Gunnedah swimmer Alexis Whitton has made history after breaking a long-standing record set more than 40 years ago by a world champion.
The St Mary’s College student and national medallist is now the fastest 12 year-old female in the Gunnedah Swimming Club’s history for the 50m freestyle, after breaking Susan Miller’s impressive record of 27.83 seconds that was set in February 1981. Alexis set a new time of 27.59 at the NSWCCC Swimming Championships at Sydney Olympic Park recently where she stormed up the pool to win a gold medal.
Susan’s 50m freestyle record is of historic significance because at the time, she became the fastest swimmer in the world for her age when she set a new world record in the 12 years girls 100m freestyle.
Susan shocked the swimming world when she shattered the magic minute twice over the 100m at the NSW Age Championships and set a new world record of 58.66 seconds in January 1981. The record still stands with the Gunnedah club today. Her 50m freestyle Gunnedah club record that Alexis broke was set one month earlier.
Alexis is a New England North West, Speedo Sprint, NSW Country and State Age medallist. She also competed on the national stage for the first time last year at the School Sport Australia Swimming Championships where she won three national silver medals in the 12 years girls 50m freestyle and freestyle and medley relays.
Lexi, as she is known, bettered her own personal best time of 28 seconds flat in the record-setting 50m freestyle event at NSWCCC and also collected a silver medal in the 100m freestyle. She set new St Mary’s College school records for both races.
The talented sprinter now holds the Gunnedah Swimming Club’s 50m freestyle records in the 10, 11 and now 12 years girls age divisions.
She will now go on to represent NSWCCC at the NSW All Schools Swimming Championships next month.
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