The Armidale Alligators travelled to Tamworth on Sunday for the annual 360 Scully Park-hosted carnival and left with a bag full of medals.
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More than 200 swimmers competed in the regional event.
Alligators who finished first include Harwood Miller in the nine-year-old 50 metre backstroke, 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly, Lachlan Fittler in the 15 and over 100m freestyle, Lucy Fenwicke in the 15 and over 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke, and Mitchell Hayden in the 15 and over 100m breaststroke and 100m butterfly.
Fenwicke also claimed the 100m breaststroke.
Jesse Streeting won the boys 15 and over 50m freestyle, 100m backstroke and boys 50m freestyle, with Fittler and Hayden finishing second and third in the latter.
Hayden rebounded two events later with first place in the boys 50m breaststroke, while Fenwicke claimed the girls 50m breaststroke in the next race.
The Alligators had another first, second and third finish in the following race, the 50m backstroke, via Streeting, Fittler and Hayden.
Other notable performances include Bethany Counsell (third, girls 400m freestyle; second, 15 and over 100m freestyle) and William Fittler (second, boys 13-14 200m individual medley; third, 100m breaststroke; third, 100m freestyle; and third, 100m backstroke).
William Fittler – sick the week leading into the carnival – said he had been trying to improve the “distance” in his stroke and his turns.
He is dreaming big.
“I’ve been improving a lot,” he said.
“Overall, I would like to go to the Olympics if I ever got the chance.
“But I’m mainly trying to get to the [age] nationals next year.”
Among the Alligators talented squad, he would not be alone in eyeing a spot at the Georgina Hope Foundation Australian Age Swimming Championships at Sydney Olympic Park and Aquatic Centre in April.