Swimmers shine in Melbourne
Wimmera District 12 swimmers experienced success in the pool at an interdistrict meet at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
They will now focus on a Wimmera championship at St Arnaud on Saturday.
A Wimmera team of 47 competed in a Saturday program in Melbourne featuring 68 events – 58 individual events and 10 relays.
Swimmers had to compete in specific age groups, except in open racing, open to swimmers of any age.
Wimmera competitors performed strongly in individual events with 13 finishing with top-10 placings for their respective individual events.
The majority of Wimmera swimmers also achieved personal-best times.
For some Wimmera swimmers it was the first time they had competed outside their district, let alone the MSAC’S 10-lane Olympic pool.
Jorja Clode achieved outstanding individual success for the day in a 10 and under girls section, coming second in butterfly, third in freestyle, fourth in backstroke and ninth in breaststroke.
Eloise Wills also had a successful day, placing second in 11-12 girls 100-metre freestyle and fourth in 100m backstroke.
A 10 and under girls freestyle relay team was first to experience success on the day.
With parents, support crew and team-mates looking on, the girls finished in a comfortable third place.
The team comprised Asha Dale, Jorja Clode, Billie Donnan and Ella Reichelt. For some of the girls it is their first year of competitive swimming.
They also competed in a 10 and under medley relay, finishing fourth.
Other Wimmera District 12 relay results from the meet: 13-14 boys medley, fourth; 13-14 boys freestyle, fourth; 17 and over girls medley, fourth; 17 and over girls freestyle, fourth; 10 and under boys medley, fifth; 10 and under boys freestyle, fifth; 15-16 girls medley, fifth; 1516 girls freestyle, fifth; 12-12 girls freestyle, sixth; 15-16 boys medley, sixth; 15-16 boys freestyle, sixth; 1212 boys medley, sixth; 13-14 girls freestyle, eighth; 13-14 girls medley, ninth; men’s open 400m medley, seventh; women’s open 400m freestyle, ninth; men’s open 400m freestyle, seventh; women’s open 400m freestyle, eighth.
Erin Kearns and Maywadee Townsend also represented the Wimmera in multi-class events.
Erin competed in three events, finishing seventh in breaststroke, equal ninth in freestyle and 10th in backstroke.
Maddie competed in two events, finishing equal ninth with Erin in freestyle and 11th in backstroke.
This weekend the St Arnaud pool will open at 9am for warm-ups, with heats to start at 10am.
Finals are in the afternoon and the meet will determine age champions for the district.