Nine Western Australian athletes and two coaches have been selected for the Australian Junior Dolphins team set to compete at the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships. Among them stands four-time 2024 Australian Age Champion, Lucas Fackerell (Breakers, c: Harry Clark).
The Junior Pan Pacific Championships, scheduled from August 21-24 at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, serve as a crucial platform for the Junior Dolphins as they prepare for the upcoming World Junior Championships.
The athletes and coaches were chosen based on their performance at the 2024 Australian Age & Open Championships. Fackerell won medals in the distance freestyle events, while Sylvia Czajko (UWA West Coast, c: Rob Palfery), WA’s top sprinter, dominated the 50m freestyle event.
The Junior Dolphins team will be competing against top international juniors from powerhouse nations like the United States, Japan, and Canada.
This year marks a historic moment as Australia hosts the Championships for the first time since its inception in 2005. Previously held in locations like Hawaii, Guam, and Fiji, the event's relocation underscores Australia's rising prominence in the world of junior swimming.
Matt Nelson, Swimming WA Athlete Pathways Manager, expressed, "We are so proud of the nine athletes and two coaches representing Australia at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in August.
"It is testament to the extraordinary dedication that athletes and coaches show to bettering their craft and we are excited to see their continued progression both in and out of the pool.
"We extend our congratulations to the incredible teams that support athletes and coaches on a daily basis - their coaches, clubs, families, friends, teammates, and support staff - your support is so valuable in the successes of these athletes and coaches."
The expertise and guidance from WA coaches Rob Palfery (UWA West Coast) and Ryan Steenkamp (Highlanders) will undoubtedly contribute greatly to the Australian team.
The selected athletes for the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships are as follows:
|
Name |
Club |
Coach |
|
Sylvia Czajko |
UWA West Coast |
Rob Palfery |
|
Inez Miller |
Fenix/WAIS |
Deb Jones & Ben Higson |
|
Isabel Sheldrick |
Fenix |
Deb Jones |
|
Sean Alcorn |
St Hildas |
Zoe Baker |
|
Jackson Anderson |
Highlanders |
Ryan Steenkamp |
|
Xavier Collins |
Westside Christ Church |
Jon Harrison |
|
Tex Cross |
Highlanders |
Ryan Steenkamp |
|
Lucas Fackerell |
Breakers |
Harry Clark |
|
Braden Fyneman |
UWA West Coast |
Rob Palfery |
