Records tumble, top performers named at 2023 JTAS, TAS swimming championships
It was a day of broken records and rising stars at the 2023 junior TAS and TAS Swimming Championships, as John Paul College ruled the pool. See how it unfolded:
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It was a day of broken records and rising stars at the 2023 junior TAS and TAS Swimming Championships, as John Paul College ruled the pool.
The Daisy Hill schoolnarrowly triumphed over Ormiston College for both the Junior TAS and TAS aggregate trophies after a close battle with familiar favourites Ormiston College.
A thrilling 2022 TAS carnival left Ormiston and JPC on 903pts each.
Star swimmers across all age groups are to thank for John Paul’s success.
See how the day unfolded, who swam their way to glory and who broke records thanks to the www.couriermail.com and Quest News coverage.
FINAL PLACINGS – JUNIOR TAS
1. John Paul College (425.75pts)
2. Ormiston College (400.25pts)
3. Cannon Hill Anglican College (376pts)
4. St Paul’s School (339.25pts)
5. Canterbury College (326pts)
6. St John’s Anglican College (245.25pts)
7. West Moreton Anglican College (218.5pts)
PERCENTAGE – JUNIOR TAS
1. Cannon Hill Anglican College
2. John Paul College
3. Canterbury College
FINAL PLACINGS – TAS
1. John Paul College (981pts)
2. Ormiston College (917.75pts)
3. West Moreton Anglican College (727.5pts)
4. Cannon Hill Anglican College (720pts)
5. St Paul’s School (574.5pts)
6. Canterbury College (450.75pts)
7. St Columban’s College (402pts)
8. St John’s Anglican College (362.5pts)
PERCENTAGE – TAS
1. Cannon Hill Anglican College
2. John Paul College
3. Ormiston College
Senior – 100m Freestyle
The 12 years girls kicked off the day with the 100m freestyle, with Molly McLaughlan from John Paul College taking gold.
In the boys, it was Joshua Dalgety of Ormiston College who glided through the pool, followed by fellow OC swimmer Ryan Head in the 13 years boys.
The 14 years boys division boasted a fantastic swim from Maiten Scott of JPC, before Zoe Ammundsen earned Cannon Hill Anglican College its first win in the 15 years girls.
Ammundsen’s elder sister Poppy then followed suit to take out the 16 years bronze, behind Jasmine Port (JPC) and Charlotte McDowell.
It was less than a second that separated Leo Price (JPC) from his competitors in the 16 years boys.
Aurelia Gallo (JPC) continued the Daisy Hill school’s winning streak in the 17 years girls, before CHAC captain Luka Routledge took out the boys event.
Senior – 50m Freestyle
The 50m freestyle started strong in the mixed multi-class division.
Joshua Bass of Canterbury College earned his school’s first win for the day, while Mia Kertesz of West Moreton Anglican College and Edie Gay (CHAC) also displayed top swims.
Summer Baulch (JPC), Ivan Zharkov (OC), Lena Kim (JPC) and Dylan Bunin (OC) won the C and B division races of the 12 years 50m freestyle.
It was then Renita Ho (JPC) in the girls A division, and Lewis Bear of St John’s Anglican College for the boys.
It was a thrilling race to the finish between Eliana Thomas (STJ) and Charlotte Brophy (JPC) in the 13 year girls 50m freestyle, which ended with Thomas narrowly winning.
It was clear JPC and OC would be fighting for the title once again, as both schools continued to dominate all age groups.
Asher Edhouse (OC) and Poppy Leeson (JPC) finished second and third respectively in the C division 14 years, before James Zannes (OC) shone in the boys ahead of Alex Hastings of St Paul’s School.
St Columban’s College earned its first win of the day thanks to Tory Sheppard in the 14 years boys B division.
The winning act doubled for STC when Hunter McKenzie got in the pool moments later and took gold in the A division of the same age group.
West Moreton Anglican College were next to taste victory when Tayla Chardon dominated the pool in the 15 years B division.
Jai Kordis (JPC) swam a phenomenal race in the A division 15 years boys, beating his competitors by nearly a full second.
During the midmorning points update, CHAC were sitting in third behind a second place JPC on 157 points, while OC led with 182 points.
Natalie Portmann and Padraig Heffernan (JPC) shared victory in the 16 years C division.
Bridget Kelly (JPC) and Michael Hermannsen (OC) reigned in the B division events, before the stage was taken up by thrilling swims from Stephanie Wan (JPC) and Kody Fisher (OC) in the A division.
Another win for WMAC came in the 16 years girls B race thanks to Holly Gorroick, followed by Elliot Roll in the boys.
