Tiana Kritzinger flies the Nudgee College Swimming Club flag high with two gold medal efforts

Tiana Kritzinger flew the Nudgee College Swimming Club flag high and proud last night at the Australia Age Championships in Adelaide.

Tiana Kritzinger flew the Nudgee College Swimming Club flag high and proud last night at the Australia Age Championships in Adelaide.

Racing in the girls 13-14-years 800m freestyle, she knocked an amazing 22 seconds off her qualifying time to score the gold in 8:53.33. It was her second medal of the meet after she claimed the 400m freestyle title.

“It was a sensational 22 second drop from what she swam at the Queensland championships in December,’’ said her coach David Proud.

Another Nudgee College swimmer, Thomas Connellan, was third in the 14 years 400m freestyle.

Proud said it was the “swim of the day with a big best time’’.

“Tom swam a very composed race to split 2:03.1/2:04.9, coming through the field in the middle of the race. It was great swimming, ‘’ coach Proud praised.

Queenslanders starring at Australian Age Championships

And in an all Queensland finish, St Peters Western’s Connor Bracken beat Lachlan Gilbert (Nudgee College) and Hadley Mayo (Churchie) in the thrilling 16-year 100m breaststroke.

Proud said Nudgee College swimmers were performing splendidly at the nationals.

There were winners away from the podium for Nudgee as well.

“Thomas Raymond broke the 4 minute mark for the first time in the boys 16 years 400m freestyle (3:59.18) to finish in fourth position and was very close to the medals in the final 50m.’’

The Nudgee College swimming captains Josh Tomlinson, Jacob Krayem, middle, and Lachlan Gilbert were al performing well at the nationals. .

Other finals on night two saw Jade Starr finish fifth in the girls 16 years 400m freestyle (4:21.12), Brittany Courtney swam a big best time to finish sixth in the 15 years 100m freestyle (57.41), Harrison Turner finished eighth, dropping eight seconds in the 15 years 200m butterfly (2:09.17) just to make the final.

Sam Deacon finished was seventh with a big best time (58.72) in the boys 17 years 100m backstroke, Millie Warraker swam a best time in her first ever national age final (13 years 100m butterfly) while Alyssa Manthey made top 10 in the 13 years 800m freestyle.

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Other best times from the heats were Jacob Krayem, Dylan Andrea, Jake Weingarth and Tiffany Mackay also did personal best times.

Earlier in the week, on Monday, Tyler O’Keefe dropped 14 seconds in his first ever Australian age final (15 years 1500m freestyle) while Starr swam under 57 seconds for the first time in the 100m freestyle.

There were also best times in the heats for Connellan, Luke Barbour, Raymond, Millicent Warraker and Jacob Krayem in the Boys 16yrs 100m Freestyle (53.60).

Great news for Nudgee Swimming was the selection of Mikayla Messer in the Australian squad for the World University Games in July.