The first event of Sunday night’s final session brought the intensity right off the bat and set the pace for the evening’s session.
The Men’s 17 Yrs & Over 200m IM event brought the big guns out of the woodworks and had everyone shaking off the cobwebs. This event was swum in three separate, riveting finals with Samson Barisic (SOPAC) taking first place for NSW in the 17 Yrs age group in 2:12.57, followed by Harrison Rothwell (Manly 2:13.12) and Tyler Johnson (Warringah Aquatic 2:15.18).
Junior Pan Pacs Australian Team members Jamie Mooney (Wagga Wagga) and Haig Buckingham (SOPAC) claimed first and second place on the podium in the 18 Yrs category in 2:05.01 and 2:06.40 respectively. Carlile’s Shawn Marston brought home third in 2:08.32
The thrilling 19 Years & Over final was a treat to behold! Fresh off his gold medal swim at the World Para Swimming Championships, Tim Hodge swam under his own 200m IM SM9 World Record time in 2:13.27! As this was an able-bodied event, a new World Record cannot be claimed, but it is truly a testament to the incredible year Hodge is having in the pool under Coach Misha Payne at ACU Blacktown.
NSW Touring Team member Gabriel Gorgas is still riding the waves of his quick performances at the Toyota US Open, touching the wall comfortably in 2:02.44 to claim gold 5.5 seconds ahead of silver medallist Josh Kingston (Carlile 2:08.11). Narrabeen’s Luke Bibby will take home the bronze medal in 2:10.32.
In another searing performance from a member of the Junior Pan Pacs Australian Team, Carlile’s Olivia Wunsch earned the top spot on the podium in the Girls 16 Years 50m Butterfly, touching the wall just a fingernail shy of the NSW Record (27.56) in 27.57.
Swimming Auckland’s Amelia Bray will bring the silver visitor’s medal home to the land of the long white cloud in 27.74, and shares the second spot on the podium with Trinity Grammar’s Ruby Tonelli-Smith (28.36). Dijana Mazumdar (Barker Aquatic) stormed in to the wall in 28.44 to round out the podium with a bronze medal.
Trinity Grammar’s Bella Grant delivered a sharp race in the 17 yrs event, and took out the top spot on the podium in 27.99, followed by Sophie Mayes (Alstonville 28.10), and Bianca Fuller (Cruiz 28.22).
NUsport Performance Hub athlete Emily Dobbins has earned her first gold medal of the championships under coach Sander Ganzevles, in the 18 Years & Over event, touching in 28.27. Katelyn Stephenson (Ravenswood 28.55) and Anneke van Zoggel (SOPAC 28.65) rounded out the podium.
Swimmers turned up the heat in the corresponding Men’s event, with Knox Pymble’s Kai Lilienthal toppling the 17 Years NSW Record in a blistering 24.46.
The field was set in Men’s 19 Years & Over event between NSW Touring Team member Joseph Hamson, SOPAC’s Vanya Kamenjas and new NUsport Performance Hub addition, the weapon Marcus West (NUSwim). Hamson claimed gold in a near personal best time of 24.06, followed by Kamenjas in 24.57 and West in 24.99.
Sterling Tuxford (Trinity Grammar) has claimed the title of Swimmer of the Night for his performance in the Men’s 13-14 Yrs 200m Butterfly (2:11.13). We watched a tight and hard-fought race, but despite the apparent pressure, Tuxford remained level and calm to the end.
“I think I swam well – stuck to the race plan. I didn’t let my opponents on either side of me get to me, whether they were out in front at the 100 or 150, I just swam my race and knew what I had to do.”
Tuxford is looking forward to take two at Nationals in April, where he’ll face off again against some of tonight’s toughest competitors, like silver medallist and teammate Joshua Jeung (Trinity Grammar 2:11.35), and bronze medallist Luke Higgs (Warringah Aquatic 2:11.86).
