NSW Senior State Age Swim Champs: Top 10 Sydney Athletes from across the event

Sydney athletes dominated the NSW Senior State Age Championships at Sydney Olympic Park. But who really stood out? CHECK OUT WHO MADE OUR TOP 10 SWIMMERS.

NSW Senior State Age Championships 2022 collage

THE 2022 NSW Senior State Age Championships featured a plethora of young up and coming talent from both NSW and abroad, with athletes from across the ditch welcomed back for the first time since the pandemic.

Sydney clubs dominated the medal tally, with home team Sydney Olympic Park (SOPAC) topping the table with 72 medals total, including 27 gold, followed by Knox Pymble and Warringah Aquatic.

But which Sydney talent really stood out? Check out the top 10 from the championships!

Lachlan Davies - Warringah Aquatic

In every event Lachlan Davies competed in bar the team relays, he picked up gold or silver.

Its an incredible achievement given many of his events were 50m sprints, races which leave no room for error.

The 14-year-old claimed swimmer of the night twice, on night one following his gold in the 100m backstroke, and received the same honours on night three due to his incredible performance in the 200m backstroke final.

Dual Swimmer of the Night recipient Lachlan Davies also claimed a new record at the 2022 NSW Senior State Age Championships at SOPAC. Photo by Julian Andrews.

Davies also clinched a new NSW record in the 13-14 50m butterfly which was only set at nationals in April 2022, smashing the previous record of 26.17 with a time of 25.89.

Full individual finals results

Gold - Boys 13-14 200m Backstroke Finals 2:08.11

Gold - Boys 13-14 50m Freestyle Finals 24.67

Gold - Boys 13-14 100m Backstroke Finals 59.87

Gold - Boys 13-14 50m Butterfly Finals NEW RECORD 25.89

Silver - Boys 13-14 50m Backstroke Finals 27.88

Gold - Boys 13-14 100m Free Finals 53.62

Heidi Shumack - SOPAC

The host club really starred all through the championships, and young Heidi Shumack was a stand out.

Shumack competed in 12 individual events and made the finals in all but one, securing gold in four.

Despite her young age at only 13, Shumack never looked phased at the start line, always going through her routine and never wavering once she took her mark.

SOPAC’s Heidi Shumack picked up four individual gold medals at the 2022 event. Photo by Julian Andrews.

Full individual finals results

Gold - Girls 12-13 100m Butterfly Finals 1:06.73

Bronze - Girls 12-13 50m Freestyle Finals 27.61

Gold - Girls 12-13 100m Backstroke Finals 1:07.04

Eighth - Girls 12-13 50m Breaststroke Finals 36.31

Gold - Girls 12-13 400m Individual Medley Finals 5:13.59

Fourth - Girls 12-13 50m Butterfly Finals 29.76

Silver - Girls 12-13 50m Backstroke Finals 31.36

Fourth - Girls 12-13 100m Breaststroke Finals 1:16.83

Fifth - Girls 12-13 100m Freestyle Finals 1:01.23

Gold - Girls 12-13 200m Individual Medley Finals 2:26.92

Silver - Girls 12-13 200m Breaststroke Finals 2:42.49

Luke Higgs - Warringah Aquatic

The younger Higgs brother collected five individual gold medals after a disappointing start to his championship champaign.

He settled for a sole silver medal on night one after falling short in the 1500m freestyle final, and finishing a disappointing fourth in the 100m butterfly in his opening event.

The 14-year-old claimed bronze in the 200m butterfly, and then his results really started picking up, sealing gold in all his remaining events.

Luke Higgs collected five individual gold medals for Warringah Aquatic at the 2022 NSW Senior State Age Championships.

Higgs’ 200m individual medley final was a clear highlight, after trailing for most of the race behind Joseph Kim and Joshua Jeung who looked to be battling for the win, Higgs stormed ahead in the final freestyle leg to inch in front of both of his rivals to claim gold.

