THREE local Mandurah swimmers competed in last weekend’s 2016 Junior State Swimming Championships at HBF stadium.
Jessica Bird, Summer Burkett and Ben Hollow, all members of Rockingham Swimming Club, qualified to compete against the state’s fastest swimmers in a variety of events, helping their club gain overall fifth position and outright winner of Most Improved Club.
Swimming in the opening 400m individual medley, Burkett achieved a silver medal with an outstanding 8.99 second personal best, followed by a bronze in the 400 freestyle.
Backing these up, she then won both her 100m and 200m butterfly events, making her the state champion in her age group.
Completing her most successful meet, Burkett also came away with silver medals in the 200m individual medley and the 800m freestyle.
Fellow team mate Hollow also achieved a silver medal in the 400m individual medley, gaining second place on the podium with a 17.14 second personal best time.
He also won a silver medal in the 100m butterfly and a bronze medal in the hotly contested 100m breaststroke, which saw only .12 of a second difference between first, second and third.
Rounding up his meet, Hollow achieved a bronze in the 800m freestyle.
Twelve-year-old Bird performed well, producing personal bests in each of her 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle events along with an amazing 37.76 second personal best in the 800m freestyle.
This event marked the last Junior State Championships for the trio, who are looking forward to qualifying to compete at the State Age Championships at the end of this year.
