High five for Macey Sheridan and Luke Higgs at Aussie Age Champs

AS the sun set on the final session of the Australian Age Championships on the Gold Coast, it was almost impossible not to dream of Paris, LA and Brisbane.

It was another day of stellar racing from Australia’s brightest stars with budding teenagers Olivia Wunsch (pictured), Marcus Da Silva, Macey Sheridan, Luke Higgs and Mikayla Bird – just to name a few – wrapping up their respective age group campaigns.

For some, it was their first step up to the national stage, for others an opportunity to be selected for the Junior Pan Pacific and Oceania Championships.

Others like Senior Dolphins Flynn Southam and Jaclyn Barclay, who won 50-100-200m backstroke, used the nine days of racing for a tune up ahead of the Australian Open Championships from April 17-20, and the Australian Olympic Trials in June.

In the all-important club point score, St Peter’s Western finished on top with 2338 points, Knox Pymble second (1977 points) with Rackley third (1879 points). Special mention to newly-formed club Caulfied who finished 13th (925 points).

As a snapshot to the week that attracted almost 30,000 fans through the gates, standout performance include:

* Marcus Da Silva (Cranbrook, NSW): 17 years 200m freestyle: Ripped a personal best of 1:48.45 – a confidence booster as he looks to race the big boys at Opens next week. Doubled down with a PB to win 100m freestyle in 49.37 and put his name firmly into Junior Pan Pac selection.

* Josh Conias (Somerville, Qld): The Somerville House weapon, coached by Tim Lane, earned comparisons to a young Kyle Chalmers after coming within 0.02sec to his national age group record in the 16 years 50m freestyle, clocking 22.35secs.

* Sienna Toohey (Albury, NSW): Has affirmed herself as the rising star of Australian breaststroke – Toohey was super slick in the 15 years 100m breaststroke with 1:07.72, a PB, and for her age group only the great Leisel Jones has swum faster.

* Olivia Wunsch (Carlile, NSW): Already a world junior champion, Wunsch touched the wall in 53.99 to head the next generation of 100m freestyle sprint stars in the 17 years age bracket and tonight sizzled with a 58.62 to win the 100m butterfly.

And swimmers booking extra baggage for their return flights home include:

• Luke Higgs (Warringah, NSW): 15 years –  5 Gold: 1500m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 400m individual medley and tonight’s 800m free.
• Lillie MacPherson (Manly): 15 years – 4 Gold: 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 100m butterfly.
• Macey Sheridan (Darwin): 14 years –  5 Gold: 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke.
• Tex Cross (Highlanders, WA): 17 years – 3 Gold: 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle, 1500m freestyle.

The final night of racing also included:

• Griffith University’s Piper Asquith winning the 16 years 100m freestyle in 56.02 with Ainsley Trotter second (Bond, 56.09) and Sylvia Czajko third (UWA West Coast, 56.17).
• Chandler’s Ava Gaske taking home gold in the 15 years 400m IM (4:46.55) – her fourth gold medal at this meet – and putting her name front and centre for Junior Pan Pac selection.
• Jack Morrow, coached by Ash Delaney at St Andrew’s on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and benefiting from training alongside backstroke world champion Isaac Cooper, punched out a 2:02.39 in the Boys 16 years backstroke to also put himself in the frame for Junior Pan Pacs.
• Live results can be found at https://liveresults.swimming.org.au/sal/2024Age/
• Australian Open Championships from April 17-20 will be shown live and free on 9Now