CORLETTE’S Rafe Grant has stamped his name as one of the nation’s premier distance swimmers for his age group.
Lining up at his first Australian Age Swim championships at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre last week, the emerging 13-year-old produced a herculean effort in the pool to confirm his status as a future endurance star.
One of eight Nelson Bay Swim Club prospects competing at the national titles, Rafe proved his mettle as the squad’s youngest member, with superb swims over the 400m, 800m and 1500m distances in the Boys 13 years age category.
Rafe posted two top six finishes in the 800m and 1500m timed finals.
He raced the gruelling 800m event on the opening day – finishing a creditable sixth (9:20.04s) before placing sixth in the brutal 1500m event (18:10.44s) on day seven – a tremendous achievement.
On both occasions he posted his second fastest times.
Rafe also finished an impressive 11th in the 400m with a personal best time of 4:25.57s – missing out on a top 10 finals swim by 0.12s – and 30th in the 200m freestyle with another personal best time of 2:09.71s.
Months of solid training reaped rewards for other Nelson Bay squad members with several recording personal best times in their respective events.
Promising junior Bonnie Norton dominated the heats of the Girls 16yrs 100m breaststroke – clocking a personal best time of 1:15.61s (shaving 2.41s off her previous best) to book a spot in the B Final.
Bonnie recorded a time of 1:15.84s in the final to finish16th overall.
In the 16yrs 50m breaststroke, Bonnie finished 29th with a time of 35.11s (PB).
Sprint star Lachlan Parker registered personal best times of 24.28s (heat) and 24.20s in the Boys 15yrs 50m freestyle final to finish seventh – another fine feat with both swims under his PB (total 0.16s).
He also finished 20th in the 100m freestyle with a PB time of 54.06s and 34th in the 50m butterfly (27.02s).
Hard working Lara Budd rose to the occasion in the Girls 15yrs 50m breaststroke – clocking a personal best 34.34s (by 0.79s) to claim a magnificent heat win in her opening race of the championships.
Ranked 30th seed going into the event, Lara left nothing in the tank to clinch her heat by a full body length and secure a coveted spot in the A Final.
She posted 34.66s in the final to finish tenth.
Lara also placed 33rd in the 100m breaststroke with a PB 1:18.46s.
Outstanding all round athlete Hanna Mounter was hampered by injury and swam a gutsy 100m freestyle race (1:03.23s) before withdrawing from her heavy event schedule.
Young gun Stefan Grant showed his potential with a 17th placing in the Boys 14yrs 400m individual medley in 5:00.95s (PB by 2.57s).
He recorded more PBs with a 13th placing in the 800m freestyle (9:05.81s by 0.61s); 14th in the 1500m freestyle (17:33.14s – PB by 4.03s) and 35th in the 100m butterfly (1:02.67s).
Stefan also finished 16th in the 400m freestyle with a PB 4:25.57s and 16th in the 200m butterfly (2:19.51s).
Bella Hol finished 30th in the Girls 16yrs 50m butterfly with a PB 29.13s.
Alexis Petrovic clocked 28.11s in the Girls 15yrs 50m freestyle; a PB 30.00s in the 50m butterfly and a 30th placing in the 100m breaststroke (1:18.26s).
The squad closed the event in style with a spirited performance in the Girls 15-16yrs 4 x 50m Medley Relay.
Bella, Lara, Bonnie and Hanna left nothing behind as they stormed to victory in their heat, improving on their entry ranking to place 23rd and post a PB of 2:04.07s in the process.
There was no one prouder on the pool deck than Nelson Bay Head Coach Tom Davis, who watched his talented squad produce improved times in most events at the highest level.
By Chris KARAS
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
