Six Pack Preview: Day 4 Aus Age Championships

TO RECAP:
Australian records, all-comers records, Junior Pan Pac qualifying times and PBs – epic night of racing featuring Cranbrook’s Ollie Moclair‘s world-class 21.73 in the 18 years’ 50m free.

The newly minted national record holder then promptly declared his goal was to become the fastest 18-year-old of all time.

Up for grabs is selection for the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Vancouver this August but long term, the search is on for the next wave to carry the Dolphins to the LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032.

Heats from 9am | Finals from 6pm local time

Swimmers’ Six Pack

Riley Meares, St Peters Western, QLD, 16 | Boys’ 16y 400 Freestyle
Riley Meares is an emerging middle-distance freestyler from St Peters who has already made a name for himself in the open water. Following his success at the Open Water Nationals in Bunbury, Meares was selected for the Australian Junior team and will compete at World Juniors in Argentina in August. But today, he will chase the black line. But in the heat before him is distance record-breaker Lincoln Wearing in what is his favourite event.

Heidi Shumack, SOPAC, NSW, 16 | Girls’ 16y 400 IM
The SOPAC swimmer was a prolific medallist at last year’s Age Nationals claiming four golds including the 200-400 IM sweep, plus two silver medals. At 15, Heidi Shumack (pictured) was one of the youngest selected on the Australian Junior Dolphins Team for the 2025 World Junior Championships.

Tomo Shadforth, Miami, QLD, 18 | Boys’ 18y 800m Freestyle
The 200m freestyle champion Tomo Shadforth from Miami will face defending champion Luke Higgs (Warringah) in the boys’ 18-year 800m freestyle. Dolphin legend Ian Thorpe’s cracking 7:39.16 set in 2001 is still the national record holder.

Zoe Ammundsen, Nudgee, QLD, 18 | Girls’ 18y 200m Backstroke
Coached by Shaun Crowe, Zoe Ammundsen has made significant strokes in backstroke events on the national and international stage. Ammundsen swept the 100-200 backstroke double at Age Nationals last year and challenged the world’s best junior athletes at the 2025 World Junior Championships.

Dylan Xie, City of Sydney, NSW, 14 | Boys’ 14y 100m Freestyle
Dylan Xie had a breakout moment at the NSW State Age Championships in December when he broke the 54 second barrier to win the boys’ 13y 100m freestyle. Here on the national stage, the City of Sydney athlete will face Nunawading’s Hantang Wang who enters with the fastest time of 52.37.

Lucy Ma, MLC Aquatic, VIC, 15 | Girls’ 14y 200m IM
Already a three-time champion this week, Lucy Ma will be one to beat in today’s 200m individual medley. Ma celebrated her 15th birthday on Night 2 with a two-second PB to win the 100m backstroke, in addition to her 50m and 100m breaststroke gold. Carlile’s Charlotte Lim is the defending champion in Ma’s age group and enters as the fastest qualifier.