Seven Records Set at Aussie Age-Group Championships

SYDNEY, Australia, April 30. WHEN Daniel Smith walked away from last week’s Australian Age Group Championships, he heard a few comparisons to Ian Thorpe. Why? Well, Smith took home eight gold medals from the competition, not far off the 10 gold medals that Thorpe accumulated at the 1996 version of the meet. Of course, we all know how great Thorpe has become.

Racing in the 14-year-old division, Smith was a one-man wrecking crew as he won the 50 freestyle (24.84), 100 free (53.58), 200 free (1:56.11) and the 400 free (4:04.95). Smith also had dominant showings outside of the freestyle, evident in his victories in the 200 individual medley (2:12.90), 100 butterfly (59.36), 100 backstroke (59.71) and 200 backstroke (2:10.95).

Overall, the event featured seven Australian age-group records, including a trio from Ellese Zalewski in the 14-year-old classification. Zalewski zoomed to records in the 100 fly (1:00.19), 50 free (25.71) and 100 free (56.37). Zalewski also claimed gold medals in the 200 butterfly (2:14.74), 200 free (2:02.87) and 400 free (4:22.78).

The other Aussie age-group records that were set came courtesy of Cate Cambell in the 13-year-old 50 free (26.20), Brad Simmons in the 13-year-old 100 free (54.19), Samantha Hamill in the 15-year-old 200 fly (2:11.81) and Daniel Arnamnart in the 16-year-old 200 backstroke (2:02.64). Hamill also delivered triumphs in the 200 I.M. (2:19.02), 100 fly (1:00.66), 100 free (58.07), 200 free (2:03.73) and 400 free (4:20.72).

Here are the members of the Aussie all-star squads:

Australian Age All-Star Team (13-15)

Christopher Ashwood 14 Sladem NSW
Nathan Broadbent 15 Gosford Stingrays NSW
Kieran Casey 15 Mingara Aquatic NSW
David Ferguson-Sharp15 Haileybury Waterlions VIC
Samantha Hamill15 Surrey Park VIC
Belinda Hocking 15 Albury NSW
Nick Johnston 15 Brothers QLD
Jack Laidler 15 Nunawading VIC
Ryan Napoleon 15 Southport Olympic QLD
Jacinta Powell 15 Gardens QLD
Katrina Schieber 15 Brothers QLD
Jason Schnyder 15 Geelong VIC
Emily Seebohm 13 Brothers QLD
Keatyn Simpson 14 Aqua Z NSW
Daniel Smith 14 Miami QLD
Ben Syme-Ross 15 Klim Swim Trojans VIC
Ellese Zalewski 14 Melbourne Vicentre VIC

Australian Youth All-Star Team (16-18)

Daniel Arnamnart 16 Aquaburn NSW
Bronte Barratt 17 Albany Creek QLD
David Browne 18 St Peters Western QLD
Nic Donald 17 SAC Seals NSW
Talia Goddard 18 Carey Aquatic VIC
Trent Grimsey 17 Albany Creek QLD
Andrew Lauterstein18 Southport Olympic QLD
Sara Marson 16 Twin Towns NSW
Danni Miatke 18 Carey Aquatic VIC
Kenrick Monk 18 SAC Seals NSW
Meagen Nay 17 Southport Olympic QLD
Kylie Palmer 16 Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton QLD
Stephen Parkes 17 SLC Aquadot NSW
Amy Smith 16 River City Rapids QLD
James Stacey 17 Barker Aquatics NSW
Stephanie Williams16 Hunter NSW
Kristen Wilson 17 Haileybury Waterlions VIC

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use