Simon O’Toole, Jake Post, Brian DeBono, Josh Watkins from Katoomba RSL Swimming created club history when they qualified and competed at the NSW Swimming State Age Championships. This is the first time that Katoomba RSL has qualified relay teams at State Swimming.
The Katoomba RSL Swimming team qualified for both the medley and freestyle 200m relays with some very impressive times swam in the medley relay. Coach Kathy Dobson always felt that the boys would shine in the medley relay and they didn’t disappoint their coach. Starting with the backstroke Brian DeBono started strongly for the team and Jake Post followed with an impressive breaststroke leg, Josh Watkins then hit the water and swam with determination in the butterfly and Simon O’Toole bought the team home with style in the freestyle. This was a truly impressive swim with three swimmers gaining a Pb and the fourth swimmer swimming to their previous Pb.
Jake Post and Josh Watkins also qualified for individual swims at State Age. This was also an impressive feat as both boys have only just turned eleven and gained qualifying times at this very competitive level. Jake had swims in the 50m and 100m freestyle and Josh swam in the 50m freestyle.
This weekend of swimming is only just the beginning for a very busy time ahead for the swimmers. Katoomba RSL are sending a very strong team to the Regional Championships at Bathurst on the 24th and 25th January and also have nine swimmers already qualified for NSW Country Championships at Homebush in February.
If you are interested in joining Katoomba RSL Swimming Club they meet every Friday night at Katoomba pool at 6pm. Come down and try out swimming for your next sport.
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