Having banked competitive results against well-resourced inner-city programs at the recent Victorian Long Course Championships at MSAC in Melbourne, while also hosting Olympic gold medallist Kyle Chalmers and his partner, Norwegian Olympian Ingeborg ‘Ingi’ Løyning, for an invaluable clinic, a 10-strong Benalla contingent is primed for a big assault at the Kardinia Aquatic Centre starting this Friday.
Matilda De Fazio and Sophie McKenzie loom as big chances for medals in the female 12-year-old division, with De Fazio the number one ranked athlete competing in the 100m freestyle, while she will also take part in the 100m breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly events, while McKenzie will hit the water in the 100m freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke events, where she is ranked seventh in the latter.
Matilda Jones and Emily Staggard will represent the club in the female 13-year-old category, with Jones to swim in the 200m individual medley, as well as the 100m freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke events, while Staggard will fly the flag in the 100m butterfly.
Keziah Wolfe is set to race the 100m breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly in the female 14-year-old division, while the girls will combine for two relays – the 4x50m freestyle and medley events.
For the boys, Lukas Popelier will compete in the 50m freestyle, breaststroke and butterfly events in the male 10-year-old division, while Nicholas Osbourne will battle it out in the 100m freestyle and breaststroke races in the male 12-year-old category.
The boys are also entered into the 4x50m freestyle and medley relays, with Ronald Staggard, William Staggard and Patrick Osbourne to hit the pool for those events.
The squad has been working tirelessly in preparation for the event, which gives kids at country clubs the chance to compete at a high level, but on a more even playing field, with eligibility restricted to the nine districts set out in the Swimming Victoria by-laws.
Benalla Swimming Club will be in action at the Victorian Long Course Country Swimming Championships from this Friday, January 16, until Sunday, January 18, with competition set to get under way from 9am.
