WAGGA Swim Club assistant coach Billy Nicholson believes a national championships medal has become a more realistic goal for Jamie Mooney after his record-breaking swim at the NSW Country Championships at Sydney on the weekend.
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The 15-year-old set a new benchmark of 52.65 seconds in his pet event, the 15-16 years 100m freestyle, to edge out Glenbrook's Declan Quirk (52.89) in the highlight of a strong meet for the club.
Mooney bagged the sprint double with victory in the 50m freestyle and also claimed bronze in the 200m freestyle as he looks to add the middle distance journey to his repertoire.
He has qualified for five events at the national championships at Perth in April - the 50, 100 and 200m freestyle, the 200m individual medley and 100m butterfly.
"He was pretty pumped with that, I don't think it (record) was his goal," Nicholson said.
"He'd been swimming well leading into it but he still definitely exceeded my expectations, especially in the 200m freestyle.
"To go under two minutes (1:57.32) is good because he's always only been a sprinter.
"He's definitely looking at a few finals (at Perth), and medals could be on the cards for the 100m freestyle now."
Wagga finished three gold medals, two silvers and four bronze, with Andre Labara winning the 10 and under boys 100m butterfly and silver in the 100m breaststroke.
"For his age he's well and truly beyond where most kids his age are," Nicholson said.
He's been working hard, but there's a lot of talent there too."
Other Wagga medal winners were Baylee Edwards (silver, 11 year boys 100m butterfly and bronze, 11 year boys 50m butterfly); Ben Devries (bronze - 11 year boys 50m breaststroke) and Kade Knight (bronze, 15-16 year boys 400m individual medley).
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