Swimmers from across the New England and North West regions found the right option as the mercury climbed in Tamworth on Saturday.
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With temperatures nudging 37 degrees, the South and West Tamworth Memorial Pool was the best place to be for the Speedo Sprints.
The Sprints, for swimmers aged between 7-11 years, offers the chance for the next generation of stars to qualify for Sydney.
The top four finishers in each race earned the right to tackle next month’s finals at Olympic Park.
The Sprints double as a curtain-raiser for the New England and North West Area Long Course Championships.
A total of 171 athletes from 17 clubs hit the water on Saturday morning, with that figure swelling to just shy of 250 from 20 clubs for the Area Championships, spanning Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
Among the young guns to catch the eye was Kootingal-Moonbi’s Will Walsh, 7.
Walsh, who was given the nickname ‘Phelpsy’ in reference to US swim champion Michael Phelps by coach Graham Johnstone, had just come from competing in the 50m freestyle.
“It’s good fun,” Walsh said.
Kootingal-Moonbi had 15 swimmers tackling the Speedo Sprints, with a dozen carrying the hopes at Area Champs.
“This is the highest number of kids we’ve ever had in the sprints,” Johnstone said.
“It’s been just awesome to have those numbers and then 12 of the older kids at area level.”
Moree brought down a dozen swimmers with its leading lights including Alexander Macey, 12, Chloe Elbourne, 9, and Ben Di Donna, 9.
Secretary Tammy Elbourne said this weekend is a major one for the Moree Swimming Club.
“The double (Speedo Sprints and Area Championships) is the biggest on the calendar,” Elbourne said.
With the town in the midst of a heat wave, it is no surprise to hear Moree Swimming Club’s numbers are growing.
“We’re all very supportive of one another and it’s a great club to be a part of,” Elbourne said.
Other clubs fielding swimmers at the sprints included Gunnedah, Armidale Alligators, Bingara, Denman, Glen Innes, Inverell, Manilla, Muswellbrook, Quirindi, Scone, Wee Waa and Werris Creek, along with Tamworth powerhouses Scully Park and Tamworth City.