Times tumble for Southern Cross at state titles

Pictured above: The Southern Cross team - Back row: Jayden Hadler, Barry Pope, Kai Harris, Jacob de Leeuw, Luke McDonald, Spencer Harrold. Centre: Alia de Leeuw, Maddison Kouvaras, Sami Chandler, Zoe Wright. Front: Amelie Hoefel, Issah George, Esme Hearsum, Ella Sweeney, Tabitha Borger

Barry Pope was the standout for Southern Cross Swimming Club at last week’s 2021 McDonald’s Queensland Championships at Brisbane Aquatic Pool.

He made finals in all six of his events, including winning gold in the 50m Butterfly and a bronze medal in the 100m butterfly.

In the opening relays, Pope was invited to represent Brisbane’s 14 and Under Freestyle team and also won gold against Gold Coast, Darling Downs, North Queensland, Far North Queensland, Wide Bay and Central Queensland.

Pope was the youngest at 13 - team-mates were 14 – and caps a year in which he has broken club records, some 11 years old, including one by his coach Jayden Hadler.

Great timing

That was the start of a successful championships for Southern Cross whose swimmers recorded personal best times or season’s best times in their events.

Daniel Baker: 9th 100m Freestyle, 10th 200m freestyle, 20th 50m freestyle

Amelie Hoefel: 18th 50m breaststroke, 34th 50m backstroke

Tabitha Borger: 76th 50m butterfly

Spencer Harrold: 70th 50m freestyle

Issah George: 30th 50m freestyle, 34th 50m butterfly

Luke McDonald: 14th 50m breaststroke, 59th 50m freestyle

Barry Pope: 1st 50m butterfly, 3^rd 100m butterfly, 7th 50m freestyle, 7th 100m freestyle, 9th 200 Individual Medley, 1st reserve finalist/11th 50m backstroke

Southern Cross relays:

Girls 12&U freestyle relay - 26th out of 83 teams 2.47seconds PB

Girls 12&U medley relay - 22nd out of 83 teams 5.00 seconds PB

Girls 14&U freestyle relay - 39th out of 66 teams 2.91 seconds PB

Girls 14&U medley relay - 37th out of 66 teams 2.54 seconds PB

Boys 14&U freestyle relay - 25th out of 50 teams 4.30 seconds PB

Boys 14&U medley relay - 28th out of 50 teams 3.50 seconds PB

Mixed 14&U freestyle relay - 24th out of 55 teams 3.30 seconds PB

Southern Cross had 17 swimmers at the championships, the largest team since former Olympian Jayden Hadler became head coach and started Ripple Swim school in 2018/19.

The swimmers were: Alia de Leeuw, Zoe Wright, Sami Chandler, Tabitha Borger, Issah George, Esme Hearsum, Ella Sweeney, Maddie Kouvaras, Amelie Hoefel, Kai Harris, Jacob de Leeuw, Rohan Fenwick, Luke McDonald, Barry Pope, Daniel Baker, Jayden Kouvaras, Spencer Harrold