STATE AGE SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS

A new era in the State Age Short Course Championships began on the weekend with the trial of a new Heats & Finals format.  Gippsland swimmers certainly made their presence felt at the Championships claiming  a total of 23 medals over the weekend and breaking 2 Victorian records, 14 Country Records and 31 Out of Gippsland Records along the way.

Ever improving East Gippsland swimmer Lily Collins (14) swam wonderfully all weekend and scored silver in the 100m Breast (1:12:64) in a new Victorian Country record time, and won bronze in 50m Free (27:18); 200m Breast and 100m Free (58.99) setting another Victorian Country record.

Warragul breaststroker Kate Sommerfield (17) won silver in the 100m Breast (1:10:17) in a Victorian Country record time.  Another fine swim in the 200m Breast (2:36:42) saw Kate take silver again breaking the Victorian Country record.

The depth of talented Traralgon swimmers was evident with outstanding performances throughout the weekend.

 Georgia Tsebelis (13) was a stand out performer winning gold and breaking 2 Victorian records in both 200m Back (2:17:01) and 200m Individual Medley 2:21:45.  More fine swims saw Georgia break multiple Country Records and pick up silver in the 50m Free (27:23);  100m Free (57:69) and 100m Individual Medley (1:05:80) and bronze in 100m Back (1:04:47) 100m Fly (1:06:20).  Georgia’s fine performances resulted in her being selected for the Victorian Team which will attend the Australian Short Course Teams Challenge in Canberra from 18-20 September.

Brayden Haney (13) showed fine form winning gold in the 200m Breast (2:37:20) and backed up with a bronze medal in the 100m Breast (1:13:20) in a new Victorian Country Record time.

Talented young swimmer Erin Roberts (12) swam strongly in the 50m Free (28:97) to win silver and another silver in the 100m Individual Medley (1:12:31)

Trent Morrow (13) showed his strength in the 100m Free (55:59) winning silver in a Victorian Country Record time and again in the 200m Free (2:06:65) in another Victorian Country record time.

 Dylan Wyatt swam strongly in the 200m Free (1:53:01) winning bronze and also won bronze in the 400m Free (4:05:21)

Maggie O’Keefe (13) performed well all weekend making finals in all her events and winning bronze in the 50m Free (27:25)

 Up and coming young swimmer Gemma Radosavljevic (11) won bronze in 50m Free (30:10) and also made finals in all her other events.

 Well done to all Gippsland swimmers who swam extremely well throughout the weekend and recorded some great personal best times along the way.