Swimming Australia Posts Jr. Pan Pac’s Roster Too

The Americans aren’t the only country to have revealed their roster for the 2012 Jr. Pan Pac Championships. The Australians have also put out their squad of 34 athletes that will be sent to Hawaii for the bi-annual meet.

Australia’s roster is a bit different than the Americans’, partially because with more international teams (Commonwealth Games, etc.) even more of their top junior swimmers are ineligible for selection for this meet. By rule, athletes who have swum at an international senior-level meet cannot be in the Junior Pan Pacs. There’s still some outstanding junior swimmers in this squad.

That includes Remy Fairweather, a teenager who is a National Age Record holder in the 400 and 800 freestyles. She just turned 15 this spring and has already been an 8:29 in the 800 as a 14-year old.  She should see a great matchup with the Untied States’ Becca Mann in that longer free, as well as the 400.

Taylor McKeown out of Queensland and Mikkayla Sheridan are other big names on this lineup. McKeown is second in line in the stout junior Aussie breaststroke group (behind Olympian Tessa Wallace). The women’s 200 breaststroke between her, Canada’s Kierra Smith, and the United States’ Allie Szekely and Annie Zhu should be one of the best battles of the meet. Also in those breaststrokes will be the international debut of 15-year old Georgia Bohl, who is the daughter of famous St. Peter’s Western coach Michael Bohl.

 Maybe the most exciting rising star, though, isBrianna Throssell out of  swimming-light Western Australia: she’s one of only two swimmers on the roster from the state. She dominated this year’s Western Australian Open Championships, and again shone at the Australian Age Championships. At only 16, she’s already been a 55.3 in the 100 free, and a 2:00.0 in the 200. She’s also athletic enough to range to the 800 or the 50 with some success as well.

The men’s side will struggle to keep up with a powerful American squad, but there are some stars in this group as well. That includes Eugene Tee, who trains in California but is an Australian National. He was a 5-time medalist at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games, and specializes in the IM’s and distance freestyles. Tee has really swum well since coming to the U.S., including a final in the 400 IM at Australian Trials.

Also look out for 15-year old Mack Horton. At the Australian Age Championships in April, he won every freestyle race 100 meters or longer. That ranges from a 51.3 in the 100 free to a 15:14 in the 1500. That’s an impressive depth of talent.