Records were set and gold medals won, but there’s plenty of work still to be done.
That was Bond Director of Swimming Kyle Samuelson’s somewhat poetic summation of the Bull Sharks’ performances over the past two weeks at the Australian Swimming Championships on the Gold Coast.
Ben Armbruster elevated himself into the upper echelon of Australian swimmers while rising star Flynn Southam once again showed he is a force to be reckoned with in a series of showdowns with the sport’s reigning alpha male, Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers.
Birmingham Commonwealth Games competitor Armbruster is now the national champion in the 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke.
His time of 23.05 in the 50m butterfly was an all-comers record and is the fastest time by an Australian outside of the now banned super suits.
The sports management student also demonstrated he has broadened his range with some strong performances in 100m events and in freestyle.
He had never gone under 52 seconds over 100m in the butterfly and did it twice, posting a 51.96 to be the fastest qualifier in the heats.
“He’s had a breakout meet,” Samuelson said.
“We’ve known he had ability for some time, he is fast and he is skilful.
“And this week he was able to execute his race plans really well and proven he can back up over longer distances, he has really taken a step forward.’’
Chalmers remains the man to beat after winning the 100m freestyle with a time of 48.00 over Kai Taylor and Southam who finished third in a time of 48.53.
However, psychology student Southam demonstrated his elite speed and durability with a scintillating 100m split time of 47.7 in the final of the 4x100m freestyle relay.
That led to a gold medal for the Bond team of Southam, Armbruster, Josh Collett and Jesse Coleman.
“That was the fastest 100m split of the entire competition and it came in his 19th race, so that was very pleasing to see,” Samuelson said.
Bond’s 4x100m women’s medley relay team of Layla Day, Tilly King, Mikayla Bird and Milla Jansen were also victorious.
Samuelson said the momentum had been set in a strong first week when the 4x100m medley relay team which consisted of Hancock Prospecting Swimming Excellence Scholarship holders Southam and Fergus McLachlan plus young guns Gideon Burnes and Jesse Coleman shattered the existing record by six seconds.
Burnes also has two individual golds after claiming the 100m and 200m breaststroke double, both under the qualifying times for the world junior championships.
Mikayla Bird’s gold in the 200m butterfly was also under the qualifying time.
“The younger group in that first week had a really good energy,” he said.
“They carried that momentum into the Open event, and it really caught on.
“It was a really good week and I think a great springboard into the trials for world’s (World Aquatic Championships), but the job is not done yet and we’ve got plenty of work to do.’’