Golden double at state titles
Grace Swimming Club has two new Queensland Open Water champions – Alia Shaw and Lily Smith, pictured above.
Alia won gold in her first 7.5km event, touching first in the girls' 15 years event at Oz Ski Resort in Coolum on Saturday.
Lily made it a golden State double for Grace winning the women’s 18 years 5km to also step onto the top of the winner’s podium.
They were among a team of eight from the Rothwell club which made the trip to Coolum.
Mia Hagen was seventh in the 16 Years 5km race and Samantha Brown 11th in the 15 years event over the same distance.
Josh Mandryke was 13th in the boys' 14 years race over 5kms, Freya Shaw 20th in the girls’ 2.5km, Hayden Farlow 18th and Xander McRea 19th in the boys’ 12 years event over 2.5kms.
Southern Cross swimmer Alia De Leeuw, a peninsula resident who goes to Grace Lutheran College, was the ninth Queenslander to finish the women’s 2.5km.
The 13 year old was also 10th overall for her age group, clocking 40 minutes 27.46 seconds – a personal best by 1 minute 15.33 seconds.