The 2010 SunSmart State Open Championships, held by Swimming WA at Challenge Stadium from the 27th to the 30th of January, certainly lived up to the hype of being the biggest event on the WA swimming calendar.
56 records were broken by WA athletes at the event, including 38 state records and 18 country records.
200 athletes from 27 teams took part in the Championships.
But for many people, the 2010 SunSmart State Open Championships belonged to Brianna Throssell, a 13 year old superstar in the making from the City of Perth.
Ms Throssell broke 13 state records over the course of the four day competition
Blair Evans, another of the City of Perth’s brightest stars, followed very closely behind Throssell, breaking 12 state records.
In one of the most eagerly anticipated events of this year’s Championships, these two rising stars of the pool went head to head in the Women’s 100m Freestyle on day two.
Much of the excitement surrounding the Women’s 100m Freestyle came from the fact that at the 2010 SunSmart State Age Championships, held in December 2009, both Throssell and Evans achieved the fastest time in the 100m Freestyle ever recorded by a swimmer from WA.
Additionally, Ms Evans is the current holder of the WA All Time Record for the event.
The addition of Adelaide Hart, another very talented young swimmer from Applecross to the Women’s 100m Freestyle only contributed to the excitement and anticipation surrounding the event.
But in the end, it was Evans who triumphed, coming in first place with a time of 55.61.
Hart came in second place with a time of 57.60, and Throssell followed very closely behind her to finish in third place with a time of 57.63
Chelsea Unwin from Riverton Blue Marlins broke 3 state records and Alexander Taylor from Southside Penhros Wesley broke 2 state records.
Ross Hendry from Aquajets broke four records in the Boys 14yrs/U 1500m Freestyle, a record that has stood for eighteen and a half years. Hendry also broke the WA All Time & Residential in the Boys 14yrs/U 800m Freestyle record as a split time whilst completing his 1500m.
Rural WA featured strongly at the Championships, with Adele Schultz and Kate Bird, both of whom are from Bunbury Swimming Club, breaking numerous country records. Schultz broke ten country records and Bird broke eight.
Many of the athletes who took part in the 2010 SunSmart Sate Open Championships now qualify to compete in the 2010 Telstra Australian Open Championships / Commonwealth Trials in Sydney, being held from 15th -21st March 2010.
David Toll, the Executive Director of Swimming WA, said that the SunSmart State Open Championships provides athletes with an excellent chance to showcase their talent.
“This event will be the start for many young swimmers to qualify for the National Championships held in March and is the platform from which our Olympians are discovered. It’s a really exciting time in the sport and we look forward to watching all of our young members pushing themselves onto great achievements” said Mr Toll.
BLK1 Article: [JUSTIN MACDONALD] BLK1 Photographer: [PETER SOLLNER OR OTHER PHOTOGRAPHER]
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