Schlicht Sizzles on the Final Night of the Championships

Swimming Australia
Published: Dec 24, 2012 09:00:59 AM Updated: Mar 19, 2013 09:25:46 AM

Surrey Park’s Jemma Schlicht has removed 2008 Olympian Samantha Hamill from the record books on the last night of the Victorian Age Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre. Schlicht, a multiple Australian Age champion, was outstanding as she held off teammate Sian Whittaker to take the Girls 15 Years 200m Individual Medley in 2:18.80, bettering Hamill’s Victorian record of 2:19.02 set back in 2006.

“To do a PB in tonight’s 200 IM was probably the highlight of my week. I’ll look to go quicker at the Victorian Open Championships where I’ll be competing in fewer events, so hopefully I can do a bit better”, said Schlicht.

The teenager almost produced her second record of the night when she narrowly missed the Victorian All Comers record of American Lauren Harrington en route to the title in the Girls 15 years 100m Butterfly. That victory took Schlict’s tally to six Victorian Age titles for the week.

Schlict’s record was one of seven broken on the night with Nunawading’s Nicholas Groenewald breaking his fourth record of the Championships; this time in the Boys 15 years 200m Individual Medley. Groenewald’s time of 2:06.18 smashed the Victorian All Comers record of 2:07.09 set by Japanese swimmer Kouhei Fukazawa at the 2011 Victorian Age Championships. The 15-year will now look to go quicker at the Australian Youth Olympic’s Festival in January, but is not concerned about breaking any records at that event.

“My coach has always said that putting your hand on the wall first is the most important thing, so that’s all that matters at the end of the day. If you win an Olympic Gold it doesn’t matter if you break a record or not; you still win the medal”, said Groenewald.

After erasing Michael Klim’s Victorian record in the boys 17-18 years 200m freestyle earlier in the week, Alexander Graham returned on the final night to beat 2012 Olympian Cameron McEvoy’s Victorian All Comers record in the boys 17-18 years 100m freestyle. Graham’s time of 49.56 was 0.4 seconds quicker than McEvoy’s time set earlier in the year.

Others to break Victorian records on the final night included Mitchell Pratt (Boys 17-18 200m Butterfly), Oliver Nash (Boys 11 & Under 200m Butterfly), Molly Batchelor (Girls 11 & Under 100m Meter Freestyle) and New Zealand’s Bobbi Gichard broke a Victorian All Comers record in the Girls 13 Years 100m Backstroke. 
Melbourne Vicentre Swimming Club won the combined points score for being this year’s most outstanding club at the Victorian Age Championships.

Swimming Victoria now looks forward to the 2013 Victorian Open Championships (January 11^th – 13^th 2013) which will feature members of the Australian Swim Team.

Final Combined Team Scores - Top 5

1. Melbourne Vicentre – 3,337 points

2. Nunawading Swimming Club – 2,966 points

3. Surrey Park– 1,545 points

4. Waterlions - 1,399 points

5. MLC Aquatic – 1,165 points

2013 Victorian Age Champions

11 & Under

Girls – Molly Batchelor (Melbourne Vicentre)

Boys – Oliver Nash (Melbourne Vicentre)

12 Years

Girls – Sarah Webley (Waterlions)