Four-some Pope leads gold rush

Redcliffe State High School student Barry Pope topped a medal-laden School Sport Australia Championships for swimmers from this region.

Representing Queensland, Pope capped a superb season with four golds and helped set a national relay record at Brisbane Aquatic Centre (August 15-23).

He won the individual national 50m butterfly title in 26.66 seconds and gold in the 200m medley relay with 1:51.20 and 200m freestyle relay in 1:39.73.

Pope was also part of the state’s 200m mixed medley relay which won gold in an Australian record time of 1:55.11. Completing his haul was bronze in the 100m butterfly in 1:00.59.

Mara Hoefel, from Scarborough State School, also struck gold with the 200m mixed medley relay clocking 2:26.99 and was seventh in the 50m breaststroke with 44.89 seconds.

“Winning a gold medal and coming top 10 in the Australia is a goal achieved," the Redcliffe resident said.

Josh McDonald, who went through the District North to qualify, won gold in the 200m mixed medley relay, with Mara, in 2:26.99.

He also had silver medals in the 100m freestyle with 1:07.99 and 200 freestyle relay in 2:05.37, bronze in the 200m medley relay team with 2:29.00 and fifth in the 50m freestyle clocking 30.9 seconds.

All three are with Ripple Swim and Southern Cross Swimming Club.

Grace Swimming member Max Cunningham collected a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle relay and was fourth in the 50m freestyle in 26.11 seconds and 100m freestyle 56.43.

These were the first School Sport swimming championships for three years, due to COVID.

Queensland had 226 (136 seniors, 90 juniors) entrants in a total of more than 800 from all states except the Northern Territory.

Among those presenting the medals were former Olympic champion Jess Schipper and former world record holder Jade Edmistone.