Next Gen Dolphins Making A Splash In The Top Ten Takeaways From The 2024 Australian Age Championships
The nine-day Australian Age Championships have come to a close on the Gold Coast after an action-packed show of class and depth with defending club champions, Australia’s powerhouse club, St Peters Western, QLD again winning the coveted Pointscore from the big improvers, Sydney’s top club Knox Pymble (NSW) and the Rackley Swim Team from Queensland.
Here Ian Hanson gives his Ten Takeaways from a highly the successful 2024 Australian Age Meet, many swimmers who will form the nucleus of this year’s Junior Pan Pacs when Australia hosts the meet in Canberra (August 21-24) and the small but select team to be named for the up-coming Oceania Championships on the Gold Coast (April 18-25) – and so many with their sights set on LA in ’28 and their home Games in Brisbane ’32.
Some will back-up for this week’s four-day Australian Open Championships, starting at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, Southport on Wednesday in the countdown to the Australian Olympic Swim Trials at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre from June 10-15, and who knows, maybe some with Paris on their minds.
- Abreast Of The Times: Breaststroking’s mover and shaker – Sienna Toohey (Albury, NSW; Coach Wayne Gould), is Australia’s brightest new breaststroke star (1:07.72) who continues to threaten Leisel Jones’ Australian 15 years Age record of 1:07.49 (set at the Sydney 2000 Olympics). Look to next week’s Australian Championships as we follow her meteoric rise and a group of young breaststrokers on the move, some like Sienna and fellow Albury rising star Isabelle Rae will take on the big girls in the Australian Open.
SURGING: Sienna Toohey shows the style that is making her the talk of the town. Photo Courtesy Rebecca Ohlwein (Swimming Australia)
- Flynn’s Bounce Back: The bounce back from powerhouse teenage freestyler, World Junior Champion, Flynn Southam (Bond, QLD; Coach Chris Mooney) who after posting an impressive 1:46.24 to win the 200m 18 years freestyle withdrew from the 50m freestyle final with a back spasm, returning to win the 100m freestyle in 48.94. A message of precaution from coach Mooney and Bond Coaching Director Kyle Samuelson as they plot this young star’s schedule towards the June Olympic Trials. Will contest the 50, 100 and 200m freestyles at this week’s Australian Open.
SMOKIN! Flynn Southam and his signature move before winning the 200m freestyle. Photo Courtesy Rebecca Ohlwein (Swimming Australia)
- A Liquid Wunsch! Olivia Wunsch (Carlile, NSW; Coach Michaela Pattinson) emerging from a disrupted preparation to win the 100m freestyle (53.99) and the 50 ‘fly (26.34) and 100m ‘fly (58.62) double as Australia’s next gen freestylers continue to emerge in this Olympic year. Pushed by fellow freestyling star Milla Jansen (Bond) who are intent on keeping the “Golden group” of Dolphins Olympic and World Championship winning sprinters very much on their toes.
FLYING DOUBLE: Olivia Wunsch back in the fast lane with a butterfly double. Photo Courtesy Rebecca Ohlwein (Swimming Australia)
- Marcus Into Mainstream: The performances of 17-year-old Marcus Da Silva (Cranbrook, NSW; Coach Bec Wheatley) caught the eye when the boy from Sydney won the 200m freestyle in an impressive pb 1:48.45 – to embed himself well and truly into this season’s Australian top eight in the countdown to the June Olympic Trials. Also produced a 100m free in another pb of 49.37 on the final night.
DA SILVA WITH GOLD: Marcus Da Silva wins gold in the 17 years 200m freestyle. Photo Courtesy Rebecca Ohlwein (SWIMMING AUSTRALIA)
- Backstroke Girls: Move over Backstreet Boys -We’ve got the Backstroke Girls on centre stage, led by World Junior Champion and World silver medallist 17-year-old Jaclyn Barclay (St Peters Western, QLD; Coach Cameron Gledhill) adding the backstroke treble 50 (28.87), 100m (1:00.19) and 200m (2:09.09) and Zoe Ammundsen (Churchie, QLD; Coach Richard Sleight) the 16 years 100m backstroke (1:00.46pb) with Emily Seebohm’s record in her sights, and the 200m 2:12 08.
ON SONG: Backstroke girl Jaclyn Barclay all smiles at the 2024 Australian Age Photo Courtesy Rebecca Ohlwein (SWIMMING AUSTRALIA)
- Bonding By The Pool: The Bond Squad of girls – Milla Jansen, Mikayla Bird, Ainsley Trotter, Hannah Casey and Kyla Brown who dominated in the 16s and 17s relays – with a new Australian record in the 4x100m medley and adding the 4x100m freestyle. Jansen’s anchor freestyle leg of 53.94 (a flying start relay split but still her first time under 54) in the medley record relay.
