Traralgon Swimmers Impress at Nationals

Traralgon breaststroke champion Jeremy Meyer swam himself into the history books at the recent Australian Short Course Championships in Hobart being the first ever Gippsland registered swimmer to win a medal at Australian Open level. Finishing 3^rd behind World record breaker Christian Sprenger he finished over 3 seconds ahead of 4^th with a new Victorian, Country and Gippsland record time of 2.08.66 – an amazing achievement by 18 year old Jeremy with two 23 year old swimmers ahead of him. This performance made coaches at the Meet excited about his future prospects with Head coach of Traralgon, Brian Ford confirming there is not much doubt Jeremy will be offered a scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport when he completes his VCE studies in November:

“ His swim was simply outstanding. Jeremy is a real racer who has enormous potential to go far. He is still 5 years away from reaching his physical maturity so when this happens watch out! He could go very, very fast.”

Jeremy backed up his 200 metre swim with more finals and records in his 50 metre (28.51) and 100 metre(1.00.34) swims completing a great meet overall with 4 Victorian, 3 Country and 4 Gippsland records.

Jeremy was not the only Traralgon swimmer to break records. 21 year old Andrew O’Connor broke 3 country records and 9 Gippsland records with outstanding swims in the 100 Free (50.28), 200 Free (1.50.11), 50 Back (26.28), 100 Back (55.95) and 50 Fly (25.32). With only 4 months of solid training behind Andrew after a 2 year rest from the training regime Andrew is primed for a good season ahead.

Other records broken by the Cub were 21 year old Sven Eriksson who became the first Gippslander to break 23 seconds in the 50 Free with a blistering 22.78. The time was a new Gippsland record for Open and the 17 and over age group. The Men's relay combinations also smashed the existing Gippsland records with top 10 finishes in the 4 x 100 Free and Medley events. In the Free relay Ben Geard (51.94), Sven Eriksson (49.81),

Jeremy Meyer (52.32) and Andrew O’Connor (49.17) broke the record by well over 5 seconds in 3.23.24. In the Medley relay Andrew O’Connor (Back - 55.95), Jeremy Meyer (Breast - 1.00.47), Dylan Wyatt (Fly - 53.95) and Sven Eriksson (Free – 50.22) again took off nearly 5 seconds with a 3.40.56.

Overall in the Club Points Score Traralgon finished 24^th in Australia – an amazing achievement for a country club from Victoria.

The club now sets its sights on a top 3 performance at the Victorian Country Short Course Championships in Wangaratta this weekend with its 30 swimmers followed by the Victorian Titles where it will seek to again finish in the top 10.

Ex Traralgon swimmers also had a successful meet. Olympic Relay Silver Medallist Ashley Delaney, now at the AIS, won the 200 Back in Commonwealth record time. Sam Ashby, now with Nunawading, won Silver in the 200 Individual Medley. Jeremy Saunders on a scholarship with Nunawading made 2 finals and Andrew Cameron now with Melbourne VicCentre made a B final.

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