Australian Open Water Championships: Thomas RaymondTakes Triple Crown To Spearhead Noosa To Historic National Club Pointscore
Noosa’s newly crowned three-time National champion Thomas Raymond has steered his Sunshine Coast, QLD club to overall Club Pointscore honours at the 2024 Australian Open Water Championships in an epic weekend of racing in Busselton, WA.
GOLDEN TOUCH: Noosa’s winning OW relay (L-R) Tom Raymond, Kilian Carrel, Madisyn Armstrong and Ella Reynolds.Photo Courtesy Swimming Australia
In the absence of defending 10km champion, Noosa club mate Nick Sloman (who is in Doha with the Australian team, preparing for this week’s World Championships and Olympic Trials) 21-year-old Raymond capped a Championship to remember.
Raymond winning the 5km and 10km individual double and joining team mates Ella Reynolds, Kilian Carreland Madisyn Armstrong to win a drama-charged 4 x 1.5km Mixed Team Relay to become the first swimmer to take home the triple crown.
And leading Noosa – under coaches, the legendary John “JR” Rodgers and Olympic bronze medallist Kareena Lee, to the overall National club title with 444 points ahead of highly-competitive WA clubs North Coast (Coach Ian Mills) 424 points and Westside Christchurch (Coach Jon Harrison) 299 points.
Noosa showing its depth, entering its first ever relay teams – the A team winning gold and the B team (Esther Davies, Dylan Thompson, and brother and sister combination Neela and Nolan Carrel) finishing fifth.
Raymond out-touched Japan’s Kazushi Imafuku in the final two strokes in a thrilling relay finish, only for Noosa to be disqualified for an infraction and then reinstated on protest, eventually awarded the gold.
It was Raymond’s second gold of the meet after winning the coveted National 10km open title on the opening day, the boy from Noosa holding off local WA boy Robert Bonsall (North Coast, WA) in 1 hour 53 minutes 23.83 seconds from Imafuku in 1:56:38.39 and another WA hometown hero Jack Wilson (North Coast, WA) 1:56:38.41.
And in another frantic 5km finish on the final day it was Raymond (55:22.82) who again relegated the ever-present Imafuku (55:23.48), hitting the finish board first, out-touching the Japanese teenager in another stoke-for-stroke battle that saw Wilson (55:24.90) a close-up third – Raymond dedicating his golden haul to Rodgers, who was unable to make the trip to WA.
“I just want to give a shout out to (our amazing coach) John Rodgers (back home) and also all my team mates and training partners at Noosa, who I have a lot of emotion towards…and a lot of thanks to them for preparing me for this meet,” said Raymond, admitting he was honoured to join Noosa club mates Solman and Lee on the Open Water National title winners list.
“To be honest, with swimmers like Nick (Sloman) away ahead of the World Championships I thought I would be a chance but I’m pretty stoked … now I just want a sleep to be honest.
“There was a lot of work done in the build-up and I am honoured to be mentioned alongside Nick and Kareena.”
But there will not be too much sleep for Sunshine Coast swimmer will now prepare to join Sloman as his training partner for a month-long altitude training in Flagstaff, Arizona in March, Raymond saying it would keep him on his toes as much as him keep Nick on his.
GOLDEN DOUBLE; Carlile’s 5 and 10km Open Water National champion Kayla Martin. Photo Courtesy Swimming Australia
Meanwhile Sydney’s Tayla Martin (Carlile, NSW; Coach Chris Nesbit) matched Raymond’s feat in winning the individua 5km an 10km golds, also breaking through for her first Australia 1Open Water Championship wins on the opening and closing days one of the successful Ocean Swim Festival.
Martin churning her way through eight laps of the 1.25km course through the Busselton Jetty, for her 10km win, the 25-year-old Martin, never headed clocking 2:11:32.82 for a convincing win to comfortably account for Misa Okuzono (Japan) 2:13:16.70; Rosie Wilson (North Coast, WA) 2:13:32.94; Miku Kojima (Japan) 2:14:20.58 and Katelyne Irwin (Sunshine Coast Grammar, QLD) 2:14:57.67.
Martin has previously been in the top five or six and took full advantage to take the title in the absence of the top girls, preparing for next week’s World Championships in Doha.
“I’m really happy and with the top four girls away it was a perfect opportunity to win a National title,” said Martin whose aim is to have a good 12 months training, swim some more World Cups and ultra-marathons as well as the Australian Championships and Olympic Trials in the pool.
In the women’s 5km open race, Japan’s Misa Okuzono (1:00:25.40) actually hit the touchpad first with Martin (1:00:42.76), as the first Australian finisher, awarded the National title with Japan’s Miku Kojima 1:01:41.95 third home followed by WA pair Rosie Wilson (North Coast, WA) 1:02:11.53 and Rebekah Weller (North Coast, WA) 1:02:11.53.
