Record times for swimmers at championship

Swimming Gunnedah entered the history books again, having set an Area record at the New England North West Championships in Muswellbrook last weekend.

The 12 and Under (12&U) mixed freestyle relay team of Wyatt Shorter, Tayla Thompson, Macey Dalessandro and Cameron Sills put in a blistering swim to break the record and throw down a time of 2:08.05.

Cameron snatched a great lead in the first leg before Wyatt and Macey kept up the pace, and then Tayla brought it home strongly to win by a huge 15 seconds from the second-placed Muswellbrook.

It was one of many strong relay races Gunnedah competed in over the two-day event.

The 10&U mixed relay team of Darci Dalessandro, Matilda Ramien, Nayte Thompson and Aiden Sills blitzed the medley and freestyle races to win gold in both.

The 10&U B freestyle team of Nayte, Shaun Reeves, Jessica Dalessandro and Rae Shorter rounded out the top three to claim bronze.

The Mixed Open teams snatched a silver and bronze in each event, with standout swims from Tayla, Dana Campbell, Tahnee Steele, Jessica Broadhead and Andrew Riordan – who at 48 years old has returned to the pool for competitive racing in strong form.

The 14&U team of Bridgette Duncan, Jake and Evan Hausfeld and Riley Thompson took home bronze in the freestyle relay, while the 12&U mixed medley group of Cameron, Macey, Wyatt, and Zoe Riordan won gold.

The championships doubled as a qualification event for the NSW Speedo Sprints, where the four fastest 50m swimmers in each stroke from each age group compete at the finals at Sydney Olympic Park later this month.

Battling 40-plus degree heat on the first day, it was a hugely successful carnival for Gunnedah which fielded 31 swimmers in 179 individual events and clocked 84 personal best (PB) times.

The individual medal tally hit a whopping 103 with 39 gold, 35 silver and 29 bronze, and there were seven NSW Country qualifying times.

RESULTS:

Cameron Sills (12): 11 gold, one bronze;

Wyatt Shorter (11): eight gold;

Aiden Sills (9): seven gold, two silver, one bronze;

Jessica Broadhead (15): five gold, two silver, one bronze;

Tayla Thompson (12): five gold, three silver, three bronze;

Matilda Ramien (10): four gold, two silver, two bronze;

Ayden Thompson (9): four gold, two bronze;

Nayte Thompson (10): three gold, two silver, one bronze;

Tahnee Steele (16): two gold, five silver, three bronze;

Dana Campbell (16): two gold, three silver;

Macey Dalessandro (12): two gold, three silver, three bronze;

Deuk Bergholcs (7): one silver;

Lukas Burden (11): one silver, four bronze;

Darci Dalessandro (10): two gold;

Jessica Dalessandro (8): three silver, four bronze;

Bridgette Duncan (14): one silver, two bronze;

Jake Hausfeld (13): one gold, three silver, two bronze;

Evan Hausfeld (13): four bronze;

Nathan Reeves (12): one gold, four silver, three bronze;

Shaun Reeves (10): one silver, two bronze;

Andrew Riordan (48): two bronze, one silver;

Zoe Riordan (11): one gold;

Rae Shorter (9): one silver, one bronze;

Riley Thompson (14): one bronze.

There were also good performances and PBs from Evelyn and Isabelle Connolly, Haylea and Noah Duncan, Harry Ramien, and Ellie and Georgie Rodstrom.

The 12&U record-breaking freestyle relay team of Tayla Thompson, Macey Dalessandro, Cameron Sills and Wyatt Shorter. Photos: Supplied.

The 14&U bronze relay medallists Bridgette Duncan, Jake and Evan Hausfeld and Riley Thompson.