SIX Scully Park swimmers competed against the Japanese national swim team last week at the NSW State Championships at the Aquatic Centre in Homebush.
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Lucy Gerathy, Jaimie Prendergast, Zarleigh Jones, Sarah Collison, Ellie Camilleri, Jayden Gimbergh and Hugh Wolfgang qualified for the event after dominating in the district and regional carnivals.
Whilst none of the swimmers brought home medals, they did swim a lot of PBs and made finals against some stiff competition.
The Japanese junior national team was in Australia for the event and took home a lot of the medals.
Camilleri barely got out of the pool after qualifying for nine individual events covering every stroke.
She made the final in three events – the 200 fly, 400 IM, and 200 breaststroke – with her best finish a seventh in the final.
Gimbergh swam in six events and, whilst he didn’t crack any finals, he did swim some long- course PBs.
The Homebush facilities were a bit different to the Scully pool and two swimmers took full advantage, smashing seconds off their previously best times.
Prendergast smashed six seconds off her 200 fly time and Wolfgang knocked a massive five seconds off his backstroke time.
Club president Martin Prendergast said that knocking that sort of time off a short race is incredible.
“We were one of the only country-based clubs there,” Prendergast said.
“The kids were great and went in with a great attitude.
“It was a really good experience for them going forward and to prepare for the country champs.”
Brian Watson has only been coaching at the club for a few years although the president said he had definitely made a difference.
“You can see the kids and the club getting stronger and faster.
“He is a top coach.”
The highlight of the State Championships for the club was the relays.
Gerathy, Jones, Collison and Prendergast made up the Scully team in both the freestyle and medley relays.
The girls finished 23 out of 43 teams in the medley and swam huge PBs in both.
They took five seconds off their previous medley time and an amazing seven seconds off their freestyle time.
The swimmers returned to training this week to prepare for the Tamworth City Carnival today and tomorrow.
Swimmers who have not swum at a regional level will also compete at the Speedo Sprints this morning for a chance to compete at Homebush later in the year.
The Tamworth City Club is expecting up to 300 swimmers from around the region to hit the pool over the weekend.
