Leon Macalister Takes Down Australian Age Group Mark in 100 Back

Photo Courtesy: Cathleen Pruden

Just days after Kaylee McKeown set a new backstroke age record in the girl’s 14years 200m final, 15-year-old Leon Macalister has followed in her footsteps and set a new Australian Age and all-comers record in the boy’s 100m back final.

Macalister clocked a 56.59 to take the age group title and erase Olympian Dan Arnamnart from the record books on the fourth night of finals at the 2016 Georgina Hope Foundation Australian Age Championships.

The Carlile swimmer finished almost three seconds clear of Tom Berryman in second with Alexander Tsebelis third in 1:00.09.

Backstroke in Australia is currently taking centre stage on an international level, with two dual world champions in Mitch Larkin and Emily Seebohm, as well as the silver medallist from the women’s 100m back with Madi Wilson and the dual junior world champion in Minna Atherton.

With depth in the age groups coming through, backstroke could well be the way forward for the Australian Dolphins Swim team. Junior World Champion form the 200m individual medley Clyde Lewis turned in a top time of 2:00.09 – faster than his winning time from Junior Worlds last August – to collect the 17/18 years age title.

Second place went to Theo Benehoutsos in 2:02.60 with Louis Townsend third in 2:03.55. Swimming at his last age event, Lewis will be one to watch in the future, as well as the not too distant future when he races at the 2016 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships from April 7 to 14.

Yeronga Park youngster Kaleb Welfare showed promising speed in the boy’s 14 years 50m freestyle, taking out the final comfortably in a time of 23.91. Welfare was too quick for silver medallist Oliver Nash in 24.41, with Finlay Donaghey rounding out the top three in a time of 24.81.

Swimming Australia contributed this report.

Georgina Hope Foundation 2016 Australian Age Swimming Championships, SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre, FINALS, Day Four:

MEN

17-18 years
100m butterfly Dominic Richardson (TSS Aquatics QLD) 53.59, Bowen Gough (Nunawading VIC) 54.21, Nic Greonewald (Nunawading VIC) 54.67
200m IM Clyde Lewis (St Peters Western QLD) 2:00.09, Theo Benehoutsos (Greece) 2:02.60, Louis Townsend (2:03.55)

16 years

200m freestyle Zachary Attard (Cherrybrook Carlile NSW) 1:50.89, Ethan McAleese (Rockingham WA) 1:53.34, Samuel Wendt (East Brisbane QLD) 1:53.50

200m breaststroke Nathan Zhu (Tigersharks VIC) 2:17.06, David Schlicht (MLC VIC) 2:18.16, Heath Macleod (MLC VIC) 2:18.18

15 years

100m backstroke Leon Macalister (Carlile NSW) 56.59, Tom Berryman (Port Macquarie NSW) 59.52, Alexander Tsebelis (Traralgon VIC)

400m IM Elijah Winnington (Bond QLD) 4:30.54, Donovan Lee (Singapore) 4:39.83, Brendon Smith (Nunawading VIC) 4:41.66.

14 years

50m freestyle Kaleb Welfare (Yeronga Park QLD) 23.91, Oliver Nash (MVC VIC) 24.41, Finlay Donaghey (Genesis QLD) 24.81.

400m freestyle Ni k Jennens (Carlile NSW) 4:05.38, Se-Bom Lee (Cherrybrook Carlile NSW) 4:08.36, Csongor Cellie (Visitor) 4:10.49

100m breaststroke Sebastian Leavy (Newmark QLD) 1:05.32, Joshua Gilbert (NZL) 1:06.26, Ryan Bicknell (Nunawading VIC) 1:06.41

12/13 years

100m freestyle Taiga Yoshida (Genesis QLD) 53.73, Thomas Hauck (All Saints QLD) 53.98, Bailey Coleman (Southside Aquatics QLD) 54.30

200m butterfly Dominic Lopez (Campbelltown NSW) 2:14.15, Troy Carlson (Eumundi QLD) 2:14.25, David Tabke (QT Swimming NSW) 2:16.13

WOMEN

17-18 years
100m butterfly Alice Stuart, (TSS Aquatics QLD) 1:00.15, Lucia Lassman (St Peters Western QLD) 1:00.24, Alexandra Good (Surrey Park VIC) 1:00.39
200m IM Abbey Harkin (St Peters Western QLD) 2:14.99, Abby Duncan (Norwood SA) 2:18.35, Acacia Wildin-Snedden (St Peters Western QLD) 2:19.64

16 years

200m freestyle Laura Taylor (TSS Aquatics QLD) 2:01.67, Kirrily Siebenhausen (Nudgee College QLD) 2:02.36, Rebekah Sefton (The Hills NSW) 2:02.49

200m breaststroke Ashleigh Glover (UWSC WA) 2:33.14, Sofia Cicchitti (Newmark QLD) 2:33.74, Sachi Morrow (Arena WA) 2:36.04

15 years

100m backstroke Mia Rolfe (Carlile NSW) 1:03.53, Courtney Taylor (Tuggeranong Vikings ACT) 1:03.85, Sienna McDonald (Castle Hill RSL NSW) 1:04.40

400m IM Mya Rasmussen (NZL) 4:46.87, Sarah Beale (Acacia Bayside QLD) 4:53.99, Emma Siddle (Southport QLD) 4:55.19

14 years

50m freestyle Larah Fedalto (St Peters Western QLD) 26.06, Maria Moshovis (Breakers WA) 26.58, Laticia Transom (Brisbane Grammar QLD) 26.69

400m freestyle Laticia Transom (Brisbane Grammar QLD) 4:21.35, Phoebe Walker (St Peters Western QLD) 4:21.44, Rebecca Jacobson (Albany Creek QLD) 4:22.60

100m breaststroke Chelsea Hodges (Southport QLD) 1:12.78, Caitlin Leslie (St Peters Western QLD) 1:12.93, Poppy Mahony (Acacia Bayside QLD) 1:13.70

12/13 years

100m freestyle Lydia Murray (St Peters Western QLD) 57.91, Jenna Forrester (St Peters Western QLD) 58.10, Brooke Napper (All Saints QLD) 58.51

200m butterfly Lydia Murray (St Peters Western QLD) 2:18.24, Sharni Robinson (St Peters Western QLD) 2:19.11, Sophie Botterill-James (Hobart TAS) 2:21.59

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Leah Allen

8 years ago

Good work Leon!!

Leon MacAlister

8 years ago

Reply to Leah Allen

Thanks! 🙂