Three Narrabri swimmers from the Wee Waa swimming club travelled to the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre last weekend where they competed at the 2020 NSW Country Championships from Friday to Sunday.
The trio, which swim with the Narrabri-based Karla’s Swim Team, included 13-year-old Harry Bennett, 14-year-old Toby Michell-Smith and 12-year-old Tayla Nott.
Together they swam in 13 events.
Harry swam in eight of those, Toby competed in three and Tayla lined up in two.
The three swimmers’ performances and combined effort pleased their coach Karla Carruthers.
“I would like to congratulate all three of my kids who attended,” Carruthers told The Courier.
“They all swam so well.
“Toby was strong in his 50 freestyle and I was so proud after he had 12 months off sick.
“Tayla performed extremely well at her first ever NSW Country Champs.
“Harry again amazed me with his swims.
“He raced strong and was a very tough competitor, his races were all very close.
“He also achieved eight state qualifying times which we will now focus on.
“Harry really impressed me with his ability to set a goal to place in the 100m butterfly 12 months ago and then swim such a great race to come away with silver.
“He really puts into practise everything we talk about and train for.
“I’m now looking forward to the weekend back in Sydney with my team for Speedo Sprints this Saturday.”
Harry medalled in two of his eight events at the Country Championships, earning the silver medal in the men’s 13-years 100m butterfly with a new personal best time of 1:04.48 and the bronze medal in the men’s 13-years 100m backstroke with a new personal best time of 1:07.54.
He placed fifth in the men’s 13-years 100m freestyle with a 59:22 swim and finished sixth in the men’s 13-years 100m breaststroke with a new personal best time of 1:18.60.
His other results were ninth in the men’s 13-14-years 200m individual medley in a time of 2:29.80 (dropping 2.68 seconds off his previous best time), 10th in the men’s 13-14-years 200m backstroke in a time of 2:32.69 (smashing his previous best time by 5.74 seconds), 15th in the men’s 13-14-years 200m freestyle swimming another personal best time of 2:10.79 and 22nd in the men’s 13-14-years 50m freestyle where he was just off his best, swimming a time of 27.44.
Toby swam personal best times in all three of his races.
He placed 12th in the men’s 13-14-years 50m freestyle in a time of 27.04, and finished 21st in both the men’s 14-years 100m breaststroke (in a time of 1:22.95) and the 100m (in a time of 1:01.25).
Tayla finished 22nd in the women’s 12-years 100m backstroke with a personal best time of 1:19.91, dropping 1.63 seconds off her previous best time.
In the women’s 11-12-years 50m freestyle Tayla matched her qualifying time with a 31.87 swim which saw her place 59th.
