Records under threat at titles

SWIMMING Tasmania’s biggest short course championships in five years will unfold this weekend and officials are tipping a host of state records to tumble in the event.

With the sport riding a huge wave of momentum on the back of world champion teen sensation Ariarne Titmus, around 350 athletes will converge on the Hobart Aquatic Centre for the two-day event.

Several swimmers from interstate will also compete in the championships, which is “time based” — meaning there is no progression from heats to semifinals and a final.

Following on from the success of Tasmanian athletes at the recent School Sport Australia Championships, where the likes of Matilda Smith, Jet Jankiewicz, Hugh Dolle and Ethan Jones all smashed multiple state records, Swimming Tasmania chief Jamie McIntyre is expecting times to be lowered even further.

“It would not surprise me to see up to 20 Tasmanian records broken over this weekend,” McIntyre said. “It is a really exciting time for swimming.

“It is probably the Ariarne factor, that has a little bit to do with it in the sense of bringing swimming to the light, but there is also a lot more of the kids qualifying. All our swim meets have qualifying times, not anyone can just enter it.”

McIntyre also praised the effort of Rohan Taylor — the state head coach for swimming in Victoria and Tasmania — for helping lift the standard of the sport. “Since we’ve had Rohan involved as our coach mentor, who is probably second in charge of the Dolphins Swim team and working with our coaches, we have seen a dramatic increase in results coming from the athletes.

“The coaches are doing a fantastic job here in this state embracing new ideas and we are starting to see the results.”

Session one of the Short Course Championships runs from 9am to 1pm, with the second from 4pm-7pm both tomorrow and Sunday. Entry is free.