FOUR swimmers from the Shepparton Swim Club have taken to the pool at the Australian Age Nationals in Adelaide, with personal bests achieved and great results coming from the club.
16-year-old, Darcie Guthrie was attending her third and final age nationals before she moves on to the open event next year. This year she qualified in four events (her most ever) including the 50m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 200m breaststroke and 200m individual medley. She swam personal bests in all four events and made her first Australian Age Final in the 200m breaststroke to finish 10th overall in Australia in the 16 year age group and 18th overall in the 100m breaststroke.
16-year-old, Harry Shortis qualified for his first nationals this year in two events, the 200m and 400m freestyle. Harry has the misfortune to change up in age group the week before the nationals. He swam a personal best time in his first race the 400m freestyle finishing 41st, but managed to overcome nerves for his second swim in the 200m freestyle for a small personal best and finishing up 46th overall.
15-year-old, William Leahy qualified in his first national event at the age nationals in the 100m breaststroke after just a year in competitive swimming. Nerves also got the best of him on the day, with a swim over his best time and finishing 43rd overall.
Finley resident, Sascha Jones, who trains under Liz Brooke at Stroke Work in Motion in Cobram, travels to Shepparton once a week to train long course with the Shepparton club. This was her third nationals and after an extended break from the pool she returned to compete in the 15 years 50m freestyle, finishing 36th overall and 16th overall in the 100m backstroke.
Head coach, Michelle Swift said, “Darcie’s finish was well deserved as she has worked hard on improving every year. In her first nationals event in 2017 she finished 47th in the 200m breaststroke and 48th 100m breaststroke. Last year she achieved a personal best but was unfortunately disqualified for a one handed turn in the 200m breaststroke and finished 26th in the 100m breaststroke.
“Despite the lack of experience in the two new members of the team they swam well. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to experience racing at the top level in Australia and also provide some motivation and enthusiasm going back into training in June for next year’s event.”