Commonwealth Games finalist Jade Lucy (SLC Aquadot) was back at it tonight on home soil in the Women’s 17 Years & Over 200m Freestyle MC. Lucy claimed the top spot on the podium in 2:18.64 amidst a stacked field of competitors – from Paralympians Taylor Corry (Kincumber Pacific Dolphins) and Ashley Van Rijswijk (Wagga Wagga) to Comm Games teammate Ella Jones (Kincumber Pacific Dolphins) to National Development Squad athletes Hannah Price (Campbelltown) and Chloe Osborn (AquaBlitz Toongabbie).
Corry got her hand on the wall in 2:20.69 to claim second place ahead of Alstonville’s McKinley Arnison (2:24.26).
Open Water superfish Tayla Martin was tested by new Carlile SC teammate Maddy Gough in the Women’s 17 Yrs & Over 1500m Freestyle. Gough set a ferocious pace, charging in to the wall in 16:26.56. Martin touched second in 16:59.69, followed by Gladys Turner (Cranbrook 17:43.32).
16-year-old Samuel Higgs (Warringah Aquatic) delivered a ripper of a swim in the Boys 16 Years & Over 800m Freestyle. Higgs took gold in the 16 yrs category in a slick 8:23.69 – a comfortable 26 seconds ahead of Daniel O’Donnell (AquaBlitz Toongabbie 8:49.25), and Max Moylan (Cranbrook 8:51.49).
The State Age action continues on day 3 with Heats from 9am and Finals from 5:30pm.
Find all the event information you need at nsw.swimming.org.au.
Watch Swimming NSW's Live Stream from home.
11 December Congratulations
- Swimmer of the Night
- Medalists
Sterling Tuxford (Trinity Grammar) for his performance in the Men’s 13-14 Yrs 200m Butterfly (2:11.13).
Girls 16 Yrs & O 200m IM
16 Yrs Medalists
1 Olivia Wunsch (Carlile) 2:19.80
2 Bella Zhang (Knox Pymble) 2:21.23
3 Danielle Asiata (V – Swimming Auckland) 2:21.28
3 Talika Irvine (Bay & Basin) 2:23.92
17 Yrs Medalists
1 Jaimie De Lutiis (Wests Illawarra Aquatic) 2:18.85
2 Bianca Fuller (Cruiz) 2:21.10
3 Isabella Campbell (Hunter) 2:23.28
18 Yrs & O Medalists
1 Lexi Harrison (Narrabeen) 2:18.68
2 Georgia Platts (SOPAC) 2:23.28
3 Emily Maythers (Revesby Workers) 2:25.01
Boys 17 Yrs & O 200m IM
17 Yrs Medalists
1 Adam Graham (V – Millfield School) 2:06.78
2 Hugo Batchelor (V – Swimming Auckland) 2:08.43
1 Samson Barisic (SOPAC) 2:12.57
2 Harrison Rothwell (Manly) 2:13.12
3 Tyler Johnson (Warringah Aquatic) 2:15.18
18 Yrs Medalists
1 Jamie Mooney (Wagga Wagga) 2:05.01
2 Haig Buckingham (SOPAC) 2:06.40
3 Shawn Marston (Carlile) 2:08.32
19 Yrs & O Medalists
1 Gabriel Gorgas (Knox Pymble) 2:02.44
2 Josh Kingston (Carlile) 2:08.11
3 Luke Bibby (Narrabeen) 2:10.32
Girls 12-13 Yrs 50m Freestyle
1 Jaslyn Plummer (Warringah Aquatic) 27.30
2 Charli Barbour (Manly) 27.59
3 Heidi Shumack (SOPAC) 27.61
