Australia’s Future Olympians Off To A Flying Start At Swimming Queensland Tri Meet
Over 70 of Queensland’s emerging teenage swim stars – their eyes set on the 2028 and 2032 LA and Brisbane Olympics–are off to a flying start after day one of the annual Swimming Queensland Tri Meet on the Gold Coast.
It was Swimming Queensland’s medal factory in full swing over two-and-half hours of power at the All Saints Anglican School indoor complex as the State’s Olympians of the future showed their wares in an exciting non-stop format.
The Queensland Tri Meet is the brainchild of Swimming Queensland Coaching Director Drew McGregor who has brought together not only the State’s best young talent but 20 of his coaches as well who have been in camp at near-by Bond University.
IN GOOD HANDS: Coaches Tim Dilger and Jon Cook overseeing Queensland’s next crop of swimming graduates. Photo Courtesy: Wade Brennan Photography.
The event sees the premier swimming State’s Junior Squad divided into three teams – named after three of Australia’s freestyle sprint queens – Queensland’s Olympic golden girls Jodie Henry, Libby Trickett and Alice Mills – who formed a dominant freestyle swimming force from 2002 until 2012.
And tomorrow’s stars swam with all the prowess that made the three sprint queens household names on the international swimming stage.
McGregor, who not only brings his coaching and technical expertise but also his passion and energy to the pool deck, is excited to see the Tri Meet become a regular on the Swimming Queensland calendar.
“It’s a very exciting racing format from the traditional 50s to off distances (75s, 150s and 300s) and relays with the emphasis on tough racing and a whole lot of fun, as you can see,” said McGregor, taking a well earned breather after a morning in the commentary box.
“The meet is all about swimming for your team and getting to know your team mates and the different coaches, building confidence and learning along the way, setting yourself up for the future.
“It’s about leadership, putting some of the older more established swimmers out of their comfort zones and giving them the skill sets and a toolbox to take their careers to the next level.”
And exciting racing was certainly the order of the day with the barest of margins and points barely separating the teams.
SKY’S THE LIMIT for this young Queensland hopeful. Photo Courtesy: Wade Brennan Photography.
The teams included four members of Australia’s successful 2022 Junior Pan Pac Team –from St Peters Western, Jaclyn Barclay and Rockhampton Sally Vagg (both swimming for Team Mills) with former Cairns product now with Rackley’s Centenary Ike Martinez and Miami’s Georgie Roper (both representing Team Henry).
Barclay, a finalist in both the 100 and 200 backstroke at the Junior Pan Pacs in Hawaii, showed all her class in winning the 75m backstroke (1.34.41) before playing her part in a thrilling 4x50m medley relay win for Team Mills.
While Martinez, now under Rackley coach Tim Dilger, pulled out all stops to win the 15/16 years boys 300m freestyle in 2:55.66.
Other eye-catching swims came from St Peters Western pair Ainsley Trotter (Team Henry) who won the 14/15 years 50m freestyle in a slick 25.73 from team mate Kaci Curtis 25.93 and Griffith’s Piper Asquith (Team Trickett) 26.38.
TALENT POOL at the Queensland Tri Meet on the Gold Coast. Photo Courtesy: Wade Brennan.
USC Spartans Lia-Bell Wiese (Team Trickett) 25.58 won the 16/17 years girls 50m freestyle from Iona’s Indiana King (Team Mills) 25.91 with Moreton Bay’s Grace Gerreyn (Team Henry) third in 26.10.
The boys 17/18 years 50m freestyle went to St Peters Western’s Hugh Dolle (Team Mills) 22.78 from Brisbane Grammar’s Ed Sommerville (Team Henry) 22.94 and Marist Brothers Ashgrove’s Jack Goyen (Team Trickett) 23.15.
Team Trickett kick-started their comeback in Session Two with three straight wins to Sommerville House swimmer Isabella Martin taking out the 16/17 years 50 butterfly in 27.48; All Saints Enoch Robb the 17/18 years 50m butterfly in 24.42 and Churchie’s Thomas Pattison the 15/16 years 50m butterfly in 25.32.
After the two opening sessions it is Team Mills (404 points) who holds the narrowest of margins over Team Henry (403.50) with defending champions Team Trickett (386.50) third.
The meet will continue with session three at All States later today with the final session tomorrow morning.
MEET THE TRI MEET COACHES, Back Row (L-R): Mark Erickson, Kylie Zikarsky, Luke Stafford, David Thomas, Alberto Lantieri, Drew McGregor, Ben Allen, Zane King, Stewart Melton. Front Row (L-R): Liz Kopacz, Brad Hillier, Jon Cook, Tsuyoshi Kimura, Andrey Picana dos Santos, Bobby Jovanovich, Ken Sabotic, Dan Busch, Tim Dilger. Photo Courtesy: Wade Brennan Photography.