All Ages Swim championships: An A to Z guide of Qld’s discovery kids

Revealed: Here’s 20 Queensland super swimming water babies, along with our A to Z guide of dozens of Queensland’s discovery rookies following the All Age Swimming Championships.

Toowoomba Grammar swimming club’s Mackenzie Grimes had a successful All Ages. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Jaclyn Barclay put her name up in lights again while water babies Indianna Cameron and Olivia Galea were among the discovery swimmers as Queenslanders dominated 2023 Australian Age Swimming Championships on the Gold Coast.

St Peters Western young star Barclay continued to enhance her reputation as Queensland remained entrenched as a swimming world power winning or placing in most events at the championships. The championships finished on Sunday.

St Peters pair Cameron (200m, IM 15 years girls) and Galea (13 years girls, 400m and 800m freestyle) were rookie discovery swimmers, helping St Peters Western to yet another club premiership.

So who were the Swimmers of the Championships?

The performances of A list of rookies such as Flynn Southam (Bond), Amelia Weber (St Peters Western), Gideon Burnes (Bond), Mikayla Bird (Bond), Zoe Ammundsen (Iona), Olympia Pope (Miami), Ed Somerville (Brisbane Grammar) and Ava Gaske (Chandler) were well documented during the All Ages. They are featured in this story - CLICK HERE

But behind them is another wave of fast improving young runs with ambition burning in the pit of their stomachs as they eye off Olympic or Commonwealth Games this decide.

Below we highlight some of Queensland’s other best performers, plus unveil our A to Z review of the All Ages.

Elite Aussie junior Dolphin Jaclyn Barclay

Jaclyn Barclay (St Peters)

Barclay is a two-time Aussie Junior Dolphins who had the joint rocking on her way to winning the 16 years, 50m backstroke (27.94), the 100m and then later in the meet added the 200m backstroke crown (2:12.98). This kid is the real deal. She sizzled in the 100m backstroke final, clocking a big PB of 59.81. That effort was close to an Australian record, almost bettering two of the best Queenslanders in recent history - the champion four-time Olympian Emily Seebohm (Australian record of 59.33), and ex-Dolphin Minna Atherton (Australian All-Comers mark of 59.34). Barclay also claimed bronze in the 50m butterfly and helped St Peters win the club championship.

RELATED LINKS

St Rita’s snap one of Australia’s great sporting swimming streaks

Nudgee claims GPS swimming championship

QGSSSA swimmers to watch at the 2023 championship

CaSSSA swimming championship’s pic gallery

Eloise McLellan (Somerville House)

She produced a fantastic efforts to win the 200m freestyle in 2:07.70 and the 200m IM in 2:19.88. Early in the meet she claimed second in the 13 years 200m backstroke, and again in the 400m individual medley, among other medals. McLellan was coming off an outstanding base, having won eight gold medals at the state titles in December - including a state record in the 400m Individual Medley.

Ike Martinez is Rackley is an exciting young talent.

Ike Martinez (Rackley)

Keep this name on ice. He is a Terrace student who has a few strings to his swimming bow, but his 100m and 200m butterfly wins, and his 400m gold medal winner efforts put him up in lights. The former Cairns junior produced a stunning finish to claim the 400m freestyle in 3:57.16.

Hannah Casey of Mt St Michaels College at the CASSSA swimming championships. Action from the CASSSA swimming championships. Thursday March 10, 2022. Picture, John Gass

Hannah Casey (MCA)

Casey produced a personal best time of 1:59.11 to win the 16 years 200m freestyle. Around that gold medal performance Casey was second in the 50m freestyle (25.28), third in the 100m butterfly, second in the 50m butterfly and third in the 100m freestyle.

Thomas Pattison (Churchie)

Pattison went bash, bang, crash went to win his 100m butterfly in 53.89 seconds, and then claim the 50m butterfly title in 23.92

Benjamin Goedemans last year with his Iona College mates.

Benjamin Goedemans (St Peters Western)

The Iona College product Goedemans fired off a personal best time of 3:52.34 to swim away from the field to win the boys 18 years 400m final, and then collected a second gold medal in the 800m (7:59.26) where he beat his new training partner, Robert Thorpe. His 800m time was a PB.

Piper Asquith (Griffith University)

Write this name down. And she did not disappoint at the championships with a time of 4:19.34 to win the 400m freestyle in her age group. A northern Gold Coast neighbour, Alice Monaghan (Helensvale), was second. Then she claimed the 400m individual medley in a time of 4:54.82.

Anders McAlpine (Chandler)

He claimed the 400m freestyle with a withering final burst to defeat World Short Course Championship gold medallist Flynn Southam in a time of 3:52.50. Anders has been a regular on the podium at the All Ages and rose to the occasion again, including a silver medal effort in the 17 years 200m freestyle and the 100m. It took Flynn Southam to beat him in both.

Taryn Roberts again did very well.