The open water golds for Carlile come hot on the heels of Olympian Maddy Gough’s 5k win last year. Gough will also be competing for Australia at the upcoming World Championships.
Tayla’s victories also means Carlile’s Olympic coach Chris Nesbit has now produced a record six different Australian open water champions.
Japan had four swimmers at this year’s championships and are heading home with eight medals – 3 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze.
Meanwhile, also on the line were spots on the Australian Junior Team to contest the 2004 World Aquatics Open Water Swimming Junior World Championships from 6-8 September with World Juniors head coach Mel Tantrum looking on.
Sam Thorpe (St Peters Western, QLD) took out the men’s 18 years 10km title in a thrilling finish – just 0.31 seconds ahead of Xavier Collins (Westside Christchurch, WA) in the 18-19 years division while Emily Broun(Rackley Centenary, QLD,) won the women’s 19 years event from Sienna Deurloo (Toowoomba Grammar, QLD) to dominate the corresponding 18-19 years female bracket.
The 16-17 Years age group over 7.5km saw National Age pool champion Luke Higgs (Warringah Aquatic, NSW) 1:36:36.49 win the 16 years and Lucas Fackerell (Breakers WA) 1:36:45.26 the 17 years while Daisy Quinn (Sunshine Coast Grammar, QLD) 1:41:34.80 and Chloe Brodrick (Ginninderra, ACT) 1:41:34.87 fought out a thrilling women’s event with just 0.07 separating the pair at the finish.
The World Juniors will be swum on the picturesque island of Sardinia, in the ancient city of Alghero which will welcome more than 200 open water athletes aged 14-19 from 35 countries for this prestigious event.
DEPTH OF TALENT: Noosa’s A and B relay teams in Busselton. Photo Courtesy Swimming Australia.
Australian Open Water Swimming Championships, Busselton, WA, FULL RESULTS:
MEN
OPEN
10km
- Thomas Raymond (Noosa, QLD) 1:53:23.83
- Robert Bonsall (North Coast) 1:53:25.29
- Kazushi Imafuku (Japan)1:56:38.39
- *Jack Wilson (North Coast, WA) 1:56:38.41
*Wilson received the bronze as the third Australian
5km
- Thomas Raymond (Noosa, QLD) 55:22.82
- Kazushi Imafuku (Japan) 55:23.48
- *Jack Wilson (North Coast, WA) 55:24.90
- **Adam Sudlow (North Coast, WA) 55:30.77
*Wilson awarded silver as second-placed Australian
** Sudlow awarded bronze as third-placed Australian
19 YEARS
10km
- Tommy Lane (Cheltenham, VIC) 1:56:43.41
- Dougal Richmond (Yeronga Park, QLD) 1:59:02.08
- Callum Boyle (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:59:02.40
5km
1 (Dead-Heat): Nolan Carrel (Noosa, QLD) and Callum Boyle (St Peters Western, QLD) 56:21.68
3.Tommy Lane (Cheltenham, VIC) 57:31.63
18 YEARS
10km
- Samuel Thorpe (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:56:18.38
- Xavier Collins (Westside Christchurch, WA) 1:56:18.69
- Kristian Seidl (Westside Christchurch, WA) 1:59:02.85
5km
- Xavier Collins (Westlife Christchurch, WA) 56:19.87
- Samuel Thorpe (St Peters Western, QLD) 56:19.99
- Kristian Seidl (Westside Christchurch, WA) 58:57.25
17 YEARS
7.5km
- Lucas Fackerell (Breakers WA) 1:36:45.26
- Thomas Dreverman (South Shore, WA) 1:36:53.44
- Samuel Zollner (South Shore, WA) 1:38:57.45
5km
- Thomas Dreverman (South Shore, WA) 59:27.18
- Daniel Carter (The Hills, NSW) 59:27.28
- Samuel Zollner (South Shore, WA) 1:00:06.97
16 YEARS
7.5km
- Luke Higgs (Warringah, NSW) 1:36:36.49
- Nicholas Macher (Revesby Workers, NSW) 1:37:18.22
- Jake Hammond (Sunshine Coast Grammar, QLD) 1:38:56.66
5km
- Luke Higgs (Warringah, NSW) 59:24.28
- Nicholas Macher (Revesby Workers, NSW) 59:39.42
- Cooper Love (Rocky City, QLD) 1:01:19.87
15 YEARS
5km
