Iona strikes Open Water silver

Pictured: Southern Cross' Iona Hearsum with her silver medal at Coolum.

Iona Hearsum was the toast of Southern Cross Swimming Club after winning silver at the Brisbane Open Water Championships.

The Redcliffe State High School (RSHS) student clocked 40 minutes 8.41 seconds in the 17 Years Girls 2.5km event at Coolum.

Hearsum was one of five entrants from Southern Cross in the championships at Oz Ski Resort on September 2.

Lucas Want, who goes to Grace Lutheran College and Barry Pope, a pupil at Redcliffe State High, both finished sixth in their respective 5km races.

Want clocked 1 hour 10 minutes 53.19 seconds in the 17 Years Boys event and Pope touched in 1 hour 11 minutes 29.46 seconds in the 15 Year Boys race.

Sami Chandler, a student at Southern Cross Catholic College, was 18^th in the 14 Year Girls 2.5km event in 42 minutes 50.25 seconds.

Grace Lutheran College pupil Alia De Leeuw was 15^th in the 13 Year Girls’ 2.5km in 41 minutes 42.79 seconds.

All five are coached by Jayden Hadler and Yvonne Bosch of Ripple Swim.