Bull Sharks sprint specialist Milla Jansen gave Australia a golden end to the Junior Pan Pacific Championships with a stunning victory in the 50m freestyle final.
It was a Bond University pool party with teammate and Hancock Prospecting Swimming Excellence Scholarship holder Hannah Casey producing a personal best to claim the bronze medal.
Jansen also produced a career best time of 24.76 to upstage breakout American teenager Rylee Erisman by just by just 0.02 seconds.
Jansen and Casey shone brightly throughout the event in Canberra to highlight the strength of Bond’s swimming program.
Casey’s impressive meet saw her on the podium multiple times, with bronzes in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, and the 4x200m freestyle relay, as well as a silver in the 4x100m medley relay.
Jansen’s performance was equally remarkable, adding a silver medal in the 100m freestyle, bronze in the 4x200m freestyle relay, silver in the 4x100m freestyle relay, and silver in the 4x100m medley relay. The only event where she didn’t medal was the 200m freestyle, underscoring her exceptional consistency across the meet.
Bull Sharks head coach Chris Mooney said the two swimmers had found another level against some of the best juniors in the world.
“Both the girls swam very well,” he said.
“To medal in this company required something special. We challenged them to achieve personal bests, and they rose to the occasion.
“Their performances set them up nicely for the upcoming Short Course World Championship trials in September.”
Jansen and Casey are now setting their sights on making the Dolphins team for the World Championships in December in Budapest, as well as competing in the World Cups in October.