Warrnambool Swimming Club head coach Jayson Lamb said the club’s contingent of 11 teenagers exceeded expectations, despite missing medals in the ultra-competitive event.

Meg Flaherty was fifth in the 16-year-old 200m breaststroke final, producing personal best times in the heat and final.

Lamb said Meg made three finals, finishing seventh in the 200m butterfly and 10th in the 100m breaststroke.

“It’s probably her third championships and it’s the first time she had made finals,” he said. “She has put a lot of hard work in.”

Jamin Baulch also made three finals, with his best result sixth in 200m backstroke.

Lamb said Baulch, who competed in the 17-18 years age group, still had another year in the division.

Holly Windahl made a final for the first time at state championships level, finishing 10th in the 13-year-old 200m backstroke, while Blake Turner made a state final for the first time in the 200m butterfly, finishing fifth.

“The other kids who didn’t make finals swam extremely well. Lainey Miller, Rhys Kent and Jason Pritchard were all emergencies for finals,” he said. “They jumped significant places to up their rankings.”

Lamb said the club sent Meg, Jamin, Thomas Buckley and Hannah Justin to a leadership forum last month, which was delivering benefits for them and other swimmers.

“They have really gelled as a group. The encouragement at training has been really pleasing,” he said.