SWIMMING
Eighteen of Traralgon Swimming Club’s finest athletes head to Sydney next week for the Australian Age Group Championships.
The team ranging in age from 13 to 17 years has been in training since May last year and is looking for its best ever result at the meet.
Senior head coach Brian Ford has high hopes for the group.
“We believe this is the most talented team we have ever taken away to a major meet,” he said.
“Many of them are ranked in the top 10 in a number of events in Australia and we are looking at making anywhere between 20 and 30 finals.
“This would well exceed our best ever result and set us up for the following years considering the youth of the team.”
Fifteen year-old Mikaela Cornelissen said she could not wait for the event after a stellar performance at the recent Commonwealth Games trials where she finished fifth in the women’s 50 metre butterfly.
“This will be my third Age Nationals and even though you still get nervous at the big meets it is great competing with the best swimmers in Australia,” Mikaela said.
“I am looking to better my performance of two finals and one bronze medal from last year.”
The competition begins on Monday and runs for a full week with more than 800 swimmers from 250 clubs around Australia converging on the scene of the 2000 Olympic’s pool in Homebush.
