The 2025 South Australian Age Swimming Championships have officially concluded after five days of electrifying racing at the SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre. The competition saw state records shattered, personal bests rewritten, and the fastest of the future emerge in what was a showing of South Australia’s up and comers in the pool.
The championships featured tight and races across several age groups, with many medals decided by mere hundredths of a second. One of the most memorable performances came from Emily Daunt of Marion, who set a new South Australian record in the 50m Breaststroke to claim gold. Her outstanding achievement earned her both the Waite Cup for the most outstanding breaststroke performance and the prestigious Harry Eaton Cup for the best individual performance across both the Age and Open Championships this summer. Daunt’s dominance in the breaststroke events was a highlight of the meet, reaffirming her status as one of the rising stars in South Australia.
Sprint freestyle events were among the most closely contested of the championships. Milli Liemar from Kent Town powered to victory in the 14-year-old girls' 50m Freestyle, clocking 26.81 seconds to secure gold. Not to be outdone, Fred Hassell of Kent Town displayed an exceptional show of speed in the boys’ 16-year-old 50m Freestyle, touching in at 23.72 seconds. The 17-18 boys' final saw a gripping battle, with Luke Montes from Kent Town taking the win in 24.47 seconds, holding off strong opposition from Logan Turra of Marion. In the younger age groups, Rose Kishinets from Marion proved she is a name to watch, dominating the 11-year-old girls’ 50m Freestyle with a time of 28.71 seconds. Meanwhile, Sebastian Warhurst of Great Southern showed his sprinting potential with a strong 29.89-second swim to take gold in the boys' equivalent event.
The butterfly races produced some breathtaking finishes, none more so than in the 17-18 girls' 100m Butterfly, where Izabella Demasi-Chapman of Marion claimed victory in 1:02.84, narrowly holding off Georgia McAvaney of Norwood. The boys' 13-year-old 100m Butterfly saw a masterclass from Tyrell Nemeth-Ford of Marion, who stormed home in 1:01.52. In the 12-year-old category, Adella Jia of Norwood showed impeccable form to win the girls' 100m Butterfly in 1:09.36.
One of the most intense races of the competition came in the boys' 15-year-old 50m Freestyle, where Cameron Ellul of Immanuel edged out Thomas Spark of Kent Town by just 0.23 seconds, touching in at 24.81 seconds. The breaststroke events were equally dramatic, with multiple swimmers touching the wall within tenths of a second. Claire Borgmeyer of Immanuel and Alinta Dingwall, also from Immanuel, delivered stellar performances in their respective 200m Breaststroke events.
The distance events provided no shortage of drama, with several races coming down to the wire. In the 12-13 boys' 200m Breaststroke, Lucas Pizzino of Kent Town swam a well-paced race to take gold in 2:45.61. In the 14-15 boys' division, Oscar Dingwall of Immanuel continued his impressive run, winning the 200m Breaststroke in 2:26.98 and adding to his overall points tally, which saw him named Male Age Swimmer of the Meet. The 16-18 boys' 200m Breaststroke featured another dominant performance from Mason Dossetter-Smith of Marion, who finished with a strong 2:29.61 to take the title.
The championships were a showcase of depth for many South Australian teams, with Marion, Norwood, Kent Town, and Immanuel featuring prominently on the podium. Marion’s dominance across multiple age groups was undeniable, with athletes like Allegra Crean, Jessica Osborn, and Logan Turra leading the charge. Crean’s consistency across the championships saw her earn the Peter Bowen Pain Development Trophy for Female Age Swimmer of the Meet with an impressive 107 points. On the men’s side, Oscar Dingwall of Immanuel was crowned Male Age Swimmer of the Meet, accumulating a remarkable 122 points across his races.
The impact of interstate competition was evident throughout the meet, with visiting athletes pushing local swimmers to new levels. Elsie Cock from Mildura and Zoe Fabre from Ringwood both secured multiple podium finishes, adding an extra layer of intensity to the races. Their performances raised the standard of competition and provided invaluable experience for South Australia’s emerging talents.
As the championships draw to a close, many of these athletes now shift their attention to the 2025 Australian Age Swimming Championships, this April in Brisbane, where many of South Australia’s finest will test themselves against the country’s best. The performances at the SA Age Championships indicate that South Australia will be well represented, with numerous athletes qualifying for nationals and aiming to make their mark on the national stage. With strong showings across all age groups, the state's swimmers are well-positioned to make a statement at the national level.
SwimmingSA extends its congratulations to all athletes, coaches, team managers, and club leaders behind the scenes for their outstanding efforts throughout the championships. A special thank you goes out to the dedicated officials, volunteers, and event staff who made this event possible. The fastest of the future are undeniably bright, and the excitement generated by this year’s championships suggests that there is much more to come from this talented group of swimmers.
