The 2023-2024 Summer LC season began with the Warringah LC Qualifying meet in October where we had over 400 athletes from 15 Clubs join in the fun at our home pool, the WAC. It was a fun day with lots of prizes won and heaps of PBs all around.
The season progressed to the Area Championships where we had 75 of our swimmers competing with nearly 600 swimmers from 13 Clubs in the MNE Area. Warringah came in 2nd in the medal tally with 21 Gold, 18 Silver, 23 Bronze medals and 2nd in the point score behind the much larger Knox Pymble team. There were a huge number of PBs and even a few National times!
Next came the first of the 5 SNSW State meets, the Jnr Metro Champs in November. Our small team of 18 swimmers earned 1 Gold, 3 Silver and 1 Bronze medal with lots of PBs and happy faces all around.
The week long Senior State Age champs in December saw 62 of our swimmers compete in 450 individual events and 23 relays in a Heats and Finals extravaganza – HUGE! Our Piranhas came away with 24 Gold, 15 Silver and 9 Bronze medals resulting in an overall 3rd place finish in the medal count and 4th place in the point score. What an effort! Again lots of PBs and National times earned. Thank you to the coaches for their mammoth efforts throughout that very hectic week!
The excitement didn’t end there. The NSW State Open Water Champs followed shortly after with 8 of our swimmers competing in Penrith over 2 days. Congratulations to Luke for his 1st place in the 7.5km and to Macy for her 3rd place in the 7.5km – epic swims from all our swimmers putting us in 8th place overall!
Next on the State agenda was the Senior Metro Champs in February. Our team of 59 swimmers earned a total of 39 medals (10 Gold, 11 Silver, 18 Bronze) and with a combined point score with the Juniors ended up in 4th place honours behind the big 3 teams, Carlile, Knox Pymble and SOPAC. Well done Piranhas, we’re so very proud of each and every one of you!!
Early March saw 14 of our younger Piranhas advance to NSW Speedo Sprint Finals. These athletes were selected to represent SMNE in the Sprint Finals with the best of the best juniors from 11 other Areas across NSW. Their combined efforts helped SMNE come 3rd in the overall point score with SMNE athletes earning 8 Gold, 10 Silver, 8 Bronze medals for a total of 26 medals. Congratulations to all of you on such an amazing day.
NSW State Open in March saw 35 of our athletes compete in 110 individual events with the best of the best from around Australia, almost like an Olympic Trials event with so many Australian Dolphins around pool deck! Their combined point scores totalled 207 placing Warringah in 16th place.
Phew! Busy Summer season leading up to Nationals. Stay tuned for a National report.
Go Piranhas!