- Famous Names Dropping: The emergence of some famous Names – Lukas Dunn and Koby Bujak-Upton (Knox Pymble, NSW; coach Steve Goodier) – Lukas the son of Olympians Matt Dunn (1992-96-2000) and Eydis Konradsdottir (Iceland), Koby the son of 1988 Olympian Simon Upton and Sam Welsh (Genazzano College Aquatic, Kew, VIC) son of 2000 and 2004 Olympian Matt Welsh. Lukas winning the 14 years boys 100m freestyle as well as silver in the 50m ‘fly and bronze in the 50m freestyle, 50m breast and 100m butterfly and Koby, silver in the 18 years 100 free and bronze in the 50 and 200 frees with budding young freestyler Sam a finalist in the 16 years 200m freestyle.
HEY DAD: Lukas Dunn, the 14-year old son of Australian Olympian Matt Dunn celebrates his 100m freestyle win at the 2024 Australian Age Photo Courtesy Rebecca Ohlwein (SWIMMING AUSTRALIA)
- High Fives: For Luke Higgs (Warringah Aquatic, NSW; Coach Angelo Basalo) 15 years – 200, 400, 800 and 1500m freestyles; 400m individual medley and Macey Sheridan (Darwin, NT; Coach Tim Few): 14 years 50m and 100m freestyles and 50, 100 and 200m backstrokes who both won five golds and an Awesome Foursome for Lillie MacPherson (Manly, NSW; Coach Justin Rothwell): 15 years with four gold in the 50m,100m and 200m freestyles, 100m butterfly.
TOP END TOP GUN: The girl from Darwin (NT) Macey Sheridan relieved after her 14 years 200m backstroke win at the 2024 Australian Age Photo Courtesy Rebecca Ohlwein (SWIMMING AUSTRALIA).
- Chasing King Kyle: Josh Conias (Somerville, Qld; Coach Tim Lane): The Somerville House weapon, earned comparisons to a young Kyle Chalmers after coming within 0.02sec of his National Age group record in the 16 years 50m freestyle, clocking 22.35secs after winning the 100m free in 50.06.
SHAKIN’ IT UP: Josh Conias gets a shake after winning the 100 free 16 years 2024 Australian Age Photo Courtesy Rebecca Ohlwein (SWIMMING AUSTRALIA).
- Points Decision: St Peters Western (QLD; Coach Cameron Gledhill)) retains the Overall Champion Club with 2338 points with Knox Pymble (NSW; Coach Steve Goodier) second (1977 points) the big mover with the Rackley Swim Team third (1879 points; Coach Tim Dilger). Special mention to newly formed club Caulfield Aquatic (Coach Kenrick Monk) who finished 13th (925 points).
No mention of the 13 – 14 year old girls ?
No mention of Nicholas Stoupas or Thomas Sutherland – 1 & 2 in 50/100/200 boys 16 breastroke events, along with the fact Nicholas has won 50 & 200 3 years in a row. No mention that Nicholas’ 50 was 3rd fastest ever swum in Aust or Nicholas & Tom have the 8th & 9th fastest times ever swum in Aust for the 100! Both coached by Kenrick Monk.
Grayson Doig from Trinity Grammar (NSW) also won the 200 IM for the 3rd consecutive year.
He did too & he should be congratulated for his success!
Obviously this journo only writes about his mates kids. There was so many more great performances from those who don’t have ex-Olympian parents. Time for swimming journalism to progress out of the stone ages.
He also needs to recheck the club Pointscore as his recall is incorrect.
No mention of 14yr Max Cunningham from Churchie Swim Club, 4 golds, 3 silvers and the youngest person to go under 25sec for 50m fly…24.97…knocked off Kyle Chalmers record….wasn’t just close took .3 off it…
Julian
Good morning, Mr Hanson.
Have you heard of a 14 year old swimmer from Churchie by the name of Maxwell Cunningham? His parents are not swimmers but that did not stop him from winning 6 individual medals and 2 relays. He also broke the old 50m fly, held by Kyle Chalmers, with a time of 24.97!
What a shame a youngster with talent is ignored because of non-swimming parents or because of lazy research. Have a look at Cunningham’s results and tell me that they are not worth a mention. There have been other comments made with regard to this swimmer.
I look forward with interest but not much hope to read your comments.
Julian Walker
where is the mackerel??????
won the 200, 400, 800 and 1500 free in the 16s boys