Success on and off podium for Redcliffe duo

Published 12:00pm 18 August 2022

Success on and off podium for Redcliffe duo
Words by Nick Crockford

Two Redcliffe Leagues Swimming Club members had plenty to celebrate at the Queensland Short Course Championships, but for different reasons.

The August 12-14 event marked a return for Zaine Vardon (pictured with coach Wanda Drew and Rylee Smith) who had been unable to compete since December 2021, through injury.

After months of rehabilitation, the 14-year-old returned with a 0.82-second personal best in the 50m freestyle, clocking 26.44 seconds and going under 27 seconds for the first time.

In a tough, tightly-contested sprint, Vardon finished in 27th place with less than one second between seventh and 27th.

Success on and off podium for Redcliffe duo

Club colleague Rylee Smith completed a huge program with 3.2km of race events finishing with three personal bests, just two weeks after setting them at the Brisbane championships.

Smith, 13, finished second in 1500m freestyle in a pb of 17 minutes 52.09 seconds and third in 200m backstroke with a pb of 2:24.35.

She was also eight in 800m freestyle in a pb, ninth in the 400m freestyle, 17th in the 100m backstroke and 22nd in 200m freestyle.

Both have been selected in Queensland Development Squads, of which there are six, for the 2022/2023 season.

Success on and off podium for Redcliffe duo

Rylee is in the Bronze squad (level 5) and Vardon in the Junior squad (level 6) ahead of extended opportunities to develop and additional training camps/days.

Redcliffe’s short course racing season has now finished and members move to the regular long course with Club Nights restarting on October 4.

Redcliffe Leagues Swimming Club is hosting Club Sign-on Days at the Redcliffe War Memorial Pool on Sunday August 28 from 11.30am-2.30pm and Saturday September 10 from 9am-noon.

Email [email protected] for further information regarding the new season.

Share

Related Stories

Popular Stories

Students unite to celebrate diversity and harmony

Multicultural students from Australian Christian College Moreton had the opportunity to showcase their culture to the wider community by taking part in an array of fun activities to commemorate Harmony Week. See the pictures here

Having a ball with "unknown" Paralympic sport
News / Local

Having a ball with "unknown" Paralympic sport

Once a week the “most unknown, yet most accessible” Paralympic sport takes over a hall in Morayfield, running the biggest program in Greater Brisbane. ** FREE TO READ **

Clubs land state's top awards
News / Local

Clubs land state's top awards

Three Moreton Bay sports clubs have been named the best in the state at the Keno & Clubs Queensland 2024 Awards for Excellence. ** FREE TO READ **