State Championships: “An absolute Ripper of a Meet”

Victorian Age Championships  – Day 1

The morning heat session resulted in 9 swimmers making 12 finals with Mikaela Cornelissen ( 200 fly, 100 free) Lauren Akers(200 IM, 100 fly)and Alex Tsebelis (200IM, 100 fly) each achieving 2. Swim of  the morning came from Connor O’Neill who achieved a National time in the 200IM recording a 4.46 improvement with 2.18.73 (Nat time 2.19.50) and finalling.

The finals session was a terrific opening to the 6 day meet with 2 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals. Lauren Akers swam the race of her life to win the 14 years 100 fly with a PB of 1.05.82. She earlier won Bronze in the 200IM in 2:30.04, both National times.

Georgia Tsebelis won the 50 free in the dual age group -17/18 years – in a new 17 years and over Out of Gippsland record 26.56 (previous record 27.05 her own from interdistrict 2014). Brother Alex won silver in the 14 years 100 fly in a new Out of Gippsland time as well of 1.00.39 (previous record 1.01.39 Philip Blunt 2010).

Silver also went to Club Vice Captain Mikaela Cornelissen in the 16 years 200 fly(2.23.59) who also followed up with bronze in 100 free (58:64).

The final medal of the night went to Caiden Gill in the 16 years 100 free(51.69). Caiden’s time  was the fastest ever swum by a Gippsland swimmer and broke the Open and 16 years Out of Gippsland record (previous 16 years his own 52.27 from National Age 2014, Open record 52.13 Jeremy Saunders Australian Age 2009)

Overall a great day’s racing with a PB ratio of 90% and the Club sitting in 4th in the points score.

Bring on Day 2!!!!

Medal Tally after Day 1 –  2 Gold,   3 Silver,   2 Bronze     Point Score – 180 (4th)

Swim of the Day – Gold  in the 100 fly for Lauren Akers. She had to back up after a full on effort in the 200 IM and was determined to win.  A tough gutsy swim!!!

 Victorian Age Championships – Day 2

After the heats in the morning we had 11 individual swimmers compete in 11 finals in the evening. Swim of the morning was Connor O’Neill who broke the 14 years 200 Back Out of  Gippsland record in the time of 2.15.28 (previous his own in 2014 of 2.17.77).

Swim of the night was also Connor after reducing his heat time by a further 3.60 seconds to 2.11.68 and WINNING GOLD. Precision swimming at its best with a 30.4 first lap and 33.6, 33.8, 33.7 splits for the next 3 laps – a fantastic performance!

5 silver medals were also won with Ellodie Reid in the 14 years 200 back (2.21.51)Caiden Gill in the 16 years 50 free(23.54), Mikaela Cornelissen in the 16 years 50 free( 26.64), Georgia Tsebelis  in the 17/18 years 100 back(1.04.31) which was a new 17/over years Out of Gippsland record (previous Abbie Stockdale 1.06.72 2005 National Age). A silver was also won by the combination of Mikaela Cornelissen (58.34), Georgia Tsebelis (58.72), Maggie O’Keefe (1.00.52) and Ellodie Reid (1.00.20) in recording the time of 3.57.76 in the Girls 18/under 4 x 100 free relay.

The final medal of the night was won by Melina DeCort in the Girls 14 years 200 Back (2.22.88) in grabbing bronze and completing another excellent session for the Club.

Medal tally for the day – 1 gold, 5 silver, 1 bronze Medal tally after Day 2 – 3 gold, 8 silver, 3 bronze Records after Day 2 – 7 Out of Gippsland Points Score – 366 (4th) Swim of the Night – Connor O’Neill in the 200 back described above.

Victorian Age Championships – Day 3

The morning heat session again saw some breaking swims from our team of  swimmers. Whilst 9 swimmers made a similar number of finals it was 10 year old Jordyn Cargill who set the scene with an Out of Gippsland record in the 50 free (31.14) breaking AlexTesbelis’ time of 31.29 from 2011 Sprint titles and then breaking a long standing record from 1979 held by Sale swimmer Simon Whitford in the 200 IM. His time of 2.54.50 was taken out by Jordyn with a new record of 2.51.89 – an outstanding swim and a final to go with it!

The finals saw a quieter night in terms of medals ( 2 silver,1 bronze) but some terrific swims in terms of performance. Mikaela Cornelissen picked up another medal in the 16 years 100 back (1.04.86) with silver and both 14 years years 4 x 50 freestyle relay teams picked up medals with silver to the boys and bronze to the girls.

 The boys team of Locke DeGaris(26.45), AlexTsebelis (24.92), Connor O’Neill (26.43), Mitchell O ‘Neill ( 26.07) broke the Out of Gippsland 14 years relay record

 with a new time of 1.43.87 and a silver medal. This broke the previous record of 1.44.47 also held by Traralgon from 2004 States. The Girls team of Lauren Akers (28.52), Alice Peddle (28.29) , Ellodie Reid (27.87) and Melina DeCort ( 28.22) swam a time of 1.52.90 to pick up bronze.

