Members of the Cooktown Amateur Swimming Club team prepare to compete in the 2024 FNQ Long Course Championships in Cairns on 2-3 March at the Tobruk Memorial Pool. Photo: Supplied.
Cooktown swimmers set an incredible 68 personal bests from just 113 events when they competed in the 2024 FNQ Long Course Championships in Cairns from 2-3 March.
The annual showcase proved to be the perfect preparation for the five Cooktown Amateur Swimming Club (CASC) members who will represent Peninsula at the Queensland Representative School Sports Swimming State Championships in Brisbane later this month, with both Rudolf Habermann and Samuel Ryder collecting medals.
Ryder celebrated silver in the 16 years boys 100 metre butterfly and backstroke, and a bronze in the 100m freestyle, while Habermann was crowned runner-up age champion for the 13 years boys division after claiming gold in the 100m butterfly, and silver in the 200m individual medley and 100m backstroke.
Maiika Hegamaea was the club’s superstar for the event, taking the nine years girls age champion after winning the 50m butterfly and backstroke events, claiming silver in the 50m freestyle and bronze in the 50m backstroke.
Cruze Ryder secured bronze in the 12 years boys 100m butterfly before joining Carrick Macmillan, Max Giese and Habermann to finish third in the boys 13 years and under 200m medley relay.
CASC president Melissa Gunton said the club was thrilled with the result from the meeting.
“On top of the medals, one age champion and one runners-up age champion, we also had some of our Peninsula team members qualify for extra events due to their new personal best times,” she said.
Ms Gunton added that preparation for the Brisbane competition was hitting full swing as fundraising for the $9,000 needed to get swimmers poolside in Peninsula colours progressed well.
“The preparation for Brisbane is quite intense at the moment,” she said.
“Some of the members have been doing extra morning training, and our head coach is adding in extra fitness sessions for all our senior teams.
“So far, we have raised half of the money for our members to attend states.”
The CASC boys 13 and under 200m medley relay team – Max Giese, Carrick Macmillan, Rudi Habermann and Cruze Ryder – take time out for a photo after their bronze medal performance in Cairns last weekend. Photo: Supplied.
