A squad of 10 Gunnedah swimmers battled tough, wet and cold conditions at the recent Mudgee Indoor Swimming Carnival but still managed to make their mark with two pool records and a swag of medals.
Alexis Whitton claimed the pool record in the 10 and under 50m freestyle dash for cash, with NSW Country medallist Jacob Smith shattering the 200m backstroke record.
It was another great meet for Jacob, competing in 13 events for 13 medals, including four gold, six silver and three bronze. The rising young star snatched gold in the 11 years 50m breaststroke and 50m fly, 12 under 200m breaststroke and 200m backstroke, with silver in the 11years 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke, 11-12 years 100m breaststroke, fly, freestyle and backstroke. To round off the day’s competition, the speedster collected bronze in the 12 and under 200m freestyle, 200m individual medley and the 11-12 years ‘fast-and-furious’ Dash for Cash.
Alexis Whitton (10) pulled out a fantastic swim in the Dash for Cash to win gold and shave 1.47 seconds from her best for a new pool record at the Mudgee Club. She also won bronze in the 10 years
50m freestyle and backstroke, and the 10 and under 100m breaststroke. Emerging young swimmer Molly
Ramien had a top day at Mudgee, with a personal best time of 2:52.86 in the 12 and under 200m freestyle shattering the nine years club record of 2:53.49 held by former Gunnedah swimmer Christine Boehm since1993.
Molly won gold in the nine years 50m freestyle, butterfly and backstroke, silver in the nine years 50m breaststroke and 10 and under 100m breaststroke, and bronze in 10 and under 100m backstroke.
Eugenie Goddard stripped an amazing 6.73 seconds from her personal best time in the 12 and under 200m individual medley and just missed a medal in the 10 under breaststroke as she finished fourth in the 100m race and a fighting fifth in the 200m event.
Audrey Hannaford competed in the tough 12 years division but turned in a strong performance. She just missed out on the medals, but recorded a personal best time in the 100m backstroke where she finished a close fourth.
Josh Spinks nailed five gold and two bronze medals on the day, sweeping the pool in the nine years 50m breaststroke, freestyle, butterfly, and backstroke and the 10 and under 100m breaststroke, with third place in the 100m freestyle and 10 under 50m free Dash for Cash event,. Katie Spinks faced strong competition in the 11 years events but showed good form in the 50m and100m breaststroke.
Chelsea Rossler improved in the 12 years 50m breaststroke setting a new personal best time, while Danika Jones also showed good form on the day in a strong field of competitors.
In the 11 years division, Cooper Whitton finished third in the 50m fly and backstroke and the 12 and under 100m fly and was just edged out of medal contention in the 100m back and 50m breaststroke. He improved by 1.42 seconds in the 12 and under IM event.
After a huge two-day carnival in their home pool the previous weekend, personal best times were scarce, but that was the case for all competitors at the carnival. Despite this, the Gunnedah squad showed true sportsmanship, cheered on their team mates and soldiered on throughout the day, after a big effort to get there, given floodwaters had forced families to travel the long way around through Coonabarabran.
Coach John Hickey was pleased with the performance of his squad.
“A great effort in tough conditions after a tough week of training,” he said. “I am so proud of you all – a special thanks go to the parents for making the effort in flood time.”
