Alice Springs has returned from the South Australian Country Championships, displaying some sizzling times in the pool. Competing against teams from the majority of Australian states and territories, the seven member squad finished with four medals, top ten finishes and a high percentage of PB’s.
Leading the charge were Thomas Markham, Harrison Knott and JJ Siah. Thomas broke the eighteen year old Alice Springs 10 years 50m freestyle record, swimming a fast 32.20 seconds. Thomas also won bronze in the 50m backstroke 38.37 seconds, a mere 0.10 seconds outside the Alice Springs record with his heat swim.
Harrison flew through the water to capture gold in the tough 400m individual medley. Harrison followed this up with a bronze in the 400m freestyle and was unlucky not to win a third medal in the 50m breaststroke final.
JJ took out silver in the 50m breaststroke 39.98 missing gold by only 0.02 seconds in an exciting finish. JJ swam a 9.48 second PB in the 200m IM breaking the 3 minutes mark and was unlucky not to break the Alice Springs 200m breaststroke record.
Ben Bloomer, Lilly Bloomer, Anthony Knott and Hannah Markham had some great heat placings, but were unable to compete in the final due to the two visitor rule. This state’s only two interstate swimmers can compete in a final.
Anthony Knott 11 was the unluckiest swimmer. Continually finishing top ten but unable to swim in most finals. Anthony swam a fantastic 100m backstroke, finishing 4th, missing bronze by 0.46 seconds and shaving over 5 seconds off his time. Anthony also kicked his way to a sensational 4th 100m fly, taking 10 seconds off his time.
Ben Bloomer finished 4th in the 50m breaststroke final in a close finish 42.12 and finished top ten in the 100m breaststroke and 200m IM with a 7.63 second PB.
Fourteen year old Lilly Bloomer took on the older swimmers in the 12 and over 200m breaststroke and 200m backstroke finishing 10th with a 5.41 second PB. Lilly was close to bronze in the 50m breaststroke finishing 4th 39.94.
Hannah Markham finished 5th in the 50m breaststroke final 40.22, in a very competitive field, and is close to breaking 40 seconds. Combining with three top end swimmers, Hannah swam a stunning breaststroke leg in the 200m medley relay, with the team finishing 7th out of 15 teams.
Swimmers are now focused on the Northern Territory Swimming Championships to be held in Darwin in March.