Day 4 Nat Age Champs: Teen claims 4th gold

Rod Laver.
Cameron Munster.
Anna Meares.
And remember this name Amelie Smith.

By Brisbane 2032, Amelie Smith (pictured) could well be Rockhampton’s next renowned sporting talent.

The 17-year-old, representing Rocky City, dominated the 17-18 years 1500m freestyle (16:52.31) at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre tonight to claim her fourth gold medal of the meet.

Smith has proven herself as the versatile ironwoman of age group swimming – she was a five-time champion at the Australian Age Championships last year and is tracking on the same trajectory.

At this meet, Smith is already the national champion in the 200IM, 400m free, 200m fly and 1500m free but said the 400IM was the one she really wanted.

“My main goal for this year is to make the Commonwealth Games team for the 400IM … that’s what I’ll be targeting at Trials,” she said.

A member of the Australian team at Junior Worlds in Romania, Smith said the international experience had made her a smarter racer.

Touching second was Delta Cross (17:02.13, Highlanders) and third was Eleanor Flowers (17:10.72, North Coast).

Flowers is one of the country’s emerging open water stars who are gate crashing the pool party at the Australian Age Championships.

Flowers, who won the 10km and 5km events at the Australian Open Water Championships in January, has already claimed her spot in the Australian Junior Dolphins team to compete at Open Water World Championships in Argentina later this year.

Also competing at this meet are her open water teammates: Riley Meares, William Thorpe, Olivia Galea, Isobel Mulcahy and Mia Hoo.

In other results:

Bryce Krause continued his standout meet by claiming former world champion Isaac Cooper’s 15-year-old boys’ 50m backstroke national age record of 25.80. Fresh from a 100m backstroke win, Krause ripped a 25.73 to lead Queensland to victory in the mixed 15-16yr 4x50m medley relay. The Fairholme swimmer now simultaneously holds the 13-year, 14-year and 15-year boys’ Australian record for the 50m backstroke.

In the 15yr boys’ 100m backstroke final, Krause claimed gold in a time of 56.85 that was one second outside the all-time national age record set by Dolphin Josh Edwards-Smith in 2019. Thomas Symonds (Somerville House – 57.20) placed second, with Timothy Wellm (Lawrence – 57.70) third.

14yr Girls’ 200m Individual Medley: Lucy Ma (MLC Aquatic) secured her fourth national title of the meet, stopping the clock at 2:18.28 to win the 14y girls’ 200m individual medley by over two seconds. In a tight battle for the minor medals, Roxanne Albertyn (Miami – 2:20.40) claimed silver by just 0.06 seconds ahead of Charlotte Lim (Carlile – 2:20.46).

15yr Boys’ 400m Freestyle: Just 0.04 seconds separated first and second in a thrilling 400m freestyle final. Thomas Bridie (St Peters Western) took the gold in 4:01.14, narrowly ahead of William Ison (Nepean – 4:01.18). Kawana Waters’ Cooper Kay placed third in 4:02.55.

16yr Boys’ 400m Freestyle: Distance prodigy Lincoln Wearing delivered a dominant performance in the 16yr boys’ 400m freestyle final, smashing out a 3:48.64 to finish almost five seconds clear of the field. Nudgee College’s Daniel Van Luik (3:53.59) placed second ahead of Singaporean visitor Russel Pang (3:55.20). Jesse Hamilton (Chandler – 3:57.06) picked up a bronze as the third Australian home.