As the countdown to the Pacific School Games continues, Tasmanian swimming team head coach Reo Lazaro is impressed with the calibre of his athletes.
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The first of two team training and bonding days was held in Launceston on Saturday before a short course time trail at the aquatic centre.
“This is my third year in a row as a Pacific School Games coach,” Lazaro said.
“I am excited. It is a very good team this year _ the best we have put forth.
“Swimmers competing at the Pacific School Games get a taste of international competition that they do not experience anywhere else except as part of a national team.
“It is an intense competitive environment.”
Lazaro, 22, has coached at Hobart Aquatic Club for the past five years and is in his final year studying psychology at the University of Tasmania.
A further training day is scheduled for Hobart on November 4.
The week-long swimming competition for the PSG, at the South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Adelaide, starts on December 4.
Also on the coaching and management team are Julie Sladden, Chris Zehntner and Anne-Marie Best.
The team captains are Amelie McCarthy, 17, of Hobart Aquatic and Marcus Darko, 16, of Riverside Aquatic.
The Tasmanian team is – girls: Sophie Botterill-James, Ella Chan, Rebecca Clarke, Olivia Cowen, Myra Donnelly, Chelsea Ford, Mackenzie French, Aurora Giuliani, Mollie Gray, Aleigha Gumley, Sophie Henderson, Sophie Hinds, Mia Howell, Isabel Kirwan, Emily Lonergan, Amelie McCarthy, Stefanie McCarthy, Millie McGregor, Emily Mitchell, Amy Muldoon, Isabella Muldoon, Zali Munday, Jade Nichols, Olivia Nichols, Charlotte Pilsbury-Milne, Jessica Shaw, Adelaide Skipper, Bonnie Smith, Matilda Smith; boys: William Bonney, Rufus Bresnehan, Sam Canny, Jonathan Clarke, Mitchell Clifford, James Clues, Jonty Clues, Jordan Cooper, Marcus Darko, Hugh Dolle, Maximillian Giuliani, William Gray, William Hinds, Ethan Jones, Riley Kerr, Billy King, Alec Mollison, Xavier Nesbit, Nicholas Plats, Jonty Pretorius, Harry Reid, Daniel Shilcock, Blake Stretton, Ethan Stretton, Noah Wallis, Daniel Wylie, Zane Zehntner.
Super Stef
Hobart Aquatic’s Stefanie McCarthy, 14, set three new Tasmanian short course records for her age group at the state teams event in Canberra, in the 800m freestyle (9:00.45), 100m freestyle (57.41) and 50m freestyle (26.53).
Awards move
Due to low numbers, Swimming Tasmania’s awards dinner in Launceston on October 28 has been cancelled. The annual meeting will still go ahead but the awards will be presented at regional meets in Launceston and Hobart in November.
Diary dates
- Oct 21: Time trial, Hobart Aquatic Centre.
- Oct 28: Time trial, Launceston Aquatic Centre.
- Nov 4: Time trial, Hobart.
- Nov 11: Burnie 100. Entries close November 8.
- Nov 18: Summer Northern regional championships, Launceston.
- Nov 26: Summer Southern regional championships, Hobart.