Our swimmers going for Games gold

The wait is almost over. After a month travelling and training, six swimmers will carry our region’s hopes into the Commonwealth Games.

Brenden Hall, who has been an international swimmer for more than half his 29 years, will lead the way tomorrow (Friday) evening (AEST).

The Mango Hill resident will be on the starting blocks at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Birmingham for the heats defending his S9 men’s 100m backstroke title.

Hall will be joined by sisters Kaylee and Taylor McKeown, who went to school in Caboolture and Rothwell while training at Australian Crawl, which was in Burpengary.

Blake Cochrane, a former Southern Cross member and Kirralee Hayes, a founding member of Genesis Swimming Club in Bray Park, will follow.

Games debuts

Finally, Caboolture’s Lakeisha ‘Lucky’ Patterson, a double gold medallist in 2018 on the Gold Coast, will launch her campaign on Tuesday.

All will be targeting medals – Hayes and Kaylee McKeown for the first time on their Commonwealth Games debuts.

Hall (1 gold, 2 bronze), Patterson (2 gold, 1 bronze) and Taylor McKeown (1 gold, 1 silver, 4 bronze) could add more to their Commonwealth Games trophy cabinets.

The first para swimmer to be selected by Australia for four Commonwealth Games, Cochrane (1 silver, 3 bronze) is after his first gold medal. 

Joining Hall and Patterson in Birmingham is Belgravia Team (Burpengary) coach Harley Connolly who is one of the Australian team coaches.

Days and times (All times AEST + 9 hours from UK)

Brenden Hall:

Men’s S9 100m backstroke

Heats 7.30-9.30pm Friday July 29.

Finals 4-7am Saturday July 30

Lakeisha Patterson:

Women’s SM10 200m Individual Medley

Heats 7.30-9.30pm Tuesday August 2

Finals 4-7am Wednesday August 3

Blake Cochrane:

Men’s SB8 100 breaststroke

Heats 7.30-9.30pm Sunday July 31

Finals 4-7am Monday August 1

Kirralee Hayes:

Women’s S13 50m freestyle

Heats 7.30-9.30pm Saturday July 30

Finals 4-7am Sunday July 31

Kaylee McKeown:

Women’s 100m backstroke

Heats 7.30-9.30pm Saturday July 30

Semi-final 4-7am Sunday July 31

Final 4-7am Monday August 1

Women’s 200m backstroke

Heats 7.30-9.30pm Sunday July 31

Final 4-7am Monday August 1

Women’s 200m Individual medley

Heats 7.30-9.30pm Monday August 1

Final 4-7am Tuesday August 2

Mixed 4x100m medley relay heats

Heats 7.30-9.30pm Tuesday August 2

Final 4-7am Wednesday August 3

Women’s 50m backstroke

Heats 7.30-9.30pm Tuesday August 2

Semi-final 4-7am Wednesday August 3

Final 4-7am Thursday August 4

Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay

Heats 7.30-9.30pm Wednesday August 3

Final 4-7am Thursday August 4

Taylor McKeown:

Women’s 200m breaststroke

Heats 7.30-9.30pm Monday August 1

Final 4-7am Tuesday August 2