The penultimate night of Swimming NSW’s Senior State Age Championships kicked off with one of the most gruelling events on the evening’s program – the 400m Individual Medley. The ultimate test of skill, strength, endurance and patience.
It was a thrilling race for gold in the Girls 16 Years event. Danielle Asiata (V – Swimming Auckland) took a strong lead, but Bay & Basin’s Talika Irvine powered through to gain ground in the breaststroke leg. The competitors were neck and neck throughout the final freestyle leg until Asiata pulled ahead to touch in 4:59.33. Irvine secured an impressive win for NSW in 5:00.52, a comfortable 8 seconds ahead of Gem Crittenden (Hunter 5:08.81), followed by Chloe Donelan (Wagga Wagga 5:20.94).
Jacinta Essam (Ginninderra) maintained a steady lead in the Girls 17 Years & Over event, but forged ahead in her freestyle leg to take the win in 4:52.38. Narrabeen’s Lexi Harrison swam a 4:57.16 to claim second, followed by Valley Aquatic’s Ava Jankovic in third (5:02.73).
Tim Hodge is coming through with the goods this week – clocking another sub-World Record swim, this time in the Men’s 18 Years & Over 400m IM. Hodge’s blistering 4:45.28 won’t be written in the record books as it was swum in an able-bodied event, but we are looking forward to what’s in store for Hodge in 2023.
Gabriel Gorgas (Knox Pymble) delivered a convincing win in 4:27.02, ahead of Jacob Simpson (Revesby Workers 4:33.64) and Jamie Mooney (Wagga Wagga 4:34.34).
Jessica Cole has added another gold medal to her State Age collection, tonight in the Girls 15 Years 200m Freestyle (2:04.73). The Wests Illawarra Aquatic competitor had Cruiz’s Chloe Douglas-Byrne bearing down over her right shoulder and pushing her into the wall. Douglas-Byrne earned the silver medal in 2:05.46, ahead of bronze medalist Dominique Melbourn (Warringah Aquatic 2:07.35).
The field was even in the Boys 16 Years 200m Freestyle until the 150m mark when Marcus Da Silva (Cranbrook) really started to make a move from lane 6. A white-water pack made up of Da Silva, Brayden Woodford (Wests Illawarra Aquatic) and Liam Molloy (V – Haileybury) rushed the wall for first place. Da Silva pulled through to win gold in 1:53.48, ahead of Woodford (1:54.40) and Molloy (V 1:54.88). SOPAC’s James Gauci secured the bronze for NSW in 1:56.89.
On Thursday night we saw Olivia Wunsch (Carlile) swimming her Junior Pan Pacs bronze medal event the Girls 16 Years & Over 100m Freestyle. Wunsch won gold in a sizzling 55.19, ahead of Eva Allan (V – Swimming Auckland 57.58) and Dijana Mazumdar (Barker Aquatic 57.65) in second place. Aya Milton (Wests Illawarra Aquatic) touched in 58.02 for third place.
Knox Pymble’s Kai Lilienthal claimed the top spot on the podium from lane 2 in the Boys 17 Years 100m Freestyle, charging ahead of the field to touch in 51.68. Adam Graham (V – Millfield School 52.31) and Lachlan Cole (Wests Illawarra Aquatic 52.79) will share the second spot on the podium, followed by Lilienthal’s Knox Pymble teammate Tane Bidois (52.87) in third.
World Championships and Commonwealth Games gold medalist William Yang (SOPAC) delivered a searing win in the Men’s 19 Years & Over 100m Freestyle event, driving into the wall in 48.49. Yang was clear of his competition Zach Maher (Carlile) and James Koch (Sydney Uni) who went head-to-head in a tight race for silver and bronze in 50.19 and 50.20 respectively.
Yang’s performance in the 100m Freestyle earned him Thursday night’s top honours as Swimmer of the Night!
Heidi Shumack (SOPAC) had a strong start in the Girls 12-13 Years 200m IM and steadily increased her lead through her breaststroke leg. Shumack clocked a quick 2:26.92 to earn gold ahead of Carlile’s Isobel Mulcahy (2:28.35) and Wednesday night’s Swimmer of the Night, Sienna Toohey (Albury 2:30.03).
The ACT’s orange and black bullet was back at the top of the podium in the Girls 18 Years & Over 50m Breaststroke. Cruiz’s Emily Nobbs put up a speedy 31.89 to win gold ahead of silver medalist Nadine Neimanis (Warringah Aquatic 33.74). Rebecca Wilkins (V- Swimming Auckland 34.15) and Laetitia Everingham (Narrabeen 34.74) secured bronze visitor and NSW medals.
In the corresponding Boys event, it was a tight race between SOPAC’s Haig Buckingham and Wests Illawarra Aquatic’s Alistair Gorgijovski. Buckingham surged ahead to claim the win in 28.41, with Gorgijovski hot on his trail in 29.01. Harrison Cooke will bring home the bronze visitor’s medal (V – Swimming Auckland 29.61), while Timothy Li (Knox Pymble) claimed the bronze for NSW in 29.67.