In the A division events, it was JPC’s captain Gemma Vickers who cleared her competitors by two seconds while the boys race featured a spectacle finish from Mitchell Chardon (25.77sec).
Junior – 50m Freestyle
The 9 years girls took to the blocks just before midday to kickstart the JTAS events.
Ainsley Martin (SPS) was the first to claim victory in the D division, followed by Antony Zhou, also from St Paul’s.
Ariya Talic (STJ), Jagger Parker (JPC), Aria Bostock (JPC), Lucas Guan (JPC), Minnie Maxwell (CHAC) and Tommy McDonald (JPC) each took turns claiming their first placed ribbons in the remaining 9 years 50m freestyle events.
Anabel Rees (CHAC) and Kyle Chen (JPC) won the B division 10 years races, while Charlotte Rix (CHAC) and Ilan Rowe (JPC) claimed victory in the A division.
Spectacular performances from Harry Doig and Prudence Lin in the 11 years B division earned OC another two wins.
The A division races were won by Aida Burling (OC) and Jake Blakey (SPS).
It was then the 12 years time to shine, as Lexie Bakos (D division) boosted Canterbury’s much needed win tally.
Xavier Rial (CHAC), Lilly Rota (JPC), David Blatt (SPS) Paige Hyland (WMAC) and Mitchell Hobbs (SPS) then took turns sharing the podium.
Canterbury then celebrated a 12 years A division win thanks to Ruby Fay, followed by Oliver Theron (STJ) in the boys.
Senior – 50m Butterfly
The senior butterfly races kicked off with Lena Kim (JPC) taking another individual medal in the B division 12 years.
Chloe Serafini (OC) claimed the 12 years girls A division, while fellow OC swimmer Dory Lee snatched the win from Kira Mollee (JPC) in the 13 years by six hundredths of a second.
The boys 13 years A division was claimed by Tyler Jones (OC).
In the 14 years boys, it was the familiar face of Maiten Scott (JPC) who glided through the pool to win his A division butterfly in a speedy time of 28.27sec.
Bronte Wright (WMAC) then won the 15 years B girls event over St John’s swimmer Maddie Newham.
Jai Kordis (JPC) earned his second win of the day in the 15 years boys B, while Zoe Ammundsen (CHAC) added to her tally in the girls A.
In a superb time of 26.91 secs, Bailey Hambretcht (OC) claimed gold in the 15 years boys A division.
Jasmine Port (JPC) made another gold medal appearance in the 16 years girls A division, followed by Liam Simmons (CHAC) for the boys.
There was no messing about in the 17 years, with Gemma Vickers (JPC), Joshua Wold (CHAC), Aurelia Gallo (JPC) and Luka Routledge (CHAC) all impressing crowds with their smooth swims.
A special mention to Routledge, who recorded a fantastic time of 25.81 secs in the 17 years boys A division.
Junior – 50m Butterfly
To start off the JTAS butterfly, India-Grace Logo (STJ) claimed victory for the 9 years B girls before Lucas Guan (JPC) in the boys.
Arianna Zheng (JPC) and Vienna Lee (CC) tied in A division, while Tommy McDonald won the boys event by a clear 10 seconds (42.51 secs).
Sophie Burton (CC) turned the dial up on speed in the B girls 10 years.
Kyle Chen made himself known again by claiming gold in the B boys 10 years, followed by a spectacular performance from Leila Evans of CHAC (39.16sec) in the girls A div and Nicholas Serafini (OC) in the boys.
Harry Doig (OC) claimed his second win of the day in the 11 years B boys followed by a second also for Aida Burling (OC) in the 11 years A girls.
To close the junior TAS 12 years butterfly, Canterbury’s Ruby Fay once again stunned crowds in the A division girls and Oliver Theron (STJ) claimed another in the boys.
Senior – 50m Breaststroke
Renita Ho (JPC), Michael Parks (SPS), Lena Kim (JPC) and Luiz Flaksbard (OC) shared victory in their 12 years races to kickstart the breaststroke.
It was then Chelsea Anderson of JPC who took out the B division 13 years girls and Zach Ball (OC) for the boys.
The A division girls race was a close one between Kira Mollee (JPC), Dory Lee (OC) and Taylah Smith-Miller (CC), but JPC stole it by the slightest.
Tyler Jones of OC won his boys A division event comfortably, adding to his individual medal tally.
National superstar Ava Gaske (OC) blitzed the field of her 14 years A girls race to finish four seconds clear of second place.
St Columban’s Hunter McKenzie worked more wonders for the Caboolture school team to take gold in the 14 years boys A division.