Taryn Roberts and Amelia Smith (Rocky City)

Another regular on the podium at the All Ages, the Shane Kingston-coached Roberts has been a fabulous medal winner. After gold in the 400m 16 years freestyle, she produced a day four double of 1500m (PB) and 200m breaststroke. She was also second in the 100m breaststroke and the 200m IM, and third in the 800m freestyle. But Rocky City has another rookie on the rise, young 800m freestyle swimmer Smith who clocked 9:08.85 to finish second in her age group. Smith was also a place getter in the 400m individual medley

Sophie Martin with Hannah Costella at this year's QGSSSA championship.

Sophie Martin (Somerville House)

Martin was another prolific medal winner, including snared silver behind fellow Queenslander Mia Felton (Griffith Uni) in the 17 years 200m breaststroke. She was second again in the 100m breaststroke and was a bronze medal winner in the 200m IM, clocking 2:18.70, and in the 50m breaststroke.

Kai Gilbert (St Peters)

Can’t this young fellow swim. The youngster backed up a withering state title performances last December to win medals at the All Ages, including gold in the 200m freestyle. He was also touched out in the 400m freestyle (silver) and claimed bronze in the 14-15 years 1500m freestyle. Gilbert was also third in the 800m freestyle and medalled in the 100m freestyle.

Audrey Dearling (Brisbane Grammar)

Audrey Dearling produced a 100m breaststroke winning time of 1:11.95, ahead of a white hot field which included Taryn Roberts (second) and Stella Stuart (Brisbane Grammar, third). She was then second to Roberts in the 200m breaststroke, and second in the 50m, with Stuart again third.

All Hallows swimmer Ribot (Newmarket Racers).

Lilla Ribot-de-Bressac (Newmarket Racers)

Medals followed Ribot who continued her development, gathering big race experience to win the 50m breaststroke in her age group - from Maya Zunker. This after earlier claiming a silver medal in the 200 individual medley and in the 200m breaststroke.

Ainsley Trotter (St Peters Western)

Trotter claimed the 15 years 50m backstroke in 28.09, and then the 50m freestyle by a fingernail – 25.66 to 25.68. Trotter was involved in another shootout in the 100m backstroke, beaten by Zoe Ammundsen (Iona College). Trotter’s silver medal time was 1:02.55.

Milla Jansen (Bond)

Jansen marked her cards as one of the country’s best sprinters with a second place time of 54.55 in the 16 years 100m freestyle.

Holly Warn is a great young talent. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

A to Z guide of some of Queensland’s very best.

A is for Albert Damin An (TAS Swimming, Cairns) claiming his 100m breaststroke gold medal in 1:04.68. Here’s a couple of 17 years As to take not of in the200m individual medley - gold medallist Karl Albertyn (Miami) 2:02.29 and third place getter Bill Atkinson (Patriots) 2:05.71. A is also for Montana Atkinson (Helensvale). A is, of course, also forW is also for that special talent Amelia Weber who won left, right and centre at the championships, and for Ava Gaske (Chandler).

It's a thumbs up from Amelia Weber.

B. Hat’s off also to Kyla Brown’s gold medal winning effort in the 50m breaststroke. In the 15 years boys Ryan Bambach (Sunshine Coast Grammar) was another regular visitor to the podium while Maya Bearman (Chandler) was third in the gruelling 1500m race. And Birds do fly - just ask Mikayla Bird.

C is for 100m breaststroker Ryan Cothill (Southport) snared a bronze medal in a time of 1:04.26, and a silver medal in the 200m (2:21.60) and another bronze in the 50m breaststroke.

D. Now here’s a 15 years, 100m butterfly wildcard. Remember the name Dylan Pieterse (Redlands) who was second in his age group in a time of 56.11. Hugh Dolle (St Peters Western) was in great 200m freestyle form, snaring silver in his age group. A is also for Airlie Davis (Brisbane Grammar) who placed.

Kayden Gibsonas as a child - he is still winning medals.

E is for Enoch Robb (All Saints) who was lightning in winning the 50m butterfly in 24.18, and was a gold medal winner again in the 18 years 100m backstroke and in the 200m backstroke (2:01.43). He was also third to Coleman in the 100m butterfly. E is also for

Emily Holmes who won the 1500m freestyle. E is also for the in form Ed Somerville (Brisbane Grammar).

F is for Flinders’ Callum Simpson, coached by 2012 Olympian Chris Wright in Buderim, was another para winner and for Flynn Southam (Bond) who is go good, it is not funny.

G is for Gibson. Kayden Gibson (Gladstone South) kept the Central Queensland tradition of success alive, hitting the limelight with his 14 years, 100m butterfly victory in 57.38 and the 200m butterfly (2:07.28) effort. Georgia Edwards (Sunshine Coast Grammar) was a little ripper in winning the 50m breaststroke, and for that special talent Gideon Burnes.

Hunter Milgate and Sam Thorpe after St Peters win last month.

