The young guns set to dominate the Victorian Age LC Championships
The future stars of Victorian swimming will be on show at the state long course championships this weekend. Here’s some of the top names to keep an eye on.
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The next crop of Olympic and Commonwealth Games talent is here.
Hosted by Swimming Victoria, the Victorian Age Longcourse Championships returns this weekend where athletes will be able to showcase their talent across several days in a heats and finals form.
Here’s a look at some of swimming’s future stars that will be competing at MSAC.
Eli Billman, Ivanhoe Swim Club
Billman recently joined the club and has done nothing but excel. At the age of 14 he is one of the fastest in the club, and the first person in the club’s history to get a national time.
Madison Brand, Cheltenham Swimming Club
Fresh off a gold medal winning performance at last weekend’s Victorian Open Water Championships, Brand will be a strong contender in the distance freestyle events.
Luca Brown, Melbourne Swimming Club
Brown is the reigning age group champion and is the number 1 ranked swimmer for the 14 year old boys in the 400m freestyle, 200m backstroke and 200IM events.
Oscar Campbell, Cheltenham Swimming Club
Last weekend, Campbell competed in his first open water event finishing second. In the pool, Campbell is just beginning his butterfly journey and we are all looking forward to watching his 200 fly. He is a solid contender for the distance freestyle events as well.
Hannah Chan, Ivanhoe Aqua Power Swimming Club
Set to be one of the contenders in the 200m butterfly. Swimming has helped Chan develop valuable qualities which she uses in all aspects of her life including the values of discipline, determination and patience. Over the years, her swimming has allowed her to travel around Australia with Victorian teams, as well as form meaningful friendships. Her current goals include completing her final year of high school, while balancing a successful training program as best she can, hopefully to eventually progress to the open Australian national level.
Cooper Harrington, Yarra Plenty Waves
A multi-class athlete, at just 12-years-old, Harrington achieved something truly impressive earlier this year securing silver medals in all nine of his events at the Vic Age Long Course Championships in March 2023, including eight personal best times. His dedication and talent were further recognised with the Banyule City Council Spirit Award for recognition as an age multi-class national finalist in April. Now 13, he shows no signs of slowing down. He’s driven to improve, set more personal bests, and add to his collection of medals.
Maddy Harvey, Cheltenham Swimming Club
A true all-rounder and very strong in the individual medley and backstroke events. Recently she was a top point scorer for Cheltenham at the Victorian Short Course Championships.
Romy Heard, Melbourne Swimming Club
Set to be a contender in the 16-year-old girls 200IM and 200m breaststroke.
Harry Heath, Nunawading Swimming Club
Heath will contest several events across medley, breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke and freestyle, as well as representing Nunawading in a number of relays. A familiar face at Nunawading, Heath hopes to fly to towards a medal in a number of his key events.
Jemma Holt, Cheltenham Swimming Club
After recently representing Australia at the Commonwealth Surf Lifesaving Championships, Holt is looking to put in some good times here in her backstroke events. While her age group is very strong at backstroke, she is a real fighter and one to watch.
Emmerson Hoggan, Ivanhoe Swim Club
Hoggan was one of the first swimmers to join Ivanhoe Swim Club and has always been one of the best. At only 14, she is the most experienced swimmer the club has and a role model for everyone.
Niklas Hyland, Ivanhoe Aqua Power Swimming Club
The Heidelberg local is from a swimming family and has been swimming since he was 3. He is aiming to win a Victorian Age Championship medal and to make a final at the Australian Swimming Championships. Will be competing in the 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, 100m butterfly and 200m butterfly.
Sophie Jacka, Melbourne Swimming Club
Will be focusing on the freestyle and butterfly events in the 15 year girls with strong medals hopes in the 1500m freestyle, 400m freestyle and 200m Butterfly.
Ciara Jeffs, Yarra Plenty Waves
At the age of 12, Ciara Jeffs achieved remarkable success in March by securing seven gold medals and earning the title of 12-year-old female champion. In September, at the Vic Age SC, she continued her winning streak, once again standing on the podium and setting a new record in the 200m backstroke. Anticipation is high for her upcoming Long Course Champs as she strives for back-to-back victories as the 13-year-old age group champion.
