No stage fright for swimmers

“Zero-point-one-six seconds off,” says a lady in the stands at the Ballarat Swimming Centre.

There are tears poolside as a swimmer misses out on qualifying for the Victorian State Country Championships.

Krys Syrota, age 10, from Pomonal also has a final chance at qualification. She needs a one-second personal best to make the 11-and-under finals.

“After my race I looked at the time board,” she said.

“I had to check my lane number again because I beat my PB by two seconds, and then it was like, ‘Yes!’ I almost cried.”

Tears of joy, tears of disappointment – simply, this is what it means to young swimmers to qualify for the ‘Countries’.

This year the Countries bring together more than 600 of Victoria’s best non-metrolpolitan-melbourne swimmers.

Brad Harris, a top Victorian junior swimming coach, said they represented a pathway to elite competition.

“Countries are a good stepping stone between district and state-level swimming,” he said.

This year 14 swimmers from the Wimmera competed at the Countries, some for local clubs – Ararat, Horsham, Grampians – while others were furthering their pursuit of swimming excellence with larger clubs in Bendigo and Ballarat.

Deacon Briggs said he relished the feeling of competing at Countries.

“Compared to states and national finals, the atmosphere is amazing. I love it,” he said. Another qualifier, Matthew Ough, said he loved meeting other swimmers from across the state.

“It’s a great chance to catch up with friends from clubs from all over Victoria,” he said.

The Wimmera swimmers competed in 56 individual events and recorded a 39 PBS.

Particular congratulations to medal winners Lily Eldridge, first and third, and Jorja Clode, two thirds. Yet all Wimmera finalists – and their coaches – deserve credit: Madee Townsend, Tom Urquhart, Jack and Claudia Lanyon, Krys Syrota, Jorja Clode, Billie Donnan, Dylan Ryan, Deacon Briggs, Matthew Ough, Luca Geue, Ruby Hill, Eloise Wills, and Lily Eldridge.