Medal tally today – 2 silver, 1 bronze

Medal tally after Day 3 – 3 gold, 10 silver, 4 silver Records – 10 Out of Gippsland Swim of the Day – Jordyn Cargill in the 200 IM breaking a 35 year old record.

Victorian Age Championships -day 4

Another morning of racing produced 8 individual finals with only Lauren Akers doubling up with the 50 and 400 free finals in the 14 year age group. The overall result of 2 silver and 2 bronze medals was a just reward the nights efforts and produced some fantastic times amongst the team.

Caiden Gill finished 3rd in 16 years 200 free in a new Out of Gippsland record of 1.55.58(previous Jeremy Saunders 1.57.32 2007 States). Georgia Tsebelis won silver in the 17-18 years 200 IM in a new Out of Gippsland record also  of 2.23.9 (previous record 2.26.3 Sarah Allen 2002 States). Ellodie Reid after recovering from a major shoulder injury retuned back in fine form with a silver in the 14 years 400 free ( 4.33.36). The final medal was achieved in the Boys 4 x Free relay with Riley Akers (56.61), Alex Tsebelis (56.06), Caiden Gill (51.32) and Mitchell O’Neill(58.73) swimming hard for the bronze with a time of 3.42.72 (previous 3.46.25 Traralgon 2010 States).

In the Boys 11/under 200 Fly Jordyn Cargill swimming as a 10 year old finished 4th in the 200 Fly in a new Out of Gippsland record of 3.01.66 (previous record 3.13.52 Alex Tsebelis 2010 States).

Medals for the day – 2 silver, 2 bronze

Medals to date – 3 gold, 12 silver, 6 bronze Records to date – 1 Country, 14 Out of Gippsland Points Score -600 (4th) Swim of the Day – Mikaela Cornelissen in the 200 free – aggressive racing resulted in a 3 second PB and she nearly snatched a bronze medal missing by just under 0.5.

Victorian Age Championships – day 5

What a fantastic day of heats and finals! Having set a goal of 16 finals the morning session resulted in 18 finals and with the 4 top 10 positions for our relay teams meant the Club had its highest ever number of point scoring races on one night at States.

Gold medals were won by Melina DeCort in the 14 years 100 back (1.06.45) and Mikaela Cornelissen in the 16 years 100 Fly (1.01.99).

Silvers went to Georgia Tsebelis in the 17/18 years 200 back (2.20.80), Lauren Akers in the 14 years 4

00 IM (5.20.25), Harliai Curthoys – Davies in the 12 years 100 back (1.15.19) and the Boys 14 years 4 x 50 Medley Relay (Back – Connor O’Neill 29.07, Breast – Alex Tsebelis 33.36, Fly – Locke DeGaris 27.69, Free – Mitch O’Neill 26.18) in a 1.57.30.

Bronze were aplenty with 3rd places to Melina DeCort in the 14 years 400 IM (5.23.05), Connor O’Neill in the 14 years 100 back (1.02.36) and with the swim of the night, 10 year old Jordyn Cargill who came home powerfully in the 11 years 100 fly in a new Out of Gippsland record of 1.15.73. This broke his own record from the heats (1.17.81) which

broke Alex Tsebelis’ record of 1.20.63 from 2011.

Medal tally for the day – 2 gold, 4 silver,  3 bronze Medal tally for the first 5 days – 5 gold, 16 silver, 9 bronze Records to date – 18 Out of Gippsland, 1 Country Points Score – 839 (4th) Swim of the day – Jordyn Cargill as described above – a powerful finish to grab bronze holding his breath on the last 4 strokes. Further Out of Gippsland records went to 10 year old Caydence Bezzina competing in the 11 years 100 Back who swam 1.17.86 in the heat and 1.17.84 in the final to break Sophie Waller’s record of 1.19.04 for the 10 years age established in October this year.

 2014 Victorian Age Championships – Day 6

8 individual finals saw the final day of the Championships come to a close for the Club.

Ellodie Reid started the night off right with a silver in the 14 years 200 free (2.10.46) followed by Gergia Tsebelis in the 17/18 years 100 free (58.27), a new 17 years and over Out of Gippsland Record.

Harliai Curthoys – Davies came home solidly in the 11 years 200 back (2.43.87) for a bronze to complete what was a terrific performance for the Club over the 6 days.

Medals for the day – 2 silver, 1 bronze

Total Medals for the meet – 5 gold, 18 silver, 10 bronze Points Score – 927 Overall Position – Girls (3rd), Boys (9th), Club (4th)

AN ABSOLUTE RIPPER OF A MEET!!!!!!

Congratulations to swimmers, parents and coaches!

What a fantastic meet for the Club – 4th in the State behind Melbourne Vicentre, Nunawading and MLC Aquatic, and No. 1 Victorian Country Club. A terrific job by the swimmers, coaches and Veronica Roberts as Team Manager/Masseur.

A special thank you to the Parents who transported, fed, organised and encouraged their children and others over the 6 day meet  – YOU ARE SPECIAL!

Point Score

Finals (Top 10 Finishes)

 Medals & Records