Meg Harris revels in race experience after winning three medals at world junior titles

There is an old saying “what a difference a day makes’’. For Mt St Michael’s student Meg Harris, it was amazing the difference 100m made to her swimming performance at the world junior titles when she claimed two bronze and a silver medal.

There is an old saying “what a difference a day makes’’.

For Mt St Michael’s student Meg Harris, it was amazing the difference 100m made to her swimming performance at the world junior titles.

The exciting St Peters Western prospect claimed two individual bronze medals (50m and 100m freestyle) and a relay silver medal.

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On the surface her first event of the meet, the 100m, was a success because she finished third. And it was a success.

But it could have been better, and Harris used the experience gained from her 100m to propel her toward sizzling efforts in her next races.

Meg Harris with her three medals from the world junior swimming championships.

Former St Peters Western coach Michael Bohl once said for a rookie nothing compared to race experience, and so it was the case for Harris.

“With the 100m free, I was happy with the result (bronze) but not exactly how it went,’’ Harris said.

“It was not one of my best, but the 50m, that was everything I could have hoped for. It was my first time breaking 25.’’

Harris said the meet’s atmosphere was a step up from the Youth Commonwealth Games she experienced in 2017, and standing on the podium after her 100m race lit a fuse within. “Standing on the podium after the 100, that made you want to do it again.

“I knew I was a good chance of the finals and maybe getting a podium, but even just standing on the podium, you don’t actually expect that is going to happen,’’ Harris said.

The quietly spoken teenager, originally from Marlins Swim School in Mackay, said the meet had given her confidence ahead of the 2020 Olympic trials.

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“Trials for the Olympics is my big goal at the moment, so doing so well at this has made me think I am up there with juniors and hopefully I can become one of the senior swimmers.

“The girls older than me are way faster, but by doing PBs I am slowly getting closer to them.’’

St Peters Western Swimmers Mollie O'Callaghan, Meg Harris, Michaela Ryan and Jenna Forrester represented Australia at the world junior swimming championships.

She said swimming in the world class environment of St Peters Western was an amazing experience which was helping her.

“Because they are world class swimmers, it is amazing seeing how they train,’’ said Harris “You think if I can do the same as them, then there is a chance that I be like them one day.’’