Bailey Hambretch (OC) made another star appearance in the pool, winning the 16 years boys A race ahead of Seamus Kelly (JPC).
Rowan Toon (JPC) secured his first victory in the B division 16 years boys before Jasmin Port (JPC) claimed her third.
In the 17 years girls A and B divisions, it was JPC repeat offender Gemma Vickers (B) and Ormiston’s Keahne Bergin (A) who claimed gold
The boys races were won in similar fashion by Clayton Nutter (B) and Liam Vickers (A), both for JPC.
A midday TAS points update had CHAC holding onto third place, behind Ormiston in second on 650 and John Paul College leading the pack with 694 points.
Junior – 50m Breaststroke
Minnie Maxwell got the ball rolling for CHAC in the 9 years B division followed by Vienna Lee in division A.
Kyle Chen struck again in the 10 years B boys, while Ivy Ellick and Ilan Rowe won the A division events.
New and old faces made their mark in the 12 years boys, with Zac Lukin victorious in B division and Oliver Theron in A division.
Junior 50m Backstroke
The JTAS backstroke 9 years kickstarted with Carys Campbell (OC) and Lucas Guan (JPC) followed by the familiar faces of Minnie Maxwell (CHAC) and Tommy McDonald (JPC).
In the 10 years girls B division, Ivy Ellick (CHAC) got the better of Leila Dong (CC).
Kyle Chen swept up yet another medal for JPC in the B boys, followed by Ilan Rowe in division A.
Harry Doig then claimed the 11 years boys B division before Ava Burling took gold for the A division girls.
The competition between reigning tied-champions JPC and OC failed to waver as both schools took turns in the limelight, but CHAC remained close behind.
The A division 12 years races were claimed by multi-medallists Ruby Fay (CC) and Oliver Theron (STJ).
The junior backstroke was rounded out by the mixed multi-class event.
Joshua Brass (CC), Mia Kertesz (WMAC) and Edie Gay (CHAC) took to the pool for a thrilling race, with Joshua Brass claiming his second multi-class win.
Senior – 50m Backstroke
It was a close swim between Cameron Carter (STC) and Joshua Dalgety (OC) in the 12 years A boys division, but Carter came out on top.
Maiten Scott (JPC) claimed another, this time in the B division 14 years while Ava Gaske (OC) triumphed in the A girls division.
Caitlin McCormack (CHAC) claimed the 15 years girls B division followed by Seamus Kelly in the boys.
The 15 years A division races were a spectacle of their own, with Zoe Ammundsen (CHAC) and Daniel Holdway (JPC) claiming gold.
Jasmine Port dazzled spectators once again in the 16 years A race and Takeru Kimura (WMAC) followed suit in the boys.
Elliot Roll (WMAC) claimed his second for the day in the 17 years boys B division.
The individual races came to a close with OC swimming captain Yaroslav Zharkov taking the A division boys 17 years.
Junior and Senior – Relays
It was CHAC who triumphed in the JTAS 12 years girls medley relay, followed by SPS for the boys event.
In the junior 4x50m freestyle relays, the 9 years CHAC girls took out gold before the boys event was won in style by JPC.
Once again it was CHAC who claimed victory in the girls 10 years, finishing just short of a leg length ahead of second place Canterbury.
The 10 years boys, 11 years girls and 11 years boys were won by JPC, OC and OC respectively.
CHAC continued their reign in the 12 years girls relay before SPS boys ruled the pool.
The senior relays started with a cracker from the 12 years girls John Paul College team, who won by nine seconds over Canterbury.
OC then claimed the 14 years girls relay by two tenths of a second over JPC.
JPC and CHAC won the 14 years boys and 15 years girls respectively before JPC glided to victory in the 15 years boys.
In the 16 years boys, JPC recorded a sub-1:50.00min time, beating OC on the final leg.
JPC then brought it home to win the 17 years girls relay while WMAC shocked crowds to take out the 17 years boys.
RECORDS BROKEN – JUNIOR TAS
Ruby Fay (CC) – 12 years girls 50m freestyle 30.19sec
Ruby Fay (CC) – 12 years girls 50m butterfly 34.86sec
Aida Burling (OC) – 11 years girls butterfly 35.89sec
Blake Whittal (OC) – 12 years boys B butterfly 43.12sec
Oliver Theron (STJ) – 12 years boys butterfly 34.08sec
CHAC – 4x50m freestyle 10 years girls relay 2:27.67min
JPC – 4x50m freestyle 10 years boys relay 2:33.85min
OC – 4x50m freestyle 11 years girls relay 2:27.88min
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