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Connor Roberts is the 16-years boys 200m individual medley state champion.
Following on from his bronze in the 400m earlier in the senior state age swimming championships, the Tamworth City swimmer came home in 29.80 seconds to win the gold in 2mins 07.57seconds.
It completed his medal set after winning silver in the 100m backstroke.
Alex Hayes just missed out on the podium in the 13-years 200m breaststroke.
EARLIER:
It might have been more by accident than design that Connor Roberts competed in the 16-years 100m backstroke at the senior state age swimming championships, but the Tamworth City swimmer is glad he did.
After qualifying third fastest for the final, Roberts surged home over the last 50m to pick up silver.
Barely an-hour-and-a-half later he was back on the podium again.
Backing up in his more favoured 400m individual medley he slashed 7.6 seconds off his heat swim from earlier in the morning, which was both a personal best and national qualifying time, to win bronze.
It was an outstanding effort Sharks coach Nicolas Monet said, the manor of his young charge’s swims the thing that most impressed him and testament to the hard work he has put in.
“(The 400m) The second half of each stroke was faster than the first one, that’s how the professionals swim it,” Monet said.
“You have to be very fit and very skilled to do that.”
It was only the fifth time Roberts has swum the medley over the 400m distance.
“It a very hard race and very hard to manage,” he said.
The backstroke wasn’t originally part of the plan.
“He wanted to enter the 100m breaststroke but he ticked the wrong box so he ended up in the backstroke,” Monet said.
He has the chance to add to his medal tally with the 200m and 100m butterfly on Tuesday and the 200m backstroke to finish what has been a hectic nine-event program on Wednesday.
Monet is thrilled how all six swimmers have performed so far, with several swimming pbs, and acknowledged the work that they too have put in in training.
“The team is doing a fantastic job,” he said.
“They have improved so much.”
Roberts was on the first day ninth in the 200m butterfly while Alex Hayes finished sixth in the 13-years girls 200m breaststroke.
“Unfortunately she was sick in between the heats and finals. She was sick before championships and got rid of it but it came back,” he said.
They found out later that she had a sinus infection.