H is for Charlotte Hinze (Helensvale) who came up against crack opposition, but still claimed podium finishers. Is it also for 100m freestyle exponent Hamish Mackellar who was second in his event for (Sunshine Coast Grammar), while Haylee McKinder (Griffith University) produced a 15 years, 100m breaststroke time of 1:09.12 to win. H is also for Hunter Milgate of St Peters.

I is for Ingram..Randal Ingram (St Peters Western) announced himself in the 200m 16 years breaststroke, and also for Indianna Cameron who we highlighted earlier.

J is for Josephine Crimmins (Newmarket Racers) who is a time honoured Queensland representative who was yet again on the podium on multiple occasions. And the name Joshua Conias (Somerville House) just keeps on bobbing up. At the All Ages he won his 50m freestyle with a time of 23.58 and was third in the 100m. J is also for Milla Jansen (Bond). Keep your eye on this freestyle pocket rocket who is always in the medals. J is also for medal winner Jack Goyen (Marist Brothers Ashgrove).

K is for Kody Byrne (Bond) who also impressed in winning the 16 years 50m backstroke in 26.80. K is also for Kaci Curtis (St Peters Western) who was a sensation. K is also for

Karl Albertyn (Miami) who claimed the 17 years 400m individual medley in 4:24.03

L is for Lilly-Anne Gould, S14, (Helensvale) who was a medal winner.

Fairholme College student Mackenzie Grimes competes in swimming. Wednesday, August 3, 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

M is for Mackenzie Grimes (Toowoomba Grammar). It might have been a case of Mackenzie who, before the All Ages, but now everyone knows the name Grimes after her gold medal in the 14 years 200m backstroke. Grimes came from behind to win. And while on MacKenzie, Mackenzie Burns (St Andrews) clocked 28.81 to finish second in the 16 years 50m backstroke. M is also for Archer Mellifont (Marist College Ashgrove) who was another who impressed in the 200m freestyle in 1:58.78, while his club mate Joshua Mason was a 100m breaststroke gold medal winner after also impressing in the 14 years 200m breaststroke. And of course M is for Montana Atkinson.

N. National 400m individual medley gold medals don’t just fall from the sky, with the hard work of Noah Kamprad (Miami, 4:25.97), paying off.

O is for Olivia Hine (Somerville House) who was a gold medal winner in the 50m butterfly (26.97) and for the young star Olivia Galea.

P is for Poppy Stephen was also a podium finisher in the 16 years 50m backstroke.

Q.

Gold Coast’s Samuel Gould and Montana Atkinson. Picture: Supplied

R is for Reid. Brydee Reid (Sunshine Coast Grammar) blazed to a time of 1:04.85 and Hannah Reid (Iona) produced 4:16.29 in the 16 years, 400m freestyle. Reid also flew in her 200m butterfly to claim a bronze medal. Ryder Lambert (Southport) excited the crowd with his blistering 50m effort while Julia Remington (Yeronga Park) was a great campaigner again, claiming medals. R is also for Robert Thorpe (St Peters Western) who is a time honoured campaigner that can never be discounted and again claimed medals. R is also for 1500m place getter Rylee Smith (Redcliffe).

S. Sienna Timms (Newmarket Racers) who was sensational in winning the 400m individual medley (4:55.55), and S is also for SB6 athlete Siddhant Sachdeva (University of Queensland), Samuel Gould SB14 swimmer (Helensvale). S is also for Sunshine Coast Grammar’s Grace Brimelow (S8) who medalled.

T is for Tribeca Liu (Griffith University) who highlighted her ability with placings in the 14-years 50m freestyle field. T is for Kael Thompson, Para Development Camp member last September, who led an elite band of athletes at the championships. And then there is

Tobi Rinaldi (Albany Creek).

U.

Andrea Venter from ATC is having a great year in the pool

V is for Venter. Andre Venter (Ambrose Treacy) is another who circles success and he was again on the podium at the All Ages. It is also for Yeronga Park’s S9 Victoria Belando-Nicholson who was mighty in taking out the 14-15 years girls in 1:07.00.

W has been reserved especially for St Hilda’s Holly Warn, an S7 schoolgirl athlete who was second in multiple events. What a swimmer she is.

X is for the Xaviers. Xavier Metcalfe (Fraser Coast). Add this Fraser Coast talent to the up and coming country swimmers list following his third place effort, and another bronze in the 400m individual medley. Xavier Cuolahan (Ambrose Treacy). What’s in the name Xavier? After Metcalfe’s performance, Cuolahan was a silver medal winner in the 18 years 200m breaststroke - beating fellow Queenslander Joshua Anderson (Brisbane Grammar).

Y.

CHAC elite swimmer Zoe Ammundsen (Iona swimming) will be among the medals.

Z has been reserved for Maya Zunker (Miami) who clocked 27.12 in finishing third in the 13 years 50m freestyle - among many other medals. Zahri Jarrett (Somerset). She may have been beaten into third, but Jarrett did a great job to snare a podium finish in the 200m freestyle. Z is also for Zoe Ammundsen (Iona) who is featured early in another story.