2018 lep sapsasa success

The Lower Eyre Peninsula (LEP) SAPSASA Swimming Team contested the SAPSASA State Country Championships at the South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre on Friday 23rd of March. The team comprised of swimmers from St Josephs School, Navigator College, Cummins Area School, Port Lincoln Primary School, Tumby Bay Area School and Lake Wangary School. Captained by Year 7 St Josephs students Arjay Isle and Amali White, the team finished in overall second placing by just 8.5 points behind the Mid North combined team. Over the past 4 years the team has either placed overall first or second which is an amazing accomplishment.
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This year’s team was coached by Sonia Ford (West Coast Swimming Club) and supported by Team Managers Rachel Jolly (Kirton Point Primary School) and Beck Paterson (Port Lincoln High School). 

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Bryce Hammond (St Josephs School) continued his record breaking performances by setting a new 11 year old boys record in the 50m butterfly. Bryce recorded a time of 32.57 beating the existing 2012 record of 33.12 seconds. Bryce now holds both the 10 and 11 year old records for this event. He came home with 4 gold medals from these championships also winning the 11 year old boys freestyle (31.33), backstroke (36.22) and was part of the boys open 4 x 50m medley team (butterfly) who placed first.

Swimmers who were crowned SAPSASA Country Champion in their respective age groups were Arjay Isle who secured gold in 13 year old boys 50m freestyle (32.11), backstroke (36.64) and was part of the winning boys open 4 x 50m medley relay (backstroke) and Tahni Kelsh who won the girls 10 year old 50m backstroke (45.42). Other swimmers who were part of the boys 4 x 50m medley relay team were William Bawden (breastroke) and Majoor Ackland (freestyle).
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This year LEP had two multi-class athletes with Angus Waller (S9, SB9, SM9) competing in his second SAPSASA competition and Joshua Boud (S10,SB9, SM10) who has recently undergone classification and entered SAPSASA as his first competition experience. Joshua came home with a swag of gold medals for his efforts in the 10 -11 age group finishing his 50m freestyle in a 45.87, 100m in a 1.40.34 and 50m breastroke in a 1.00.64. Angus raced extremely well with an excellent result and personal best times in all three event being the 50m freestyle (36.80), 50m breastroke (1.02.83) and 50m backstroke (53.99). 

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Silver medalists were Tyler Davidson who recorded a 44.43 for his 50m butterfly in the 10 year old boys age group, Majoor Ackland who finished second to Bryce Hammond in the 11 year old 50m freestyle (35.42), Rebecca Wood who has made some amazing improvements in her 50m breastroke to record a 48.94 in the 11 year old girls and Amali White who swam incredibly well in both the 12 year old 50m freestyle (31.50) and the 50m butterfly (35.73).

Bronze medalists were Tahni Kelsh in the 10 year old girls 50m freestyle (37.26), Harrison Blight in the 12 year old 50m breastroke (43.73), Tyler Davidson in the 50m backstroke (44.26), Amali White in the 12 year old 50m backstroke (38.74) and Edward Kutny in the 10 year old 50m butterfly (49.08).

Many of our swimmers secured finalist berths after the initial heat swims and to be listed in the fastest 8 swimmers in their age group across country South Australia is an excellent accomplishment.

To conclude the days racing, regions are given the opportunity to enter age group freestyle relay teams. LEP recorded top three finishes in the boys 10 year old 4 x 50 freestyle relay, in a time of 2.42.38 - Silver (Lucas Blight, Sullivan Isle, Edward Kutny, Tyler Davidson), girls 10 year age group 2.57.75 - Bronze (Caitlin Cole, Tory Siviour, Nicola Morgan, Tahni Kelsh), boys 11 year age group  2.39.83 - Silver (Yarra Mickan, Liam Akehurst, Sullivan Isle, Majoor Ackland), girls 11 year age group 2.40.76 - Bronze (Nicola Morgan, Alinta Dingwall, Amity Mickan, Rebecca Wood) and the boys 13 year age group 2.32.96 - Bronze (Yarra Mickan, Rueben Hill, William Bawden, Majoor Ackland).
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Swimmers who finished in the top three placings have the opportunity to nominate for consideration onto the South Australian Team to contest the National School Sport Swimming Championships which will be held in Hobart this July. Swimmers results from the SAPSASA State Championships are combined with a number of other key championship and performance meets prior to the final team selections being made. 

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link to port lincoln times article