Kayleigh Thompson’s state swimming success

LOCAL swimming sensation Kayleigh Thompson has had a busy summer, racking up ribbons and medals on her way through multiple levels of regional and state competitions.   

Over the summer school holidays, she trained and competed at the Country Regionals and the Speedo Sprint qualifying events, earning awards across multiple strokes and distances.

At the Country Regionals, she placed first in the 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke, while also tracking second in the 50m breaststroke and 50m butterfly.

In her Speedo Sprint qualifying events, she took first in the 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke, 50m butterfly, 100 freestyle and 100m backstroke.

Those outstanding results put her on the road to Sydney Olympic Park where, from 21-23 February, Kayleigh competed at the NSW Country Championships, with the local Tea Gardens Public School swimming carnival in between.

In Sydney, Kayleigh swam her heart out yet again, placing first in the 50m backstroke, second in the 50m freestyle (by only three hundredths of a second), third in the 100m freestyle, and fifth in the 50m butterfly.

On 28 February, Kayleigh competed at the Speedo Sprint Finals, which brings together the four fastest children in each event across NSW and the ACT.

The Sprint Finals competition was tough, but a wonderful experience for such a young athlete, and she walked away with third in the 50m backstroke and a hunger for more competition in the near future.

Despite being understandably tired from so much state-level competition, Kayleigh also competed at the Port Stephens Zone carnival on 24 February, where she managed to garner several titles, including Junior Age Champion.

Next she heads to the Regionals on 16 March.

“Kayleigh is doing well and training hard to achieve such wonderful outcomes,” said proud mum Lauren.

By Thomas O’KEEFE