Moree's Ava Macey looks set to top last year's stellar efforts in the pool, following on from a gold medal-winning performance at the Swimming NSW 2020 Country Championships on the weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 12-year-old took a whopping four seconds off her personal best time to win the 12 years and under 100 metre breaststroke event at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on Sunday, February 23.
Coach Angela Walker said it was a huge feat, considering she was ranked ninth heading into the race.
"She entered a time of 126.7 seconds, so she took four seconds off her personal best time to win from lane zero with a time of 122.9," she said.
"I think she was very happy with that. We've been working on that 100 metre breaststroke, because she's going great at the 50 metre."
Last year Ava claimed gold in the 11 years 50m breaststroke event at the NSW Country Championships and the year prior she won the 100m race.
Because Ava is now 12, she had to go up to the open level for the 50m breaststroke event, against teenagers as old as 18.
She ended up finishing 15th in the 50m, which Walker said was great considering she was by far the youngest in the race.
"She did a slight PB which is great for this time of the year, beating her time from nationals last year," she said.
Walker said Ava is well on her way to having another great year in the pool.
"She's been working very hard and the rewards are very much deserved," she said.
Ava will be returning to Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre this weekend to compete in the 2020 Speedo Sprint Finals, before competing in the school system, first at NSW Combined Catholic Colleges in another month ahead of the all-school state titles.
From there, she will be hoping to again qualify for nationals, after placing in the top four in the 50m breaststroke at the School Sports Australian Swimming Championships last year.