Macey Sheridan, James Smith and Patrick Brown among swimmers to watch at 2024 Champs
The best regional swimmers from across the country will battle it out in the 2024 Country Swimming Championships at Parap Pool. Check out which swimmers to keep an eye on.
Northern Territory
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Some of the best regional swimmers in Australia will compete in Darwin this weekend at the 2024 edition of the Country Swimming Championships.
The event at Parap Pool will put some of the Territory’s best young swimmers to the test from September 27-30, with an open water team relay at the Darwin Waterfront on October 1.
Olympian Chelsea Hodges will return as the championships ambassador and headlined the Pho3nix Foundation JX Clinic and Senior Swimmer clinics on September 26.
She will also be available for meet and greets on September 27.
The championships feature events for swimmers aged nine and older, with free admission for spectators.
Swimming NT chief executive Warren Dopson said the championships were a great opportunity for regional swimmers to compete in a competitive and fun environment.
“We are putting on a huge event this year that includes a raft of activities for our participants to attend, in and out of the water,” he said.
“In our third year now, this is becoming a must‑attend event on the Australian swimming calendar.”
The 2024 Country Swimming Championships is supported by Northern Territory Government through Northern Territory Major Events Company’s Event Funding Program.
NT Major Events acting chief executive Trevor Cox said the meet was a great opportunity for Territory swimmers to perform in their home waters.
“The 2024 Country Swimming Championships provide a wonderful meet for regional Australians to be a part of competitive sport,” he said.
“It is also a great opportunity for regional Territory swimmers to access higher-level competition right in their own backyard.
“Events like these are so impactful on the local and Territory swimming community, as it showcases not only local talent but the wonderful facilities we have here in the Territory.
“It also provides a positive impact on our economy and hospitality industries as entrants travel from across the NT and interstate to be a part of the championships.”
To learn more about the championships head to the official website: countryswimmingchamps.com.
Territory Swimmers to Watch
JAMES SMITH
Age: 18
Club: Darwin Swim Club
Info: The 18-year-old is one of the nation’s premier distance swimmers.
Smith is looking to continue the proud tradition of Australia’s strengths in these events on the world stage and is currently on the precipice of making a significant breakthrough to the elite level.
SAMPSON GEE
Age: 16
Club: Darwin Swim Club
Info: Gee took an enormous step forward in a recent trip to Melbourne where he earned the attention of Australian Pathways Managers.
He is an extremely versatile swimmer who’s forte is in the indivdual medley as well as the middle distance freestyle events.
Watch for Gee to be standing on top of the dais this weekend.
PATRICK BROWN
Age: 16
Club: Darwin Swim Club
Info: Regarded as the NT’s ‘sprint king’, Brown is lightning quick over short distance and is out to test himself against some of the best in the nation.
With his main event being freestyle, he’ll be keen to pit himself against some of the best regional sprinters in the country.
Brown is primed to light up the pool this weekend, with some scintillating battles against Bailey Harm from Concordia Turbo Jets looking to ensue.
CHLOE READER
Age: 16
Club: Darwin Swim Club
Info: A leader of Darwin SC, Reader is extremely consistent in her approach to swimming posing to break into the Australia Age finalist type form she is very capable of finishing. Reader is another gifted medely swimmer and strong breastroker. Eager to use this opportunity to cement qualification into the 2025 Age Champs, look out for her to keep the medals out of the interstate swimmers grasp.
LIAM BROWN
Age: 15
Club: Darwin Swim Club
Info: A rising talent in the NT ranks, Brown is fresh off a solid campaign down south, where he recorded some quality times in Melbourne.
The teenager’s growth in recent times has been phenomenal and he is looking to push his reputation even further in his seven individual events this weekend.
MACEY SHERIDAN
Age: 14
Club: Darwin Swim Club
Info: Sheridan is regarded as the queen of the Territory swimming scene as the most successful age group swimmer in the country over the past two Australian Age Championships.
The 14-year-old was recently awarded the NT Junior Sportsperson of the Year and is back to showcase herself as potentially the best swimmer the NT has ever produced.
Despite being ranked number one in all seven of her events, she won’t have it all her own way with some stiff competition from the interstate athletes pushing the pace.
THOMAS MARKHAM
Age: 14
Club: Alice Spring Swim Club
Info: Alice Springs’ current best swimmer.
Markham has achieved some incredible results in Melbourne with the SNT team, though is new to the levels of competition expected in Darwin this weekend.
She will benefit greatly from the increased exposure to the higher level of swimmer that an opportunity like the champs provides.
COLE ROBERTS
Age: 13
Club: Darwin Swim Club
Info: Roberts used the trip to Melbourne in early September to showcase his incredible talent and signal himself as of the country’s best young male swimmers.
He returned home with a plethora of medal and excelled in all events from the 50m to the 800m Freestyles, as well as in Backstroke, Butterfly and Medley events.
He is definitely aiming to use this event to solidify his new found position near the top of 13-year-old male swimmers in the country.
PIPPA HUNTER
Age: 13
Club: Casuarina Swim Club
Info:A gifted all-round sportsperson, Hunter is starting to reach the Australian Age qualification level.
The champs will provide her the opportunity, exposure and depth of competition to develop into a future star of NT swimming scene.
TARA SAMJOWAN
Age: 12
Club: Nightcliff Swim Club
Info: An up-and-coming young female swimmer in the Territory.
NT record holder, Samjowan is very consistent with her swimming and is developing into someone to watch in the coming years.
LOUIS LAMONT
Age: 10
Club: Nightcliff Swim Club
Info: Lamont is competing in the Junior Age Challenge as part of the Country Champs, and is looking forward to gaining all the experience the event can offer.
Lamont is already a multiple NT record holder and has incredible potential to achieve significant results in the pool.
Interstate Swimmers to Watch
Lilah Plant (12) – Charters Towers
Bailey Harm (16) – Concordia Turbo Jets
Lisa Richards (13) – Toowoomba Grammar
Declan Zimmerle (14) – Toowoomba Grammar
Oscar Eddy (17) – Swimming Gold Coast
Riley Johnston (14) – Swimming Gold Coast
Summer Johnston (14) – Swimming Gold Coast
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