The Yeronga Yeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaa’s kicked off Day 3 with a double breaststroke bonanza. Tired of reading about our butterfly and backstroke queens, Mia entered the chat with a bang 💥 and nailed a 2 second PB in her 200 breaststroke and 10 minutes later clocked another PB in the 50 Br, placing 8th in Queensland—cementing her name as Breaststroke Qween. The Silent Assassin crept under the 40 second barrier in the 50 Br—yet another PB, which had him begging Svet to let him race every weekend. We can’t wait for his long course season!

Vicciii kicked off our 50 backs, and even though we practiced finishing uw 10 times in warm up, she managed to float the last few metres into her finish. During her post-race debrief, Svet and Toby could be seen sticking their heads in the water to illustrate to Veekee what they meant. But the hits didn’t stop there; Jess forgot what stroke she was doing, Layla pulled out yet another negative split 50, Elsa dry started and PBed while Avocado tried to literally hold an avocado under her chin while she raced; Luka went 18m underwater and eliana’s right hand tried to high 5 her left hand……safe to say we have some work to do on our backs. Toby was seen sneaking out to the outdoor pool to “time Macca’s dive. Is that code for “crash out”? But wait—the Lone Ranger AND Cam both pulled their first sub-30 50 backs…..at least something has gone right!! Macca and Ebony finished the session out with PBs which brought Toby’s stress level back down into the red along with the end of Sunday morning’s session.

3 events to go and yet still somehow 4 hours left. Jess—loving life and full of energy—held Svet’s hopes and dreams aloft in the only 200 IM of the meet. She sprinted it from start to finish, making sure she didn’t let go of that avocado in her backstroke, but still grinding out a nice PB.

50 breaststroke, lights out, and away we go! Archie finished off his Championships with a nice PB and SQT but karate chopped his face the whole way down the pool—good work Lone Ranger. Layla showed why she’s such a great Flyer, using fly rhythm to push her down the pool while doing frog kick—epic PB and a SQT. Jess finished her States with a nice PB and solid analysis of why it went well. Oscar, fresh from being sick two days ago, clutched up late with a nice PB and good rate hold. Eliana was up next, finally at ease in her favourite stroke—but seemed to have forgotten it was a 50 and not a 200! Nice looking stroke, Eli, and good to see you back racing after your break!

Macca had one mission…..50 free ✅ under 30, 50 fly ✅ under 30, 50 back ✅ under 30, 50 brst…..could it be done? If his 100 was anything to go by—maybe! Out in a 30.42 (but home in a 37), would he be able to backend this 50 brst better than his 100? He dived in, 13.40 on the wall—the dream was alive! 51 rate on the way back…..last 5m……30.22…..nooooooo!! Bad luck, bud,but good hit out to round out a nice weekend.

200 Free!! Last event!! Last swim!! Brownies on the line. Vycky has waited 6 hours, I’ve managed not to eat any of her brownies (which is a crime but anyway) [Svet intervening here to fact-check and this is FALSE; 2/3 brownies were consumed at this point], and all she has to do is push off the wall in a straight line (7 times; minor detail). That’s the challenge—the reward’s sitting half melted in a ziplock bag but still delicious nonetheless. One wrong turn and they’re all mine. Conflicted? Yes. Hungry? Yes, but ultimately optimistic I won’t be eating them. Vicky had her best swim off the meet, dropping almost 3 seconds and winning the event but more importantly the brownies.

As I sit here reflecting while making brownies. What a weekend YP had; 61 PB’s (20 of which were state qualifying times for the end of the year), 25 swims in the top 20, 7 top 10’s and 14 medals. People have started talking about the big dance in September, we are more excited for the big dance in December!!

Big thanks to the coaching staff Svet, Felipe, Mitch, Trent & Maxine!! Couldn’t have done it without you and big thanks to the parents and athletes your continued support is amazing.

YP Coaching team