Sydney Uni has finished fourth at the 2014 Australian Swimming Championships Trials, held last week at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre.
Under the stewardship of SUSF & NSWIS Swimming Program of Excellence coaches Grant Stoelwinder and Scott Talbot, Sydney Uni swimmers picked up eight medals (two gold, two silver and four bronze) to finish fourth overall – seven places higher than in 2013 and an incredible 64 places higher than 2012.
Leading the way for Sydney Uni was SUSF Elite Athlete Program (EAP) scholarship holder Nathaniel Romeo, who was crowned Australia’s best men’s 50m butterfly swimmer after winning gold on day two.
The University of Sydney Bachelor of Health Science student swam a personal best (23.82) in the semi-final to qualify for the final with the fastest time. He then recorded a time of 23.83 to hold off 15-year old Kyle Chalmers in the final. The 50m butterfly is not a Commonwealth Games event. Romeo continued his good form in the 100m butterfly, where he finished fourth.
Romeo was joined on the podium throughout the week by the men’s 4x100m freestyle A team (gold); women’s 4x100m freestyle relay (silver); women’s 4x100m medley relay (silver); men’s 4x100m freestyle B team relay (bronze); men’s 4x100m medley relay (bronze); Matthew Abood in the men’s 50m freestyle (bronze); and Sarah Rose in the women’s 100m butterfly multi class (bronze).
Also making finals were Hayley Abood (women’s 100m and 200m backstroke); Andrew Abood (men’s 50m freestyle); Matthew Abood (men’s 100m freestyle); Keiran Qaium (men’s 100m and 200m butterfly); Nicole Mee (women’s 200m butterfly); Tehaumi Maxwell (men’s 50m freestyle); Nicole Mee (women’s 100m butterfly); Kazimir Boskovic (men’s 400m individual medley); Jacob Hansford (men’s 400m freestyle); and the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team.
“We are pleased with the team’s fourth place finish and it’s a significant improvement from our 11th place finish last year and 68th in 2012,” said SUSF & NSWIS Swimming Program of Excellence Head Coach, Grant Stoelwinder.
SUSF & NSWIS Swimming Program of Excellence Senior Coach, Scott Talbot added “These sets of results will provide us with the best possible base in which to work from going forward to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.”
Stoelwinder and Talbot joined SUSF and NSWIS in late 2012 and early 2013 respectively.
