Local swimming sensation Harry Bennett earns seven medals at Country Champs

Having dominated the 2020-21 Swimming New England North West season, Harry Bennett was keen to test himself against some of the state’s best at the 2021 Swimming NSW Country Championships event.

At the three-day event which was held at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre from Friday to Sunday, the 14-year-old proved that he actually was one of the best.

Harry, the son of Garry and Anne Bennett, qualified for nine events. He won two of those and placed second in five more to return home with seven medals.

The Wee Waa Swimming Club member also swam to five national championships qualifying times, and eight personal best times.

Harry competed in two events on Friday, February 19, which was day one of the championships.

He earned a silver medal in his first event, then a gold in his second to start off the meet in style.

Harry’s first event was the men’s 14-years 100m freestyle. He swam a 55.99 to finish second and shave 0.69 seconds off his entry time.

That time not only set a new PB for Harry, but it also earned him a national championships time.

The 14-year-old’s next event was the men’s 14-years-and-under 400m individual medley which he won.

Harry swam a 4.53.94 in that race which was a 2.99-second PB.

He swam his 100 metres of butterfly in 1:04.32, his 100 metres of backstroke in 1:16.65, his 100 metres of breaststroke in 1:25.34, then powered home to swim his 100 metres of freestyle in 1:07.63.

He showed just how fit he was in his eighth and final lap in which he swam his second freestyle lap quicker than he did his first.

Harry’s time was 4.74 seconds quicker than the silver medalist in his own age group, and it would have seen him place a close second in the men’s 15-16-years 400m individual medley event.

He had already qualified for nationals in that event prior to Friday.

Harry competed in three more events during day two of the championships on Saturday, February 20.

He earned a gold medal and two more silvers with three impressive performances.

His first race of the day was the men’s 14-years 100m butterfly in which he placed second with a time of 1:00.34, which was a 0.72-second PB and another national championships qualifying time.

Harry’s second race of the day was the men’s 13-14-years 200m butterfly. He won that event with a 2:16.39 time which was another national champs qualifying time and PB.

His third and final event on Saturday was the men’s 14-years 100m backstroke. He swam a PB time of 1:03.99 in that event to place second, missing out on the gold medal by just 0.22.

The third day of the championships was held on Sunday, February 21, when Harry competed in four more events.

He placed second in two of those to extend his medal tally to seven.

Harry’s first race of the day was the men’s 13-14-years 200m individual medley. He swam a 2:17.25 in that race to earn another national champs qualifying time and a 2.65-second PB.

The winner of that event swam a 2:17.21, meaning Harry missed out on a third gold medal by just 0.04 in a nail-biting finish.

The Narrabri boy’s second race of the day was the men’s 13-14-years 200m freestyle in which he finished fourth with a 2:05.43.

He then placed fifth in the men’s 13-14-years 50m freestyle event with 25.93 which was a new PB.

Harry’s last event at the 2021 country champs was the men’s 13-14-years 200m backstroke.

He swam that in 2:22.16 to place second and earn his fifth silver medal. That saw him secure his eighth PB from nine races, and this one was his largest at 5.05 seconds.

Harry now turns his attention to the 2021 Australian Age Swimming Championships which will be held at the Gold Coast Swimming and Aquatic Centre from Monday, April 5 to Monday, April 12, where he will compete in five events.

There were nine more Wee Waa Swimming Club members and two Narrabri Stingrays Swimming Club swimmers in action at the 2021 Swimming NSW Country Championships event.

See below for a full list of their results:

Harry Bennett: Men’s 14-years 100m freestyle – second (55.99 – 0.69-second PB), men’s 14-years-and-under 400m IM – first (4:53.94 – 2.99-second PB), men’s 14-years 100m butterfly – second (1:00.34 – 0.72-second PB), men’s 13-14-years 200m butterfly – first (2:16.39 – 1.05-second PB), men’s 14-years 100m backstroke – second (1:03.99 – 1.86-second PB), men’s 13-14-years 200m IM – second (2:17.25 – 2.65-second PB), men’s 13-14-years 200m freestyle – fourth (2:05.43), men’s 13-14-years 50m freestyle – fifth (2:22.16 – 0.24-second PB), men’s 13-14-years 200m backstroke – second (2:22.16 – 5.05-second PB).

Lilly Burford: Women’s 11-12-years 50m freestyle – 61st (31.91).

Millie Collins: Women’s 13-years 100m freestyle – 37th (1:06.68 – 1.67-second PB), women’s 13-14-years 50m freestyle (31.23).

Pip Collins: Women’s 10-11-years 50m breaststroke – 22nd (44.55 – 0.37-second PB), women’s 11-years 100m breaststroke – 23rd (1:37.82), women’s 11-years 100m freestyle – 23rd (1:11.40 – 2.11-second PB).

Baxter Dalton: Men’s 10-12-years 200m medley relay (1) – 10th (2:31.98 – 0.06-second PB), men’s 11-12-years 50m freestyle – 34th (0.61-second PB).

Nate Dewson: Men’s 10-12-years 200m medley relay (4) – 10th (2:31.98 – 0.06-second PB), men’s 10-years 50m freestyle – fourth (31.77 – 1.21-second PB), men’s 10-years 100m butterfly – fourth (1:23.49 – 5.12-second PB), men’s 10-12-years 200m freestyle relay (2) – 14th (2:14.26), men’s 10-years 100m freestyle – sixth (1:12.17 – 2.26-second PB).

Darcy Gleeson: Men’s 13-years 100m breaststroke – 19th (1:31.97).

Jaxon Gray: Men’s 10-12-years 200m medley relay (3) – 10th (2:31.98 – 0.06-second PB), men’s 10-12-years 200m freestyle relay (3) – 14th (2:14.26).

Jack Lowick: Men’s 10-12-years 200m medley relay (2) – 10th (2:31.98 – 0.06-second PB), men’s 10-12-years 200m breaststroke – 10th (3:15.78 – 8.35-second PB), men’s 11-12-years 50m freestyle – 24th (30.58 – 1.22-second PB), men’s 10-11-years 50m breaststroke – third (41.06 – 0.92-second PB), men’s 10-12-years 200m freestyle relay (4) – 14th (2:14.26), men’s 11-years 100m breaststroke – sixth (1:32.12 – 0.75-second PB), men’s 11-years 100m freestyle – third (1:07.68 – 2.85-second PB), men’s 10-11-years 50m butterfly – third (33.92 – 0.66-second PB).

Tayla Nott: Women’s 13-years 100m backstroke – 31st (1:18.03 – 1.88-second PB).
Will Smith: Men’s 10-years 50m freestyle – 10th (33.82 – 0.11-second PB), men’s 10-12-years 200m freestyle relay (1) – 14th (2:14.26), men’s 10-years 100m freestyle – 13th (1:17.53).

Aleira Sunderland: Women’s 11-12-years 50m freestyle – 71st (32.27 – 0.16-second PB), women’s 11-years 100m freestyle – 34th (1:12.75 – 0.98-second PB).