By LIAM TWOMEY
ESSENDON Aquatic has continued its charge towards becoming one of the top swimming clubs in the state after a brilliant week at the Victorian Long Course Championships.
The club had 22 swimmers compete in 78 individual events and 10 relays and made a total of 22 finals.
Swimmers took home a total of five medals, two silver and three bronze, while Essendon Aquatic placed 21st out of the 70 clubs competing across Victoria.
Head coach Desmond Ong said it was great to see athletes’ results constantly reaching new highs.
“We have really evolved quite a lot from being a team which just used to swim socially,” he said.
“Last year we had 15 or 16 swimmers qualify (for State Championships) and it just spread to the rest of the team. More people were swimming state times and that meant that everyone was really trying to reach the same level.
“It is all about training hard and it has sort of become a bit of a benchmark at our club, that everyone is pushing to have a state time.”
Ninety per-cent of the swimmers from Essendon Aquatic who competed at the State Championships also posted personal best times throughout the event.
There are no plans to slow down in the New Year from coaches or swimmers with the club aiming to continue its charge towards qualifying a swimmer for the national team.
“We have a great team spirit and the swimmers are happy,” Ong said.
“Everyone gets on really well and are happy to be around each other and I think that helps them train well and the results really come automatically from there.
“Since we put in place this structure a couple of years ago, our long term goal is to have a swimmer on the Australian team.
“Whether it is the senior team or junior team, it doesn’t matter. Obviously being such a young team it isn’t going to happen overnight but if everyone is chasing the same goals then eventually we will get there.”
In the short term the club has turned its focus to the Australian National Championships in April with two swimmers already qualified for the event while another three are half a second away from booking their places.
Essendon Aquatic is looking for new members for the 2013 season. The club has a training base at Victoria University in Footscray and can be contacted on 9354 0887 or www.essendonaquatic.org.au/Home.html.
