Highlanders swimmer, Tex Cross (c: Ryan Steenkamp) is reaching new heights at the Australian Age & MC Championships on the Gold Coast. Competing in the 17 years 800m freestyle event, Cross clocked an impressive 8:06.55, shaving off 3.16 seconds from his entry time.
The Championships is an opportunity for athletes to not only compete for champion titles but also for a chance for potential selection on the Junior Dolphins' squad for the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships. Cross, along with some of our other WA athletes, are in contention for selection for the event in Canberra later this year.
In the boys' 16 years age group, Lucas Fackerell (Breakers, c: Harry Clark) secured the champion title with a time of 8:19.83, improving his entry time by over three seconds.
18-year-old Johann Szymanski (Highlanders, c: Ryan Steenkamp) dominated his age group and Braden Fyneman (UWA West Coast, c: Rob Palfery) secured bronze in the 17 years age group, swimming over four seconds faster than his entry time.
Sylvia Czajko (UWA West Coast, c: Rob Palfery) stole the spotlight in the girls' events, clinching the champion title in the 16 years 50m freestyle with a swift time of 25.49, hitting under the Junior Pan Pac qualifying time. Czajko's performance in the heats also saw her unofficially break the WA All Time record with a time of 25.27.
In the boys' 16 years 50m freestyle, Jackson Anderson (Highlanders, c: Ryan Steenkamp) and Alex Sillitoe (South Lake Dolphins, c: Stefano Di Bernardo) engaged in a thrilling race, with Anderson securing silver and reaching under the Junior Pan Pac qualifying time, while Sillitoe closely followed behind with a bronze medal.
Sam Hicks (Westside Christ Church, c: Will Greenwood) impressed with his silver in the boys' 16 years 100m backstroke, clocking under the 58-second mark, and his bronze in the 16 years 50m backstroke.
Daniel Boshart (Highlanders, c: Ryan Steenkamp) secured bronze in the 18 years 50m butterfly, clocking in at 24.70.
In the girls' 1500m freestyle, Delta Cross (Highlanders, c: Ryan Steenkamp and Ingrid Blandford (Bunbury, c: Mickie Castieau) both secured bronze in their age groups, significantly improving their entry times.
Inez Miller's (Fenix, c: Deb Jones) bronze in the girls' 17 years 200m freestyle, touching under the two-minute mark, was a highlight.
Beau Mepham (Western Sprint, c: Dion Mepham) set an unofficial WA All Time record in the boys' 14 years 50m freestyle, while UWA West Coast claimed bronze in the 4x50m medley club relay. The team of Alice Massey, Liviya Chen, Emma Stewart and Sylvia Czajko finished with a 1:57.85.
Good luck to all athletes who are heading into Day 6 finals.
