Swimmers smash personal bests

Gunnedah swimmers clocked an enormous 72 personal best (PB) times as they dived in for the NSW Country Regional Championships at Taree and Gulgong.

One group braved wet and windy weather on the coast to post some fantastic results, while the squad in Gulgong also excelled.

Hard training along with the recent Gold Coast camp had paid off as the swimmers snatched medals and improved times in 114 events over the two-day carnival.

In Taree, Wyatt Shorter had a cracking meet as he won gold in the 50m breaststroke and dropped 3.33 seconds in a lightning time of 43.84.

The talented 10-year-old also collected silver in the 50m freestyle and butterfly and 100m breaststroke and freestyle. He posted six PB times from six races and has achieved six NSW Country times and five State Age times.

Nathan Reeves (11) secured a silver medal in the 100m freestyle where he dropped 1.42 seconds, and he also claimed bronze in the 50m and 100m backstroke and 50m freestyle when he stopped the clock at 33.83.

Nathan also achieved PBs in all six of his events.

Alexis Whitton (13) snatched six medals, including gold in the 50m and 100m freestyle and 50m and 100m backstroke. She won silver in the 50m breaststroke and 200m freestyle.

It rained PB times on the coast, with 12-year-old Marsel Tikhonskiy showing major gains in all seven of his races.

Marsel dropped almost two seconds in the 50m freestyle to hit the wall in 33.07, and he shaved 3.74 seconds off his 50m breaststroke time and 4.65 seconds off his 100m backstroke.

Macey Dalessandro (11) also dropped time in all seven of her events, while Tahnee Steele (15) collected three best times including a two-second improvement in the 100m backstroke.

Darci Dalessandro (9) collected three PBs along with Shaun Reeves who took off a massive 15 seconds in his 50m breaststroke.

Rae Shorter and Madelyn Whitton improved in two races, and Belle Nichols posted one best time while Jessica Dalessandro (7) experienced racing at a higher level.

In Gulgong, Will Jansen continued his great form with four PBs and six medals including gold in the 200m individual medley.

The 15-year-old also won silver in the 50m freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke and the 100m backstroke and breaststroke.

Lewis Mainey (10) secured gold in the 100m freestyle, silver in the 50m and 100m backstroke, and bronze in the 100m breaststroke where he took 4.20 seconds off the mark.

Pippa Wark (10) won bronze in the 100m backstroke and posted two best times, while Jorja Burden showed huge gains with six PBs including the 100m butterfly where she dropped 10.41 seconds.

Quade Young achieved PBs in all six races including the 100m freestyle where he shaved off almost two seconds.

Lukas Burden (10) improved in two races, while Aiden Sills posted four PBs and dropped 10.62 seconds in his 100m breaststroke and 7.83 seconds in his 50m butterfly.

Evan and Jake Hausfeld (12) also put in a solid effort, with Evan posting three PBs which included an 11.34-second improvement in his 100m breaststroke.

Head coach Colin Marley said the hard work the squad had been doing reflected in their results.

“The pleasing thing was the development in technique with starts, turns and dives,” he said.

“Nearly every time our kids went off the blocks, they broke to the surface in the lead because of the underwater work and the core strengthening work they’ve done.

“This was the first carnival leading up to the major events which will be New England North West Championships, NSW Country and NSW State, and at regionals on the weekend, some of the swimmers obtained qualifying times for country and state.”

Nathan Reeves clocked personal best times in all of his races.

RIGHT: Rae Shorter and Madelyn Whitton (back) with Jessica Dalessandro at Taree.

ABOVE: Braving the wet and windy conditions at Taree. Back: Marsel Tikhonskiy, Nathan Reeves, Alexis Whitton, Tahnee Steele, Wyatt Shorter, Colin Marley (coach). Middle: Rosie Maybury, Madelyn Whitton, Macey Dalessandro, Darci Dalessandro, Belle Nichols, Rae Shorter, Shaun Reeves. Front: Jessica Dalessandro.

Wyatt Shorter won several medals at Taree, including gold in the 50m breaststroke.