You can watch our Final Finals session tonight from 5:30pm on Swimming NSW's Live Stream page, including our famous Christmas party, and the ever-exciting 10x50m Free relays!
Find all the event information you need at nsw.swimming.org.au.
15 December Congratulations
- Swimmer of the Night
- Medalists
William Yang (SOPAC) for his performance in the Men’s 19 Yrs & Over 100m Freestyle (48.49).
Girls 16 Yrs & O 400m IM
16 Yrs Medalists
1 Danielle Asiata (V – Swimming Auckland) 4:59.33
1 Talika Irvine (Bay & Basin) 5:00.52
2 Gem Crittenden (Hunter) 5:08.81
3 Chloe Donelan (Wagga Wagga) 5:20.94
17 Yrs & O Medalists
1 Jacinta Essam (Ginninderra) 4:52.38
2 Lexi Harrison (Narrabeen) 4:57.16
3 Ava Jankovic (Valley Aquatic) 5:02.73
Boys 17 Yrs & O 400m IM
17 Yrs Medalists
1 Hugo Batchelor (V – Swimming Auckland) 4:36.07
1 Tyler Johnson (Warringah Aquatic) 4:44.40
2 Samson Barisic (SOPAC) 4:44.54
3 Sam Kenny (V – Swimming Auckland) 4:50.53
3 Joshua Fernandez (Randwick City) 4:52.58
18 Yrs & O Medalists
1 Gabriel Gorgas (Knox Pymble) 4:27.02
2 Jacob Simpson (Revesby Workers) 4:33.64
3 Jamie Mooney (Wagga Wagga) 4:34.34
Girls 12-13 Yrs 100m Freestyle
1 Charli Barbour (Manly) 59.58
2 Jaslyn Plummer (Warringah Aquatic) 59.63
3 Denise Grabe (Campbelltown) 1:00.54
Boys 13-14 Yrs 100m Freestyle
1 Lachlan Davies (Warringah Aquatic) 53.62
2 Archie Forwood (Griffith) 54.88
3 Joshua Jeung (Trinity Grammar) 55.34
Girls 12 Yrs & O 50m Breaststroke MC
12-14 Yrs Medalists
1 Summer Klein (Kincumber Pacific Dolphins) 41.72
2 Alyssa Gillespie (Narrabeen) 46.83
3 Ali Green (Ascham) 54.06
15-16 Yrs Medalists
1 Kayla Wilson (V – Traralgon) 49.13
1 Amelie Springett-Kelly (City of Sydney) 51.58
2 Stephanie Bruzzese (Trinity Grammar) 40.00
3 Krystal Jessen (AquaBlitz Toongabbie) 45.64
17 Yrs & O Medalists
1 Ashley Van Rijswijk (Wagga Wagga) 37.59
2 Jasmine Greenwood (Bay & Basin) 38.81
3 Maddison Hinds (Hornsby) 40.75
Boys 12 Yrs & O 50m Breaststroke MC
12-14 Yrs Medalists
1 Liam Togher (Knox Pymble) 44.91
2 Sebastian Webster (Stroud Seals) 39.95
3 Adriano Sorrentino (SOPAC) 38.74
15-16 Yrs Medalists
1 Darren Sisman (Sans Souci Sea Devils) 35.45
2 Jack Carey (SOPAC) 41.70
3 Samuel Gardiner (Nepean Aquatic) 46.26
17 Yrs & O Medalists
1 Lachlan Hanratty (Revesby Workers) 34.08
2 Matthew Swinbourne (Knox Pymble) 38.20
3 Henry Hughes (Warringah Aquatic) 36.12
Girls 15 Yrs 200m Freestyle
1 Jessica Cole (Wests Illawarra Aquatic) 2:04.73
2 Chloe Douglas-Byrne (Cruiz) 2:05.46
3 Dominique Melbourn (Warringah Aquatic) 2:07.35
Boys 16 Yrs 200m Freestyle
1 Marcus Da Silva (Cranbrook) 1:53.48
2 Brayden Woodford (Wests Illawarra Aquatic) 1:54.40
3 Liam Molloy (V – Haileybury) 1:54.88
3 James Gauci (SOPAC) 1:56.89
Girls 14 Yrs 50m Backstroke
1 Milla Lawrence (Barker Aquatic) 31.00
2 Makayla Larkin (V – Haileybury) 31.32
2 Salani Sa’aga (Knox Pymble) 31.65
3 Taylah Markulin (Wenona) 31.66
Boys 15 Yrs 50m Backstroke
1 Cash Milner (Kincumber Pacific Dolphins) 27.52
2 Xander Halfen (Warringah Aquatic) 27.85
3 James Biddington (Woden) 27.87
