Waterlions’ hopes hot up with talented cub

By Marc McGowan
WHILE one Haileybury Waterlion is preparing for the biggest moment of her career, another was flashing her potential at Sunday’s Metropolitan South All-Junior Elimination Heats.
Waterlion champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kelly Stubbins, 23, is just beginning to freshen up for an assault at next month’s Australian Swimming Championships.
The event doubles as the selection trials for August’s Beijing Olympic Games.
But Stubbins’ heir apparent may have been discovered on the weekend in nine-year-old Kiera Bates.
Bates was sensational in winning the 50-metre freestyle and breaststroke and finishing second in the 50m backstroke and butterfly.
She joined 15 other Haileybury swimmers in qualifying for the Metropolitan All-Junior Finals on 5 and 6 April.
The top-10 placegetters in each race went through to April’s competition.
Other Waterlions to impress were 12-year old Zoe Reed, 13-year-old Michaela Parsons and 14-year-olds Kody Davidson and Sean Chaplin.
All five swimmers, including Bates, qualified in each discipline.
Eleven-year-old George White also announced himself as a name to watch after posting victories in the 50m freestyle and butterfly.
Fourteen-year-old Emily Leckie was the club’s other winner in the 50m breaststroke.
Despite Haileybury’s success, head coach Wayne Lawes revealed that the meet was not a major focus for his club.
“We had some pretty good results, but I’m more interested in the development of kids,” he said.
“You’re not going to be an Olympic champion at 12, so at the end of the day you need to stop in for a while and if you’re on the fringe that’s good because you’ve got room to improve and develop.
“This meet is more about keeping them participating in the sport, with a focus on developing and not flogging the guts out of them too early.”
As for Stubbins, Lawes is pleased with where she is at four weeks out from judgement time.
“She’s right where I want her to be and it is all going to plan,” he said.
“We also have to figure the World Short Course Championships, which are straight after (the Australian Swimming Championships), so it’s going to be pretty hectic.”