Schoolboy swim sensations Ethan Banks, Kaiden Neilsen and Mia Bradford were in a record breaking mood at the recent St Patrick’s College Swimming Carnival staged at the Mackay Aquatic and Recreation Complex.
Seventeen-year-old Banks stole the show by smashing four existing records on the day to cap a memorable championship meet.
The outstanding prospect was crowned Year 12 Boys Champion after setting new records for the 50m freestyle (28.81 sec); 50m backstroke (34.63 sec); 50m breaststroke (38.78 sec) and 50m butterfly (32.06 sec).
Superfish Kaiden produced mighty performances in the pool to clinch the Year 7 Boys Champion trophy.
The versatile 12-year-old broke three records on the day after capturing the 50m freestyle (30.93 sec); 50m breaststroke (41.21 sec) and 50m butterfly (36.65 sec) titles.
There was also plenty of joy for Kaiden’s elder sister Mackenzie Neilsen, who was named Year 9 Girls champion after powerful performances in the freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly events.
Madam Butterfly Mia dominated her age group – scooping the pool with record-breaking victories in the 50m freestyle (29.5 sec); 50m backstroke (35.75 sec); 50m breaststroke (43.38 sec) and 50m butterfly (33.25 sec) to earn the tag of Year 11 Girls Champion.
It was Mia’s fourth successive record in the 50m freestyle event. Her leading times of 29.69 sec (Year 8 – 2020); 28.31 sec (Year 9 – 2021) and 28.13 sec (Year 10- 2022) still stand today in the College record books.
Promising 13-year-old swimmer Audrey Bryan made it back-to-back Age Champion titles when named Year 8 Girls champion following her initial success as a Year 7 student in 2022.
Last year Audrey dominated her age group – creating new Aquatic records for the 50m freestyle (28.25 sec); 50m backstroke (36.60sec); 50m breaststroke (39.38 sec) and 50m butterfly (32.60sec).
It was a proud moment for the Noon family when siblings Wyatt Noon (Year 8 Boys Champion); Zanthia Noon (Year 10 Girls Champion) and Amelia Noon (Year 12 Girls Champion) achieved a unique treble.
There was double reason for Amelia to celebrate when she posted new records for Year 12 girl swimmers in the 50m backstroke (44.31 sec) and 50m butterfly (43.35 sec).
Karli Davis, 17, set a new Year 12 Girls record for the 50m freestyle (36.69 sec) and 17 year old Lillian Keeble for the 50m Breaststroke (48.72 sec).
16-year-old Jack Henderson followed in the footsteps of his famous brother Tom by claiming the Year 11 Boys Champion crown after setting new records for the 50m freestyle (29.16 sec) and 50m breaststroke (39.93 sec).
Brodie Carlill, 15, also collected a record double in the Year 11 Boys 50m backstroke (35.22 sec) and 50m butterfly (34.68 sec).
Other Age champions included Isabelle Miles (Year 7 Girls); Rourke Bagley (Year 9 Boys) and Declan Grady (Year 10 Boys).
By Chris Karas
St Patrick's College Age Swimming champions pictured l to r: Matthew Paul (Sports Coordinator Mercy Campus; Year 7 Girls Isabelle Miles, Year 7 Boys Kaiden Neilsen, Year 8 Girls Audrey Bryan, Year 9 Girls Mackenzie Neilsen, Year 8 Boys Wyatt Noon; Year 9 Boys Rourke Bagley, Year 10 Girls Zanthia Noon and Year 10 Boys Declan Grady