Girls 16 Yrs & O 100m Freestyle
16 Yrs Medalists
1 Olivia Wunsch (Carlile) 55.19
2 Eva Allan (V – Swimming Auckland) 57.58
3 Dijana Mazumdar (Barker Aquatic) 57.65
17 Yrs Medalists
1 Jaimie De Lutiis (Wests Illawarra Aquatic) 56.11
2 Chelsea Jones (Wests Illawarra Aquatic) 56.84
3 Sophie Mayes (Alstonville) 57.52
18 Yrs & O Medalists
1 Sarah Locke (Wests Illawarra Aquatic) 57.41
2 Meg Senior (Cruiz) 58.36
3 Emily Dobbins (NUswim) 58.64
Boys 17 Yrs & O 100m Freestyle
17 Yrs Medalists
1 Kai Lilienthal (Knox Pymble) 51.68
2 Adam Graham (V – Millfield School) 52.31
2 Lachlan Cole (Wests Illawarra Aquatic) 52.79
3 Tane Bidois (Knox Pymble) 52.87
18 Yrs Medalists
1 Jamie Mooney (Wagga Wagga) 51.33
2 Joshua Reed (NUswim) 52.03
3 Shawn Marston (Carlile) 52.59
19 Yrs & O Medalists
1 William Yang (SOPAC) 48.49
2 Zach Maher (Carlile) 50.19
3 James Koch (Sydney Uni) 50.20
Girls 12-13 Yrs 200m IM
1 Heidi Shumack (SOPAC) 2:26.92
2 Isobel Mulcahy (Carlile) 2:28.35
3 Sienna Toohey (Albury) 2:30.03
Boys 13-14 Yrs 200m IM
1 Luke Higgs (Warringah Aquatic) 2:12.90
2 William Brownlie (MLC Marlins) 2:13.39
3 Joseph Kim (Knox Pymble) 2:13.69
Girls 15 Yrs 50m Butterfly
1 Dominika Kralka (Narrabeen) 28.16
2 Chloe Douglas-Byrne (Cruiz) 28.25
3 Jessica Cole (Wests Illawarra Aquatic) 28.28
Boys 16 Yrs 50m Butterfly
1 Matthew Costelloe (Hornsby) 25.33
2 Caleb Yago (The Hills) 25.60
3 Liam Molloy (V – Haileybury) 25.77
3 James Gauci (SOPAC) 25.88
Girls 14 Yrs 200m IM
1 Lillie McPherson (Manly) 2:22.97
2 Violet Walton (Narrabeen) 2:27.64
3 Milla Lawrence (Barker Aquatic) 2:27.84
Boys 15 Yrs 200m IM
1 Oscar Kreutzberger (Albury North Lavington) 2:09.18
2 Jonathan Nam (Trinity Grammar) 2:09.97
3 Jake Ridley (V – Haileybury) 2:14.45
3 Alexander Walker (Charlestown) 2:14.75
Girls 16 Yrs & O 50m Breaststroke
16 Yrs Medalists
1 Isabella Johnson (SOPAC) 32.67
2 Kyla Brown (Kinross Wolaroi) 33.57
3 Olivia Wunsch (Carlile) 34.12
17 Yrs Medalists
1 Isabella Campbell (Hunter) 33.10
2 Lily Mccowan (Tivoli) 33.27
3 Bianca Fuller (Cruiz) 33.30
18 Yrs & O Medalists
1 Emily Nobbs (Cruiz) 31.89
2 Nadine Neimanis (Warringah Aquatic) 33.74
3 Rebecca Wilkins (V- Swimming Auckland) 34.15
3 Laetitia Everingham (Narrabeen) 34.74
Boys 17 Yrs & O 50m Breaststroke
17 Yrs Medalists
1 David So (Carlile) 30.21
2 Jordan Takounlao (Barker Aquatic) 30.52
3 Ryan Walker (V – Haileybury) 30.63
3 Joshua Sales (Hornsby) 30.77
18 Yrs Medalists
1 Haig Buckingham (SOPAC) 28.41
2 Alistair Gorgijovski (Wests Illawarra Aquatic) 29.01
3 Harrison Cooke (V – Swimming Auckland) 29.61
3 Timothy Li (Knox Pymble) 29.67
19 Yrs & O Medalists
1 Matthew Wilson (SOPAC) 28.30
2 Jake Mackie (NUswim) 28.97
3 Ryan Yii (Warringah Aquatic) 29.36
Girls 15 Yrs 100m Breaststroke
1 Ava Rollason (Cruiz) 1:13.25
2 Jasmine Lyles (V – Swimming Auckland) 1:14.49
2 Ella Mounter (NUswim) 1:14.67
3 Mia Burdack (SOPAC) 1:15.15
Boys 16 Yrs 100m Breaststroke
1 Bailey Screen (Warringah Aquatic) 1:04.62
2 Evan Yueh (Knox Pymble) 1:08.33
3 Waylon Hayashi (Woden) 1:08.47
