Max finds pot of gold - three times

North Lakes resident Max Cunningham has found a rich vein of golden form at the Queensland Swimming Championships (December 9-15) – and there may be more.

The former member of Grace Swimming Club in Rothwell has won three State 14 Years titles in the first four days at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre.

He clocked 56.38 seconds – the fourth fastest time ever recorded in his age group – to win the 100m butterfly on Sunday.

Cunningham followed that with a Queensland record and the fifth fastest time ever in Australia to land the 50m freestyle crown yesterday.

Now based at Churchie, he then ducked under 53 seconds – clocking 52.96 – to land the 100m freestyle crown.

With Churchie head coach Richard Sleight, Cunningham is now preparing the three more races at the State Championships.

Kaylee McKeown, who was born in Redcliffe, went to St Paul’s Lutheran Primary School in Caboolture and swam at Burpengary, was also in record-breaking form.

Now at Griffith University, McKeown broke the Queensland All Comers 100m backstroke record in 57.79 seconds.

It was just over under half-a-second off her world record of 57.33, was the third fastest in the world this year and the fourth fastest time ever.

The 22-year-old also won the 200m individual medley by more than five seconds, stopping the clock at 2 minutes 7.54 seconds – her second fastest time ever.

Ex-Albany Creek swimmer Sam Short also won gold holding off Elijah Winnington in a dramatic finish to the 400m freestyle final.

Short, the 2023 world champion, took the honours by 0.23 seconds clocking 3 minutes 44.20 seconds ahead of the Winnington, the 2022 world title holder, in 3:44.43.