Tommy Lane, Cheltenham Swimming Club
This year, Lane represented Australia for the first time at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago. He is looking to make a clean sweep of the distance freestyle events. He finishes races strongly.
Makayla Larkin, Cheltenham Swimming Club
Another of her club’s all rounders and you’ll see her in IM, back and fly. She recently added the 200 fly to her repertoire and is looking to continue to excel in that event next week among the 200 back and 400 IM.
Will Linke, Ivanhoe Aqua Power Swimming Club
Inspired by his coach, Yu Dong, Linke’s current goals are to compete in national age group finals while balancing his year 12 studies. He will be competing in the 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle.
Oscar Magalotti, Nunawading Swimming Club
Magalotti is a bundle of energy. He is always striving to succeed in all aspects of his swimming and ultimately loves going fast. He is completing 10 individual events over the 5-day competition. After learning valuable lessons about professionalism and preparation through the short course season, he is ready to take on Victoria with his best hopes being in butterfly, backstroke and distance freestyle events.
Dakoda Mathers, Nunawading Swimming Club
Poised to make a splash at her final Victorian Age Long Course Championships, Mathers stands out as one of the team’s most dynamic and versatile athletes. Her prowess is in distance freestyle and individual medley, making her a formidable force in a broad spectrum of events. Fresh from clinching a well-deserved silver medal at the recent Victorian Open Water Championships, she is gearing up for an exhilarating week.
Harry McCraw, Melbourne Swimming Club
McCraw is the reigning age group champion and will start the competition as the number 1 ranked swimmer in several events for the 13 year old boys including 400IM, 200M Butterfly, 200IM and 200m backstroke.
Mia Mifsud, Essendon District Aquatic
Mifsud is one of 19 swimmers set to represent her club. She has already qualified for next year’s national titles and earlier this year finished fourth in the women’s 200m butterfly at the Australian Age Championships.
Liam Molloy, Cheltenham Swimming Club
Molloy finished third in the 200m free at this year’s Australian Age Championships and is looking to maintain his dominance in this event. He recently represented Swimming Victoria in the New Zealand tri-series and was awarded swimmer of the meet by his teammates.
Kiara Mooney, Cheltenham Swimming Club
Mooney has recently been picked up by the Victorian Institute of Sport for triathlon but that hasn’t put her swimming on hold. She recently smashed her personal best times out of the park. Look out for her in the middle distance freestyle events.
Ash Nicholes, Traralgon Swimming Club
The male captain of his local club. Nicholes broke the Victorian 16-year-old record in the 50m freestyle back in August and will swim in six events across the weekend.
Zahra Olowoniyi, Nunawading Swimming Club
Olowoniyi will contest several events across freestyle, medley, backstroke and breaststroke. A year on from returning to Victoria from a stint in Queensland, she will represent Nunawading for the first time at the Victorian Age LC Championships.
Aiden Ramos, Nunawading Swimming Club
Nicknamed Sergio, Ramos is a backstroke machine. You can’t let the calm and quiet nature fool you, the smiling assassin is ready to go and show Victoria what he is made of. He is also a big fan of butterfly and IM.
Jake Ridley, Cheltenham Swimming Club
After swimming personal best times in every event at this year’s National Championships, Ridley is looking to be a dominating force in the future of swimming in Victorian. He is technically very good at all skills and you’ll see him in the medals in the fly and medley events.
Blake Scott, Ballarat Gold Swimming Club
The young gun will attempt to drop 16 seconds off his 200m breaststroke time this weekend as he aims to qualify for next year’s National Championships. He is one of 21 athletes set to represent his club with Claire Mathison, Isla Ho and Tommy Urquhart others to keep an eye on.
Mia Yeo, Cheltenham Swimming Club
After making finals in the 200m butterfly at all age and open national championships in 2023, Yeo is ready for a breakout swim. She is a true stayer in the 200 fly and it comes down to a great work ethic and a constant goal to keep improving at every training session. She is looking to be crowned long course 200 fly champion here.
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