Swimmers Hard at Training for Primary Carnival

West Coast Swimmers have been putting in some serious swimming miles in preparation for their first test of speed at the forthcoming Interschool Primary Carnival which is scheduled for Friday 26th October 2012. All of our local schools are currently in the process of selecting and formalising their swim team and for some students this is their first taste of competition swimming. 

The 2013 SAPSASA training squad is selected on the basis of the results from this carnival so it is imperative that children who would like to be considered to represent the Lower Eyre Peninsula in Adelaide register their
interest in swimming at the Primary Carnival with their school sport coordinator. 
 
Results from the clubs most recent point score event which was held on the 24thof August continue to show both steady and significant improvements in times reflecting improvements in technique, strength and fitness from our club members. Swimmers aiming to compete at the South Australian Country Championships in Gawler had the opportunity to post 100m times to chart their progress towards achieving the standard times necessary to ensure qualification at this event. Kellie Dennis and Moet McCathie are ones to watch in preparation for the Country Championships with their 100m freestyle times clocking in at 1.30.49 and 1.32.57 both well on their way to shaving off a few more seconds to reach the 1.25 qualifying standard. Great times were also recorded in this event from country superstars Luke Andrews and Henry Lambert – both now within 4 seconds of breaking the prized minute mark. Rivalry between Cameron Akehurst and Harrison Adams is growing with Harrison breaking is personal best time by 8 seconds over this event to come within a second of catching Cameron – both boys have now posted times under 1.36 and will be working hard to determine who will take out the freestyle event at the Primary Carnival. 
 
We have an inspiring bunch of 7 and 8 year old swimmers giving it their all as they begin posting times over 50 metre events. Joseph Perin, Tayla Kelsey, Lily Nicholls, Sophie Traeger, Jasmine Clark and Charlee Watt all performed well on the night as they perfect their race starts, turns and finishing. Charlee Watt is now down  under the minute mark for her 50 metre freestyle with Jasmine Clark and Sophie Traeger the ones to watch both now about to break the 50 second mark over this distance. Congratulations to 10 year old swimmer Cameron Akehurst who is now down under the 40 second mark over this distance (posting a time of 39.60sec).
 
100 metre breastrokers recorded some fantastic improvements – the standouts being Emma Hamnett with a 12 second improvement (2.04.84), Luke Andrews with an 8 second  drop in time (1.16.19) and Christopher Bawden with a 7 second personal best (1.58.85) Luke’s achievement at this time places him within three and a half seconds of the National Age Qualifying Standard (15 year old) for this event and if swum at an official meet will see him considered for the next Australian Age event in Adelaide in April. His 200m breastroke swim was just as impressive  (2.50.49) and at this pace he has the Allcomers Country Championship Record of  2.47.62 within his grasp. 
 
Pick of the 10 year old girls over the 50 metre backstroke was Moet McCathie in a time of 51.70 with Brooklyn George 53.26, Victoria Henderson 54.15 and Jesse Ryan 54.55 also posting very competitive and personal best performances over this event.  Over 100 metres Tommy Ford’s swim of 1.33.56 has him within a second of making the 11 and under State Age Qualifying Standard for this event (1.32.25).
 
Super swimmer Brooke Traeger has managed to make the most of being the only swimmer to take part in the 200m butterfly event – this is the rock star of swimming events definitely not for the faint hearted and she pulled it off the exhausting 8 laps in 2.55.53 seconds. A super fly time was also recorded by Coen George over the 50 metre distance of 43.64 which as well as being a personal best saw him record the fastest time in this event. By January we could well be seeing Coen breaking the 40 second mark over this distance. Isabella Scott recorded the greatest improvement in this event beating her previous best by 3.63 seconds (1.07.24).
 
Jade Calverly has made great improvements in personal fitness in preparation for her forthcoming trip to the Australian Institute of Sport – she made personal best times in both the 50m breastroke and 50 m backstroke. Nik Constantinopoulos is also building fitness well and on target to within a second of giving his previous personal benchmarks a shake up.
 
Swimming is a fantastic sport to be involved in and there are clear pathways into the club through the progressive swimming levels offered by the Port Lincoln Leisure CentreSwim School. The West Coast Swimming Club is an inclusive club with coaches who have proven abilities and community support in encouraging achievement in swimming for children with physical disabilities. The club can be contacted via our website www.westcoastswimmingclub.com