Boys 13-14 Yrs 50m Freestyle
1 Lachlan Davies (Warringah Aquatic) 24.67
2 Harrison Woodrow (Barker Aquatic) 25.19
3 Joshua Jeung (Trinity Grammar) 25.21
Girls 12 Yrs & O 100m Breaststroke MC
12-14 Yrs Medalists
1 Summer Klein (Kincumber Pacific Dolphins) 1:35.15
2 Lexie Phillips (Novocastrian) 2:01.10
3 Gemma Sellick (Warringah Aquatic) 1:44.68
15-16 Yrs Medalists
1 Kayla Wilson (V – Traralgon) 1:47.53
1 Nicole Taylor (Griffith) 1:21.61
2 Amelie Springett-Kelly (City of Sydney) 1:48.43
3 Stephanie Bruzzese (Trinity Grammar) 1:27.40
17 Yrs & O Medalists
1 Ashley Van Rijswijk (Wagga Wagga) 1:20.71
2 Maddison Hinds (Hornsby) 1:28.59
3 Hannah Price (Campbelltown) 1:29.17
Boys 12 Yrs & O 100m Breaststroke MC
12-14 Yrs Medalists
1 Liam Togher (Knox Pymble) 1:45.83
2 Sebastian Webster (Sans Souci Sea Devils) 1:31.99
3 Jayden Van Stralen (Picton) 1:44.32
15-16 Yrs Medalists
1 Darren Sisman (Sans Souci Sea Devils) 1:19.95
2 Knox Gibson (Orange Aquatic) 1:35.09
3 Samuel Gardiner (Nepean Aquatic) 1:44.40
17 Yrs & O Medalists
1 Timothy Hodge (ACU Blacktown) 1:13.18
2 Riley Moore (Woy Woy) 1:13.56
3 Lachlan Hanratty (Revesby Workers) 1:18.74
Girls 14 Yrs 200m Backstroke
1 Milla Lawrence (Barker Aquatic) 2:24.75
2 Makayla Larkin (V – Haileybury) 2:25.83
2 Sarah Tian (Knox Pymble) 2:29.46
3 Jodie Mead (Woy Woy) 2:31.40
Boys 15 Yrs 200m Backstroke
1 Lachlan Thompson (Orange) 2:10.99
2 Jonathan Nam (Trinity Grammar) 2:11.50
3 James Biddington (Woden) 2:12.04
Girls 15 Yrs 50m Backstroke
1 Bree Spalding (Kincumber Pacific Dolphins) 29.95
2 Ivy Miller (Wests Illawarra Aquatic) 29.96
2 Olivia Baillie (V – Traralgon) 30.08
3 Isabelle Barakat (Trinity Grammar) 30.56
Boys 16 Yrs 50m Backstroke
1 Hayden Hoang (SOPAC) 26.74
2 Henry Anderson (Knox Pymble) 27.06
3 Nicholas Gladen (Macquarie Uni) 27.23
Girls 16 Yrs & O 50m Butterfly
16 Yrs Medalists
1 Olivia Wunsch (Carlile) 27.57
2 Amelia Bray (V – Swimming Auckland) 27.74
2 Ruby Tonelli-Smith (Trinity Grammar) 28.36
3 Dijana Mazumdar (Barker Aquatic) 28.44
17 Yrs Medalists
1 Bella Grant (Trinity Grammar) 27.99
2 Sophie Mayes (Alstonville) 28.10
3 Bianca Fuller (Cruiz) 28.22
18 Yrs & Over Medalists
1 Emily Dobbins (NUSwim) 28.27
2 Katelyn Stephenson (Ravenswood) 28.55
3 Anneke van Zoggel (SOPAC) 28.65
Boys 17 Yrs & O 50m Butterfly
17 Yrs Medalists
1 Kai Lilienthal (Knox Pymble) 24.46
2 Riley Powell (Wests Illawarra Aquatic) 25.77
3 Hugo Wrathall (V – Jasi NZ) 25.99
3 Lachlan Elgin (Albury North Lavington) 26.32
18 Yrs Medalists
1 Alastair Miller (Alstonville) 25.14
2 Joshua Reed (NUSwim) 25.24
3 Max Oldham (Sydney Uni) 25.72
19 Yrs & O Medalists
1 Joseph Hamson (Knox Pymble) 24.06
2 Vanya Kamenjas (SOPAC) 24.57