Full individual final results

Fourth - Boys 13-14 100m Butterfly Finals 1:00.07

Silver - Boys 13-14 1500m Freestyle Finals 16:40.76

Bronze - Boys 13-14 200m Butterfly Finals 2:11.86

Gold - Boys 13-14 400m Freestyle Finals 4:09.04

Gold - Boys 13-14 400m Individual Medley Finals 4:44.13

Gold - Boys 13-14 200m Freestyle Finals 1:56.89

Gold - Boys 13-14 200m Individual Medley Finals 2:12.90

Gold - Boys 13-14 800m Freestyle Finals 8:30.34

Lillie McPherson - Manly

Another new record holder from the championships, Manly’s Lillie McPherson rewrote the NSW girls 14 years 100m butterfly record which was established in 2018 by Emily Jones by storming home in 1:01:07

After starting her meet program with fourth in the girls 14 years 100m breaststroke final, the 14-year-old then went on to claim seven individual gold medals out of the 11 events she entered along with a silver in the 100m freestyle final.

Young Manly star Lillie McPherson secured a massive seven titles at the NSW Senior State Age Championships. Photo by Julian Andrews.

Full individual finals results

Fourth - Girls 14 100m Breaststroke Finals 1:16.21

Gold - Girls 14 50m Freestyle Finals 26.63

Gold - Girls 14 100m Butterfly Finals NEW RECORD 1:01.07

Gold - Girls 14 200m Freestyle Finals 2:06.45

Gold - Girls 14 400m Freestyle Finals 4:28.30

Gold - Girls 14 50m Butterfly Finals 27.87

Silver - Girls 14 100m Freestyle Finals 57.78

Gold - Girls 14 200m Individual Medley Finals 2:22.97

Gold - Girls 14 200m Butterfly Finals 2:23.82

Kai Lilienthal - Knox Pymble

Kai Lilienthal may have only snatched three individual gold medals during his time at the championships, but his impact on the event will remain for some time.

On night two, the 17-year-old not only claimed the boys 50m butterfly title, but he also rewrote a NSW record that had stood since December 2008.

Kai Lilenthall claimed a new record at the NSW Senior State Age Championships.

Lilienthal’s time of 24.46 was over a full tenth clear of the time set by Lane Cove’s Phillip Butcher over a decade ago.

He added another two gold in the 100m freestyle and butterfly finals to end his championships on a high.

Full individual finals results

Sixth - Boys 17 400 Free Finals 4:10.42

Gold - Boys 17 50 Fly Finals 24.46 NEW RECORD

Bronze - Boys 17 50 Back Finals 26.56

Silver - Boys 17 50 Free Finals 23.73

Silver - Boys 17 100 Back Finals 57.68

Gold - Boys 17 100 Free Finals 51.68

Gold - Boys 17 100 Fly Finals 55.02

Olivia Wunsch - Carlile

Olivia Wunsch was named as one of the young stars to watch at the championships, and she well exceeded expectations.

Out of the 10 individual events Wunsch entered, she took home gold in six of them, and ended up on the podium another two times.

Olivia Wunsch from Carlile added the girls 16 years 100m freestyle gold to her NSW Senior State Age Championship haul. Photo by Julian Andrews.

The 16-year-old excelled in the freestyle and butterfly events, and her quick reactions off the blocks bought her time to produce and maintain a lead that oftentimes couldn’t be beaten.

Full individual finals results

Gold - Girls 16 200 Individual Medley Finals 2:19.80

Gold - Girls 16 50m Butterfly Finals 27.57

Gold - Girls 16 200m Freestyle Finals 2:02.56

Silver - Girls 16 50m Backstroke Finals 30.60

Gold - Girls 16 50m Freestyle Finals 25.32

Fifth - Girls 16 100m Breaststroke Finals 1:17.16

Fourth - Girls 16 100m Backstroke Finals 1:06.01

Gold - Girls 16 100m Freestyle Finals 55.19

Third - Girls 16 50m Breaststroke Finals 34.12

Gold - Girls 16 100m Butterfly Finals 1:00.58

Sam Higgs - Warringah Aquatic

Another Warringah Aquatic star earmarked for success ahead of the competition, Sam Higgs excelled despite a packed schedule.

