The Yeronga Yakults had a big day filled with delicious 200s and 400s, a trademark of our program.

Maggilicious was up first with the 200 IM, continuing her trend of double digit PBs with a 13 second drop, obliterating the 3:00 minute barrier—epic work, Mags. Only an hour later, she was at it again, and boom: another PB in her 100 fly.

400 IM up next, where Jess cracked our first final of the meet!! Showing guts and determination to place 10th into her first ever state final!! Let’s goooooooooo. Lewis smashed his PB by 6 seconds as he continues to show his hunger to swim sub 5:00 in this event—great work!

Macca Pacca was up next, showing our age groupers what it’s all about, dropping 54:00 in his 100 free and a great lead into something faster in the 50 tomorrow.

To round out the heats session was our 12 year 200 back plus back (get it haha) for more was Miss Waites. Maggie, with her 3rd event of the day, swam fast and smart, right on her PB. Alex A had her first event of the meet and what an A+ swim it was, with a great PB that showed everyone she’s just not a sprinter (although she still disagrees). The Bandit had his first swim of the meet and after battling some nerves brilliantly, he managed to notch a nice little PB and settle nicely into his first LC States.

Finals time!! Whoop whoop!! Perfect perfect perfect. Our first finalist of the Championship has been the definition of consistency—and consistency gets results. She hasn’t missed a beat over the last two school terms; even when we haven’t hit times, or she’s felt absolutely destroyed, she never quit, never missed a session—she toughed it out and pushed through to make her first ever State final. That’s why this one is a bit special and a huge achievement! Waving awkwardly to the camera, we stepped up on the blocks, threw caution to the wind, and just had a go.

Jess sure kept us both on the edge of our seats today. Starting off with a bold Fly leg, Jess asserted her dominance in the Back (despite her confounding collapsing elbows) and showed off her red shoulders in the Breast. But it was in the Free that she really went to work and lived up to her competitive nature. Teetering between 5th and 6th the whole way, Jess ramped up her reliable kick and finished Top 5 in QLD
!! All those months of training, week on week of backend speed work, broken quality Wednesdays—all of it paid off for Jess, who exited the pool beaming through her burning red face. 6 seconds quicker than the morning and 3 seconds under her PB—we couldn’t be prouder of your work ethic and grit. Well earned, Jess.