocky City, QLD) 2:20.62
R Dielesen (Arena, WA) 2:02.65

15 years
 
200m IM
T Wallace (Pelican Waters Caloundra, QLD) 2:17.07
Z Diamond (Liverpool, NSW) 2:18.11
N Fung (Canada) 2:18.98 Visitor
K McMaster (Brisbane Jets, QLD) 2:19.36

100m butterfly
C Vanlandeghem (Canada) 1:01.04 Visitor
M Bath (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:02.01
T Wallace (Pelican Waters, Caloundra, QLD) 1:02.54
A Tokai (Tigersharks, VIC) 1:02.57

14 years
 
200m freestyle
M Maselli-Sheridan (Commercial, QLD) 2:03.95
J Keire (Canada) 2:4.44 Visitor
B Elmslie (Noosa, QLD) 2:4.54
E McKeon (Wests Illawarra, NSW) 2:05.09

200m breaststroke
K Dimou (Chandler, QLD) 2:36.53
N Roberts (Maribyrnong, VIC) 2:38.65
S Baker (Ginninderra, NSW) 2:39.75

14 years & under 4x50m medley State relay
QLD 1:58.03 M Wilson, T David, B Elmslie, Y Kukla Australian, Australian All-comers records  
NSW 1.58.84 S Marceddo, A Steed E McKeon G Miller
WA 2.02.33 J Spittal C Sanders B Throssell A Hart

13 years & under
 
100m backstroke
R Leong (Townsville Marlins, QLD) 1:00.63
A Williams (Gladstone, QLD) 1:03.20
Y Tkachenko (Burnside, SA) 1:03.96

400m IM
T Gilmour (Coolum Peregian, QLD) 5:06.27
C Buchanan (Acacia Bayside, QLD) 5:06.57
M Perkins (Novocastrian, NSW) 5:08.50

 

Full results of the 2009 Australian Age Championships can be found in the results section of the Swimming Australia website at www.swimming.org.au