A 38-year-old Gunnedah swim club record tumbled into the hands of an up-and-coming junior last weekend.
Having broken several short and long course Gunnedah club records in the past 18 months, Jessica Dalessandro broke the 7 years girls 50m long course butterfly record at the Aquablitz carnival at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre (SOPAC) last Saturday.
Shannon Hobson had set the record in 1987 with a time of 57.36, before Jessica eclipsed it with a cracking time of 55.99 which was also a 2.19-second personal best time.
Shannon’s record was among some of the oldest Swimming Gunnedah records, with Shannon having held several records throughout her swimming career with Gunnedah.
She was a strong butterflier from an early age and represented Gunnedah at NSW Country and State, and she medalled at NSW Shell Age – the equivalent of today’s Speedo Sprints.
Shannon’s mum Marie is a club life member, former referee and recent Gunnedah Citizen of the Year while Shannon’s late dad, Glen, was a respected and long-standing coach of the Gunnedah swim club with Shannon among his ranks.
Incidentally, Jessica and her sisters Darci (10) and Macey (12) competed in last Saturday’s Aquablitz meet.
In addition to her butterfly record, Jessica shaved four seconds off her 50m backstroke and six seconds off the 50m breaststroke.
Darci cracked five best times, taking off nine seconds in the 100m freestyle and eight seconds in the 100m backstroke.
Macey clocked six best times from six races. She won bronze in the 100m backstroke with a 6.46-second best time, and she also won bronze in the 50m backstroke.
