After 4 huge days of competition at the Australian Masters Championships in Perth over the past week, Merrylands' team has finished the meet with 11 medals, 5 new personal best times and 14 season best times.
Alison Johnston took home 10 medals from the meet - 4 Gold and 6 Silver. Her gold medals are her first at a National level. The highlight of the meet for Alison though was undoubtably her gold medal in the 50m Freestyle - her final event of the championships. Alison had been working for the gold in this event for the past 3 years and it all came together this year. Putting aside the distraction of being in the same heat as her husband, and the fatigue from the previous 3 days of competition, Alison posted a time just outside her PB to take the gold and finish with the 3rd fastest female time overall. (For the record, Peter touched just 0.22 in front).
Peter won the club's 11th medal at the meet, with Bronze in the 50m Breaststroke, and season best times in all 12 of his events.
Ian Johnston had an excellent meet, swimming 4 new personal best times from his 9 events. Ian took 2 seconds off his 50m Backstroke, 5 seconds off his 100m Backstroke, 12 seconds off his 200m Backstroke and 1.5 seconds off his 50m Butterfly. Ian also swam 4 new season best times.
Our final swimmer, Tricia Johnston, gradually warmed-up up as the meet progressed, with a Freestyle swim in the relay on Day 3 just outside her personal best. She followed this up on Day 4 with a big 1.5 second PB in the 50m Freestyle.
To top it all off, at the Presentation Dinner, Peter was named as the 2017 Masters Swimming Australia Coach of the Year.
Medallists
| Alison Johnston |
| |
50m Freestyle |
(Gold) |
| |
100m Freestyle |
(Gold) |
| |
200m Freestyle |
(Gold) |
| |
400m Freestyle |
(Gold) |
| |
800m Freestyle |
(Sliver) |
| |
50m Backstroke |
(Silver) |
| |
50m Butterfly |
(Silver) |
| |
100m Butterfly |
(Silver) |
| |
200m Individual Medley |
(Silver) |
| |
400m Individual Medley |
(Silver) |
| Peter Johnston |
| |
50m Breaststroke |
(Bronze) |
Personal Best Times
| Ian Johnston |
| |
50m Backstroke |
| |
100m Backstroke |
| |
200m Backstroke |
| |
50m Butterfly |
| Tricia Johnston |
| |
50m Freestyle |
Medal Tally
Congratulations to our team on their results!
See Also
The final day of the Nationals saw Merrylands win another 2 medals, swim 2 new personal best times and 5 season best times.
Alison Johnston finished the meet with another 2 medals, starting the day with Silver in the 200m Individual Medley and then taking Gold in the 50m Freestyle.
Tricia Johnston swam a huge personal best time in her 50m Freestyle, taking 1.5 seconds off her previous best in a fantastic swim.
Ian Johnston took a massive 5 seconds off his time in the 100m Backstroke to set a new personal best time. He also swam his 2nd fastest 50m Freestyle time ever, which was also his fastest time since 2015.
Peter Johnston swam season best times in his 3 events - 200m Individual Medley, 50m Freestyle and 200m Breaststroke.
Congratulations to our whole team on their performances at the meet.
See Also
Day 3 of the Nationals brought 3 more medals for Merrylands, 1 PB and 4 season best times.
Alison Johnston continued to add to her medal tally, with Silver medals in both her events on Day 3 - the 800m Freestyle and 100m Butterfly.
Peter Johnston won Bronze in the 50m Breaststroke in a season best time, and also swam season best times in the 800m Freestyle and 200m Backstroke.
Ian Johnston swam a new PB in the 200m Backstroke, taking a massive 12 seconds off his previous best time. Ian also swam a new season best time in the 800m Freestyle.
In the Mixed 4x50m Freestyle Relay, our team finished in 9th place, with some very fast splits - Tricia Johnston swimming a time only 2/10ths outside her PB.
Day 4 tomorrow will see members of our team competing in the 200m Individual Medley, 50m Freestyle, 100m Backstroke and 200m Breaststroke.
See Also
Day 2 of the Nationals saw another 3 medals for Merrylands, plus 1 new PB and 5 season best times.
Alison Johnston again won all our medals, with Gold in the 200m Freestyle, Silver in the 50m Butterfly and Silver in the 400m Individual Medley in a season best time.
Ian Johnston swam a new PB in the 50m Butterfly, taking over 1 second off his previous best, and also swam a season best time in the 200m Freestyle.
Peter Johnston swam season best times in all three of his events - 50m Butterfly, 100m Breaststroke and 200m Freestyle.
In the Mixed 4x50m Medley Relay, our team finished in 12th place.
Day 3 will see our team in action in the 800m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly, 50m Breaststroke and 200m Backstroke.
See Also