A group of eight talented open water youth swimmers have been selected to represent Australia at the Junior Open Water international events for this year; the FINA World Junior Championships and the Oceania Championships.
Bailey Armstrong (Miami, QLD), Sarah Thompson (Kawana Waters, QLD), Kai Edwards (TSS Aquatics QLD) and Connie McClelland (MLC Aquatic VIC) will all race at the FINA World Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in July in Horne, Netherlands.
While Jack Brazier (Kawana Waters QLD), Alessandra Colombini (TSS Aquatics QLD), Lachlan Colquhoun (TSS Aquatics QLD) and Bianca Crisp (TSS Aquatics QLD) will all race at the 2016 Oceania Championships in Fiji this June.
The athletes were selected based on their performances from the 2016 Australian Open Water Swimming Championships and the 10km FINA World Cup race in Abu Dhabi in February.
With Open Water continuing to grow in popularity, Head Coach Ron McKeon said he was excited to see a number of talented swimmers coming through the open water junior swimming ranks.
“A number of these guys have been part of the Talent ID program for a couple of years now. Their skill set is growing and they have had some great experience at domestic and international competitions and have been honing in on their skills at Swimming Australia camps and tours,” McKeon said.
The World Cup in Abu Dhabi was a particularly beneficial race for the young swimmers and I am excited to see how they grow and develop leading into the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.”
One of those swimmers is the boy’s 17/18 years Australian Open Water champion in the 10km event, Bailey Armstrong. Armstrong finished 34th in Abu Dhabi and was the first Australian home with Ron McKeon impressed with his international performance.
“Bailey was our best ranked Australian swimmer in Abu Dhabi and as he exited the water I clearly remember he had a grin from ear to ear. He got out and said ‘how awesome is this’ and he was right – it was an awesome performance in a tough field and gives me confidence for Australia’s future in the sport,” McKeon said.
With many of the swimmers getting their start in the pool, seven of the eight competitors will line up for either the 2016 Georgina Hope Foundation Australian Age Championships or the Hancock Prospecting Australian Championships, beginning in Adelaide next week.
Following this they will take part in a National Youth Camp before departing for their international preparation ahead of the Oceania and FINA World Junior Championships.
For results from the 10km Open and Age Open Water Championships held in February, please see attached.
For results of the FINA World Cup 10km in Abu Dhabi, please click here: http://www.fina.org/event/fina/hosa-10km-marathon-swim-world-cup-2016-2/results
To BUY tickets to the 2016 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships click here:http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=SWIMMING16
Swimming news courtesy of Swimming Australia.