WARRNAMBOOL Swimming Club hopes its new starting blocks will help its members stay at the leading edge.
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The club unveiled the new blocks at the long weekend’s two-day short course meet, which attracted more than 300 competitors from across Victoria and South Australia.
Club president Kellie Windahl said the blocks – which feature best-practice back footplates and backstroke ledges – could make a “massive difference” for Warrnambool swimmers.
“We’re so excited to be able to purchase the swimming blocks because it gives our kids the best opportunity when they’re competing at state and national level,” she said. “It gives all the kids the best opportunity to be able to achieve better starts. With swimming, it comes down to a millisecond, so things like this make a massive difference.”
Warrnambool competitors had a strong meet, taking out the points championship, posting a swathe of personal best times and producing a number of age group championship placegetters.
Jack Sharp won the 14-15 year-old boys’ category, with Robert Gleeson third, Emily Bartlett was third in the 16-17 year-old girls and Blake Turner finished third in the 18 and over boys.
Warrnambool swimmers took out the trifecta in the 16-17 year-old boys, with Jason Pritchard first, Rhys Kent second and Sebastian Christie-Crane third.
The club received grants from the Ray and Joyce Uebergang Foundation ($20,000), the Gwen and Edna Jones Foundation ($20,000) and the AL Lane Foundation ($10,000) to purchase the new blocks.