He continued to impress in long-distance events in which he claimed national titles earlier in the year, and always looked composed even when he was trailing.

Higgs’ gold winning performance in the 400m freestyle was a particular highlight, establishing over a second’s lead in the final stint over Braydon Woodford to cement his title.

Swimmer Sam Higgs from Warringah Aquatic SC competing in the pool.

Full individual finals results

Gold - Boys 16 200m Individual Medley Finals 2:07.72

Gold - Boys 16 800m Freestyle Finals 8:23.69

Silver -Boys 16 200m Butterfly Finals 2:06.28

Bronze - Boys 16 200m Breaststroke Finals 2:26.51

Gold - Boys 16 400m Freestyle Finals 4:04.28

Fifth - Boys 16 200m Freestyle Finals 1:57.90

Gold - Boys 16 400m Individual Medley Finals 4:31.29

Charli Barbour - Manly

A long distance specialist, Manly’s Charli Barbour looked more at home the longer the race was.

The 13-year-old had a slow start to her golden campaign, picking up medals in the lower podium positions for her first three races.

Girls 12-13 100m freestyle winner Charli Barbour (blue hat) being congratulated by second place Jaslyn Plummer (pink hat). Photo by Julian Andrews.

However, her talent was obvious in the longer events, with Barbour untouchable in the 1500m freestyle.

Full individual finals results

Bronze - Girls 12-13 800 Freestyle Finals 9:34.63

Silver - Girls 12-13 50 Freestyle Finals 27.59

Bronze - Girls 12-13 100 Backstroke Finals 1:08.45

Gold - Girls 12-13 400 Freestyle Finals 4:32.06

Eighth - Girls 12-13 50 Backstroke Finals 32.41

Gold - Girls 12-13 200 Freestyle Finals 2:08.49

Gold - Girls 12-13 100 Freestyle Finals 59.58

Gold - Girls 12-13 1500 Freestyle Finals 18:24.90

Haig Buckingham - SOPAC

Haig Buckingham was another standout star for SOPAC’s winning campaign, securing podium places in every individual final he entered.

The 18-year-old was named Swimmer of the Night on night four, following his title winning 100m breaststroke final.

Haig Buckingham was named swimmer of the night for his incredible performance on four. Photo by Julian Andrews.

Buckingham went home with three individual gold medals, and helped his team secure top spot in the boys’ 13-18 400m medley relay.

Full individual finals results

Gold - Boys 18&O 200m Breaststroke Finals 2:19.22

Silver - #26 Boys 18 200m Individual Medley Finals 2:06.40

Bronze - Boys 18 50m Freestyle Finals 23.63

Gold - Boys 18 100m Breaststroke Finals 1:02.05

Gold - Boys 18 50m Breaststroke Finals 28.41

Rafaela Kopellou - SOPAC

Another home club star, Rafaela Kopellou engaged in an event-long battle with Wests Illawarra golden girl Jessica Cole.

Kopellou came off second best to her rival on two occasions, including in the 15 years 100m butterfly final in which Cole broke her own state record.

Rafaela Kopellou swimming at the 2022 Australian Age Championships in Adelaide. Picture: Supplied

It was in the individual medley events where Kopellou really stood out, qualifying in top spot and claiming gold in both the 200 and 400m finals.

Full individual finals results

Gold - Girls 15 200 Individual Medley Finals 2:23.38

Silver - Girls 15 200 Butterfly Finals 2:18.82

Silver - Girls 15 200 Breaststroke Finals 2:40.45

Silver - Girls 15 100 Butterfly Finals 1:03.16

Silver Girls 15 400 Freestyle Finals 4:27.39

Fifth - Girls 15 100 Breaststroke Finals 1:15.22

Gold - Girls 15 400 Individual Medley Finals 5:02.80