- Hayden Cahill (Yeronga Park) 1:00:43.02
- Riley Meares (St Peters Western) 1:01:16.45
- Oliver Browne (North Coast, WA) 1:03:02.05
14 YEARS
5km
- William Thorpe (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:03:04.17
- Jayden Schipp (Revesby Workers, NSW) 1:03:39.35
- Finn Kelly (Lower Blue Mountains, NSW) 1:03:44.10
14 YEARS &Over
5km Multi-Class
- Ky Millican (Goodlife, QLD) 1:15:23.81
WOMEN
OPEN
10km
- Tayla Martin (Carlile, NSW) 2:11:32.82
- Misa Okuzono (Japan) 2:13:16.70
- Rosie Wilson (North Coast, WA) 2:13:32.94
- Miku Kojima (Japan) 2:14:20.58
- *Katelyne Irwin (Sunshine Coast Grammar, QLD) 2:14:57.67
*Wilson and Irwin receive silver and bronze as next best placed Australians
5km
- Misa Okuzono (Japan) 1:00:25.40
- *Tayla Martin (Carlile, NSW) – 1:00:42.76
- Miku Kojima 1:01:41.95 (Japan)
- **Rosie Wilson 1:02:11.53 (North Coast, WA)
- ***Rebekah Weller 1:02:11.53 (North Coast, WA)
* Martin awarded gold as first placed Australian
**Wilson awarded silver as second-placed Australian
***Weller awarded bronze as third-placed Australian
19 YEARS
10km
- Emily Broun (Rackley Centenary, QLD,) 2:15:38.88
- Sienna Deurloo (Toowoomba Grammar, QLD) 2:16:46.80
- Dakoda Mathers (Nunawading, VIC) 2:16:53.41
5km
- Sienna Deurloo (Toowoomba Grammar, QLD) 1:02:54.49
- Emily Broun (Rackley Centenary, QLD) 1:03:00.17
- Dakoda Mathers (Nunawading, VIC) 1:03:06.46
18 YEARS
10km
- Taryn Roberts (Rocky City, QLD) 2:19:31.59
- Esther Davies (Noosa, QLD) 2:21:33.88
- Mackenzie Hunter (MLC Aquatic, VIC) 2:21:41.83
5km
- Taryn Roberts (Rocky City, QLD) 1:02:27.44
- Esther Davies (Noosa, QLD) 1:02:56.41
- Mackenzie Hunter (MLC Aquatic, VIC) 1:02:57.86
17 YEARS
7.5km
- Daisy Quinn (Sunshine Coast Grammar, QLD) 1:41:34.80
- Chloe Brodrick (Ginninderra, ACT) 1:41:34.87
- Macy Beuzeville (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:41:38.54
5km
- Daisy Quinn (Sunshine Coast Grammar, QLD) 1:02:34.40
- Bianca Monaco (Westside Christchurch, WA) 1:02:53.49
- Chloe Brodrick (Ginninderra, NSW) 1:02:55.15
16 YEARS
7.5km
- Amelie Smith (Rocky City, QLD) 1:44:26.21
- Rylee Smith (Redcliffe Leagues, QLD) 1:46:06.93
- Sophie Jacka (Melbourne Swimming Club, VIC) 1:47:17.79
5km
- Cerys Davis (Sunshine Coast Grammar QLD) 1:02:40.16
- Amelie Smith (Rocky City, QLD) 1:02:55.15
- Charlotte Bowmer (Trinity Grammar, NSW) 1:03:25.02
15 YEARS
5km
- Isobel Mulcahy (Carlile, NSW) 1:05:29.14
- Sophie Hebron (Albany Creek, QLD) 1:06:04.25
- Piper Cameron (Clovercrest, SA) 1:06:13.71
14 YEARS
5km
- Olivia Galea (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:05:28.02
- Neela Carrel (Noosa, QLD) 1:06:09.29
- Maisie Langley (Carlile, NSW) 1:07:23.55
14 YEARS & Over
5km
Multi-Class
- Kate Wallington S19 (Swimming WA, Unattached) 1:06:02.43
- Amie Holwill S19 (Bunbury, WA) 1:06:02.44
- Montana Atkinson S14 (Helensvale, QLD) 1:20:37.08
MIXED
OPEN
4×1.25km Freestyle Relay
- Noosa, QLD (Ella Reynolds, Kilian Carrel, Madisyn Armstrong, Thomas Raymond) 56:59.70
- Japan ( Kaito Tsujimori, Miku Kojima, Misa Okuzono, Kazushi Imafuku) 56:59.98
- North Coast, WA (Rosie Wilson, Sarah Felton, Adam Sudlow, Robert Bonsall) 59:04.96
- Westside Christchurch, WA (Kristian Seidl, Bianco Monaco, Josie Page, Xavier Collins) 59:04.96
14-15 YEARS
4×1.25km Freestyle Relay
- North Coast, WA 1:05:18.36 (Mila Reyes, Lara Green, Billy Hawkes, Oliver Browne)
- Aquablitz, NSW 1:06:35.52 (Zoe Woolfson, Klarissa Goodwin, Taylor Serafin)
- UWA West Coast, WA 1:08:34.04 (Sam Reynolds, Max Phua, Amy Joyce, Rachel O’Malley-Sudlow)
Australian Club Pointscore
- Noosa (QLD) 444
- North Coast (WA) 424
- Westside Christchurch (WA) 299