Queensland got off to a flying start and didn’t look back on their way to winning their 7th straight State Teams Short Course Championships. They were lead the on the opening session with a championship record to Shayna Jack 24.86 in the 15-16 years 50 freestyle before combining with her Maroons team mates Minna Atherton, Eliza King and Gemma Cooney in the 4x200m freestyle relay where they clocked 7:56.34. Atherton, Cooney, and Jack then combined with Calypso Sheridan to again to take down the record and first place in the 15-16 years 4×100 medley relay. The formidable trio with the help of Tanya Stovgard once again broke the record on the way to taking first in the 15-16 years 4×100 freestyle relay.
The formidable trio also took out individual honors. Jack took out first place in the 15-16 years 200 freestyle 1:58.05. While Atherton claimed another record and first place in the 15-16 years 50 backstroke 26.83, and backing up the same session to take the record and the win in 15-16 years 200 backstroke 2:06.38. She then capped her treble, of backstroke victories claiming the 15-16 years 100 backstroke 57.88 in record time.
Atherton comes off of a summer that saw her win Junior World Championships in both the 100 and 200 meter backstrokes individually in long course, as well as break hallowed National Age Records belonging to Emily Seebohm. All three of her short course swims at this meet lept her to the top of the 2015-2016 short course World Rankings. All three times were also the fastest-ever by an Australia 16 & under – and she’s only 15.
While Cooney claimed gold in the 15-16 years 50 butterfly 26.92, 100 freestyle 54.33, and the 100 butterfly 59.05 in record time.
Queensland were also helped with four individual records from Kaylee McKeown in the 13-14 years 200 IM 2:14.81, 50 backstroke 27.74, 100 backstroke 59.42, 200 backstroke 2:07.70. While also helping to break two relay records. McKeown teamed with Sarah Beale, Charlotte Mitchell, and Laticia-Leigh Transom in the girls 13-14 years 4×100 medley relay 4:07.28. Again McKeown featured with Mitchell and Transom along with Eliza King to break the record and claim first in the girls 13-14 years 4×100 freestyle relay 3:44.20. Transom also took first place in the girls 13-14 years 100 freestyle 55.27, and 200 freestyle 1:59.67 in a record time.
West Australia’s Braga Verhage also set a new State Teams Record of 23.47 in the boys 16-17 years 50 butterfly while also winning the 50 freestyle 22.18, 50 backstroke 25.01 and 100 butterfly 53.61. New South Wales’ Leon Macalister broke three records while winning all seven individual events and three relays. He broke records in the boys 14-15 years 500 backstroke 25.16, 100 backstroke 54.43, 200 backstroke 1:58.60. While also winning the boys 14-15 years 50 freestyle, 200 IM, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle and helping the 14-5 years boys 4×100 medley and freestyle relays as well as the mixed 8×50 freestyle relay. Matthew Wilson took out the boys 16-17 years breaststroke treble breaking the record in all three swims. 50 breaststroke 28.10, 100 breaststroke 1:00.80 and 200 breaststroke 2:11.23. Queensland’s Calypso Sheridan also broke two records in the girls 15-16 years 200 IM 2:12.16 and 200 breaststroke 2:26.29.
Overall Queensland won 40 events on their way to 2,138.50 points to defend their title ahead of New South Wales (1827).
Final team standings:
- Queensland – 2,138.50
- New South Wales – 1,827
- Victoria – 1,605
- West Australia – 1,285
- South Asutralia – 922.50
- Tasmania – 217
- Northern Territory – 135
Queensland also won the female point score while New South Wales won the boys point score. Matthew Wilson from New South Wales won the 16-17 years Boys Swimmer of the Meet, Queensland’s Minna Atherton the 16-17 years Girls Swimmer of the Meet, West Australia’s Ethan McAleese the 14-15 years Boys Swimmer of the Meet while Queensland ‘s Kaylee McKeown won the 13-14 girls Swimmer of the Meet.