3 Marcus West (NUSwim) 24.99
Girls 12-13 Yrs 200m Butterfly
1 Emily Jack (NUSwim) 2:32.77
2 Charlotte Bowmer (Trinity Grammar) 2:34.23
3 Chloe McCormack (SLC Aquadot) 2:35.47
Boys 13-14 Yrs 200m Butterfly
1 Sterling Tuxford (Trinity Grammar) 2:11.13
2 Joshua Jeung (Trinity Grammar) 2:11.35
3 Luke Higgs (Warringah Aquatic) 2:11.86
Girls 14 Yrs 50m Freestyle – Lillie McPherson
1 Lillie McPherson (Manly) 26.63
2 Heli Childs (PLC Sydney) 26.94
3 Felisa Gonzalo (Manly) 26.96
Boys 15 Yrs 50m Freestyle
1 Jack Taylor (Trinity Grammar) 24.46
2 Daniel Lawrence (Ravenswood) 24.58
3 Liam Zhuang (Knox Pymble) 24.58
Girls 12 Yrs & O 200m Freestyle MC
12-14 Yrs Medalists
1 Emilee Pratt (Novocastrian) 2:47.31
2 Ali Green (Ascham Aquatics) 2:46.31
3 Summer Klein (Kincumber Pacific Dolphins) 3:06.42
15-16 Yrs Medalists
1 Stephanie Bruzzese (Trinity Grammar) 2:25.52
2 Yasmine-Bella Younes (Bankstown Sports) 2:25.56
3 Krystal Jessen (AquaBlitz Toongabbie) 2:34.49
17 Yrs & O Medalists
1 Jade Lucy (SLC Aquadot) 2:18.64
2 Taylor Corry (Kincumber Pacific Dolphins) 2:20.69
3 McKinley Arnison (Alstonville) 2:24.26
Boys 12 Yrs & O 200m Freestyle MC
12-14 Yrs Medalists
1 Jack Gibson (Dapto) 2:26.56
2 Jayden Van Stralen (Picton) 2:33.79
3 Liam Togher (Knox Pymble) 2:49.17
15-16 Yrs Medalists
1 Darren Sisman (Sans Souci Sea Devils) 2:05.81
2 Harry Keane (Wagga Wagga) 2:21.54
3 Josh Graham (Young) 2:30.03
17 Yrs & O Medalists
1 Tim Hodge (ACU Blacktown) 2:03.43
2 Alexander Tuckfield (SLC Aquadot) 2:03.33
3 Henry Hughes (Warringah Aquatic) 2:11.57
Girls 15 Yrs and O 1500m Freestyle
15 Yrs Medalists
1 Dominique Melbourn (Warringah Aquatic) 17:37.28
2 Chloe Brodrick (Tuggeranong Vikings) 17:59.79
3 Felicity Walker (Alstonville) 18:12.55
16 Yrs Medalists
1 Hannah Mayne (SOPAC) 18:41.51
17 Yrs & O Medalists
1 Madeleine Gough (Carlile) 16:26.56
2 Tayla Martin (Carlile) 16:59.69
3 Gladys Turner (Cranbrook) 17:43.32
Boys 16 Yrs & O 800m Freestyle
16 Yrs Medalists
1 Samuel Higgs (Warringah Aquatic) 8:23.69
2 Daniel O’Donnell (AquaBlitz Toongabbie) 8:49.25
3 Max Moylan (Cranbrook) 8:51.49
17 Yrs Medalists
1 Tommy Lane (V – Haileybury) 8:22.34
1 Charlie Gray (Revesby Workers) 8:31.27
2 Flynn Jackson (Randwick City) 8:40.22
3 Riley Lawrence (AquaBlitz Toongabbie) 8:41.35
18 Yrs & O Medalists
1 Kai Edwards (Carlile) 8:19.11
2 Caleb Dryer (Trinity Grammar) 8:29.82
3 Lachlan Sheehy (Cranbrook) 8:36.36
Girls 12-17 Yrs 4x100m Freestyle Relay
1 Wests Illawarra Aquatic A 3:50.53
2 V – Swimming Auckland A 3:54.58
2 Knox Pymble A 3:57.56
3 SOPAC A 3:58.04
Boys 13-18 Yrs 4x100m Freestyle Relay
1 Knox Pymble A 3:29.02
2 Cranbrook A 3:29.17
3 SOPAC A 3:30.94
