Day 8 Aussie Age Champs: Liquid Wunsch sizzles in Next Gen Showcase

AUSTRALIA’S legacy – and dominance – in the women’s 100m freestyle relay is in safe 17-year-old hands.

The Next Gen of Australia’s sprint stocks, featuring World Junior and Youth Commonwealth Games champions, lined the blocks of the 100m freestyle final at Gold Coast Aquatic Centre in the feature race of Night 8.

Remember these names: World Junior champion Olivia Wunsch (Carlile, coach Michaela Pattinson) – her gold-medal winning relay teammate Milla Jansen (Bond, coach Chris Mooney), World Junior Championship Junior Dolphin Hannah Casey (Bond, Mooney) – pictured left to right – and Commonwealth Youth Games multiple gold medallist Inez Miller (Fenix).

Jansen has been in great form at this meet.

In the 50m on Thursday night; Jansen sizzled in a PB of 24.86 (her first time under 25secs) with Wunsch (25.03) hot on her heels and then Casey (25.65).

But even more telling later in the night was Jansen’s anchor freestyle leg of 53.94 (a flying start relay split but still her first time under 54) in Bond’s Australian record-breaking 4x100m medley relay team.

Also in the mix was perhaps the biggest improver in this age group – Giselle Davey, coached by Olympian Ken Monk at Caulfied in Victoria and recently crowned the 200m free age group champion.

A slick 53.99 saw Wunsch touch first, Jansen second (54.13) and Davey third (55.67).

Senior Dolphin and World Championship relay gold medallist Flynn Southam (Bond) shrugged off back spasms to easily claim the 18 Years 100m freestyle.

Southam, competing at his last Age Nationals, has won the 200, 400 and as of tonight – 100m at this meet.

He would have likely added the 50m if not for withdrawing because of slight back twinge as precautionary measure.

His winning time of 48.94 was still slick given he is yet to taper and with a PB of 47.77 is on track for Paris Trials in June. Koby Bujak-Upton finished second (Knox Pymble, 50.26) and Anders McAlpine third (Churchie, 50.60).

Swimming Australia’s investment in breaststroke is being showcased at this meet by teen queens Olympia Pope (Miami, coach Richard Scarce) and Sienna Toohey (Albury, coach Wayne Gould).

The pair returned to the pool last night for the 15 years 100m breaststroke, and Toohey clocked an impressive 1:07.72 – a PB that has her being compared to a young Leisel Jones.

Pope touched second in (1:09.07) with Lily Koch (Nunawading, 1:10.55) third.

And in other results: 

> Girls 17 years 400m IM:

Gold number three for Tayrn Roberts (Rocky City) who has had a standout meet. Tonight’s gold sits alongside gold in the 200IM and 1500m free, silver in 800m free and 200 breast. But her effort tonight was easily the most impressive – her 4:51.79 more than five seconds ahead of the field and has her firmly in the frame for Junior Pan Pac selection. Griffith University’s Haylee Reid, coached by Olympian Thomas Fraser-Holmes, finished second (4:57.25) and Arabella Bahr (Norwood, 4:57.53) third.

> Girls 13 years 100m freestyle:

Nudgee College swimmer Mena Bertinato gate-crashed Ciara Jeffs’ Glitter Strip party – smashing out a 58.04 PB to out-touch Jeffs (Yarra Plenty, 58.84). Warringah’s Hannah Huisman touched third (59.07). For Jeffs, her silver takes her meet medal total to two gold and five silvers.

> Boys 14 years 100m freestyle:

Lukas Dunn, son of Olympian Matt, finally broke through for his first gold of the meet. In a controlled swim from Lane 5, Dunn touched in 52.55, with Churchie’s Maxwell Cunningham second (53.68) and Singapore’s Tedd Chan third (52.93). Chandler’s Lincoln Wearing won the bronze as the third-placed Australian.

> Boys 16 years 200m freestyle:

WA young gun Lucas Fackerell (Breakers) had already struck gold here in the 800 and 1500m free and added to his stash in the 200m, clocking 1:51.32; Kai Gilbert (St Peters Western, 1:53.15) second and Solomon Freeman (Cronulla, 1:53.67) third. Fackerell is well in contention for Junior Pan Pac selection and will swim at World Junior Open Water Championships in Italy in September.