They each represented their various clubs around the district: Sascha Jones competing in three individual events — 15-years 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly, along with three relays with the Shepparton Swimming Club.
She made the final in her favourite event, the 100m backstroke, winning a bronze medal and also gaining the national age qualifying time to compete in that event for the 2019 Hancock Prospecting Australian Age Swimming Championships to be held at the S.A. Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Adelaide from April 15 to 22.
This adds to the 50m freestyle for which she has already qualified, and this will be Sascha’s third year qualifying for the championships.
Paige Benjamin competed in the 15-years 100m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 100m butterfly and represented Yarramul Swimming Club in two relay events; and Jackson Bury competed in the 12-years 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 100m breaststroke.
All achieved personal best times (PBs) in their events across the weekend and Emma Nolan also represented the Cobram Barooga swimming club in her first Long Course Country Championships in the 15-years 100m breaststroke event, gaining a new PB.
Emma said competing at the meet meant she was able to achieve one of her major goals for swimming.
‘‘Countries was a long term-goal that I have been striving for and determined to reach. It has given me personal satisfaction and encouraged me to aim for even higher goals,’’ she said.
Fourteen swimmers from the S.W.I.M. Squad and Learn to Swim program also qualified for the Victorian All Junior Country Championships to be held at Melbourne Swimming and Aquatic Centre in March.
The swimmers who have made it through to the semi-finals are Emma Nolan (15-years) Bridgette Prentice (15), Jackson Bury (12), Logan White (10), Dakota Pyle (13), Kade Pyle (11), Emily Davies (10), Erin (12), Nick Chesworth (9), Morgan Evans (13), Archie Evans (11), Reuben Haley (11), Reegan Hawke (10) and Alex Hawke (8).
Naomi Hooper has also been competing in several open-water championships and triathlons during the summer, achieving great results in each of the three disciplines and is enjoying the challenge of training for each leg of the competition.
All of these swimmers are currently preparing for their respective school swimming carnivals during the next couple of months, leading into their school district, zone, regional and state swimming championships around country Victoria and country NSW.
Coach Liz Brooke is pleased with their results.
‘‘It is very rewarding to see all of these swimmers achieving their goals by putting in the effort at training, to go on and be rewarded for their hard work by attaining new personal best times, medals, records, becoming age champions at their respective swimming school carnivals and going on to represent their state at a national level.
‘‘As a coach I am proud of each and every one of them.’’
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