Jane Tait sets the pace in the ocean

JANE Tait may be small but she is making big waves in the ocean with her winning results at open swimming competitions.

JSS Jane Tait

JANE Tait may be small but she is making big waves in the ocean with her winning results at open swimming competitions.

This year the 16-year-old was the first female to finish the Malabar Magic Ocean Swim and The Bondi Blue Water Ocean Swim and second female to cross at the Across the Lake Swim.

The Coogee swimmer also won the female 13-18 year division at the Coogee Island Challenge in December and April.

Her best achievement was seventh in her category at the National Open Water Swimming Championships 5km, after aiming for the top 20.

Jane has been a competitive swimmer for years, concentration on ocean swimming a year ago. "At first I was really scared being out in the ocean, but I have got to like it a lot," she said.

"It's much more exciting than pool swimming. There's a physical endurance as well as a mental endurance."

Once your muscles start hurting you just want to give up but you can't you have to get to the end because you're out in the ocean in the middle of nowhere."

Jane has been nominated for Junior Sports Star. You can nominate a sports star here.