Sydney University’s swimming team has come away from last week’s Texas Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame Invitational with some vital competition racing ahead of the Australian Championships in April next year.
“Overall it was a successful trip and a good building block for the team to work from leading up to Nationals,” SUSC head coach Bobby Folan said.
The Invitational, open to all University swim programs and athletes that have exhausted their NCAA eligibility, allowed Sydney University swimmers to compete at against Olympic gold medalists Ricky Berens, Garrett Weber-Gale, Dave Walters and World Champions and Olympic finalists.
Stephen Parkes achieved the highest individual finish for Sydney University, finishing fourth in the 200m butterfly. Parkes also made two ‘A’ Finals and several ‘B’ Cuts.
Jono Newton and Gemma Johnson each made one ‘A’ Final and one ‘B’ cut, while Meagan Ramsay picked up a B cut.
The Men’s 4x50m freestyle relay team (Jono Newton, Sam McConnell, Dylan Curtis, Gordon Willis) and 4x100m freestyle relay team (Newton, McConnell, Curtis, Stephen Parkes) also made ‘B’ cuts.
All of the Sydney University swimmers mentioned above, apart from Gemma Johnson, are Sydney University Elite Athlete Program members.
* Johnson has previously been an Elite Athlete Program member, but has recently deferred her studies.