By Braden Keith on SwimSwam
2018 GEORGINA HOPE FOUNDATION AUSTRALIAN AGE SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Saturday, April 21st – Saturday, April 28th
- Sydney Olympic Park & Aquatic Centre
- Prelims at 9am local/Finals at 6pm local
- Selection event for Junior Pan Pacific Championships & Oceania Championships
- LCM
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
Commonwealth Games triple gold medalist Ariarne Titmus was a no-show on the first day of the 2018 Swimming Australia Age Group Championships, but none-the-less, an Australian Age Record still highlighted the day’s affairs.
The 16 & under girls’ 400 medley relay from St. Peters Western combined for a 4:10.82 victory – beating their seed by more than 10 seconds. In the process, the group of Shikira-Lee Matheson (1:04.87), Mia O’Leary (1:10.90), Michaela Ryan (58.61), and Jenna Forrester (56.44) took exactly 4 seconds off the old record of 4:14.82 done by Melbourne Vicentre in 2011. The old record-setting relay included current Australian National Teamer Hayley Baker on the leadoff backstroke leg.
Titmus’ absence didn’t mean the meet was devoid of Commonwealth Games medalists. 17-year old Elijah Winnington, who was on Australia’s winning 800 free relay, swam and won the 17-18 boys’ 50 free, which he won in 3:48.26. That swim, a best time for him, ranks as the 5th-best 400 free in Australian history, behind a star-studded quartet of Ian Thorpe, Mack Horton, Jordan Harrison, and Grant Hackett. This marks at least the 3rd-straight year in which Winnington has won an age championship in this event.
Live Stream Replay
Day 1 Prelims:
Day 1 Finals:
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Ariarne Titmus No-Shows First Day of Australian Age Championships