Sydney University Program Age Group Gold Squad representative Francesca Fitzhenry will compete in her first Australian Swimming Age Championships final after swimming a five second personal best this morning at the SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre in Adelaide.
Fitzhenry, who went into this morning’s heat of the 200m butterfly ranked 24th and with a personal best time of 2:32.58, swum her fastest ever 200m, finishing in a time of 2:27.87 to qualify seventh for tonight’s final. The fastest qualifier posted a time of 2:23.40.
Newly appointed Sydney University Swimming Program Age Group Gold Squad Coach Leanne Thompson, who accompanied Francesca to Adelaide to continue her training in the lead up to this morning’s swim was very pleased with her swimmers performance in her first major meet.
“Francesca executed her race plan perfectly,” explained Thompson.
“Not only did she secure a great personal best overall, but she also achieved a personal best for the 100m split.”
Thompson is confident that Francesca can back up this morning’s performance in tonight’s final if she continues to follow her race plan.
“The plan will be for Francesca to go out as hard as she did in her first 100m today and then try and come home faster.”
This evening Francesca races in the final of the Girls 13 Years 200m butterfly final of the Australian Age Championships. Tonight’s swimming session begins at 6pm.
Click here to follow Francesca’s performance in tonight’s final.
