Budding breaststroker Ryan Smith (above left) and up-and-coming backstroker Cameron Hill (above), who both swam at the Australian Long Course Age Championships last season, were in action at the MLC Aquatic Long Course Meet at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on Sunday. Pictures: Stewart Chambers.By Marc McGowan
THE MLC Aquatic Long Course Meet began as a simple state qualifier, but became yet another platform for the Casey Tiger Sharks to showcase their rapidly growing depth.
By the end of the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre competition on Sunday, the Tiger Sharks had three new national qualifiers in 13-year-olds McKenzie Cunningham and Jemma Phillips (both 200-metres backstroke) and 14-year-old Jay Etheve (200-metre breaststroke).
Club star Craig Watson had already qualified for next year’s national championships in the 200-metres individual medley before the weekend event and produced his usual stellar results.
Casey head coach Ben Hiddlestone believes his swimmers’ latest achievements augur well for January’s Victorian Long Course Age Championships.
“This time last year we had none (national qualifiers) up until the state titles, which we are still two months out from,” he said.
“So to have three new kids up, it is a new level for the Tiger Sharks and they’re qualifying almost easily.”
Hiddlestone predicts teenagers Trent Lindsey and Brad York will definitely join the quartet at the state championships and that several others will come into calculations.
While Hiddlestone rated Etheve’s triumphant 200-metre breaststroke performance as the day’s best, he was also full of praise for 14-year-old former national qualifier Josh Beaver.
“Josh is getting back into it after a year off with shoulder issues and is getting close to his qualifying times again for nationals,” he said.
“He’s looking at getting back as a 15-year-old in the 100-metres and 200-metres backstroke and he’s only about a second off.”
Phillips’ performance led the female brigade, but she was not the only standout.
Ten-year-old Bridget Bicsak went on a personal best-smashing campaign, claiming victory in the 10-and-under 50-metres backstroke and finishing second in the 10-and-under breaststroke and third in the 10-and-under 50-metres freestyle.
Others to impress were Stephanie Beaver, Stephanie Demestichas, Bree Warren, Kirra Minton, Matthew Charlesworth, Thomas Boatman, Taylor Lindsey and Jake Duggan.
Hiddlestone said the reason he chose to compete at this particular meet was because he knew it would be professionally run at the best pool in Victoria without time delays.
“We had kids out there racing for the first time at MSAC, mixed in with the hardened professionals like Craig, who could act as mentors to the younger ones,” he said.
“That’s a characteristic we like to encourage – that you’re not just there for yourself, but also to help others.”
