Eighteen-year-old Cowra swimmer Lucy Wilson is aiming to improve her personal best in the 100m breaststroke at the Pacific School Games in Adelaide next month.
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Lucy becomes just the second Cowra High School student in its history to compete at the Games, since Melissa Griffin swam the 50m and 100m freestyle at Darwin in 1992.
Her preparations have been in contest with the HSC, however Lucy says she’s “happy with where I am at” about two weeks from competition.
“With the HSC I didn’t do a lot of training and with the pool closed during winter I didn’t do a lot. But once the HSC finished I have been training a lot and I still am,” Lucy said.
“There’s still two weeks and I’ll work hard.”
Lucy’s road to the Pacific School Games began during April this year when she claimed the bronze medal in the 100m breaststroke at the Combined High Schools Carnival.
From there, for the third successive year, Lucy raced at the Georgina Hope Australian Age Championships in Brisbane during April.
She then finished fourth at the All Schools Championships in May.
Her slick times secured Lucy a place in the NSW team to compete at the 10th Pacific School Games.
Back in training for the past eight weeks, Lucy recorded impressive times at the town’s qualifying carnival at the Cowra Aquatic Centre at the weekend.
She finished about one second outside her personal best of 1:16.32s, a time Lucy described as “good, but not the best”.
Her coach for the past 10 years, Pat Charnock, is confident Lucy will be “hitting the mark” for Adelaide.
“The breaststroke was really, really good. With another couple of weeks to go I think she’ll be hitting the mark for Adelaide,” he said.
Mr Charnock described Lucy as a natural breaststroke swimmer, a rare talent, and an athlete who will work extremely hard.
“I wish Lucy all the best. Not only for the games in Adelaide but just anything Lucy does she’s going to achieve because she’s an achiever,” he said.
“I feel very lucky to e involved with her.”
Cowra High School principal Charles Gauci said the school’s enjoyed celebrating Lucy’s success.
“We’ve been extremely proud of her all the way through. Every time she’s jumped in the water there’s been something to celebrate and something to be proud of,” Cowra High School principal Charles Gauci said.
Lucy will also swim the 50m breaststroke leg in the NSW girls 17-19 years medley relay.
“I just a personal best. I don’t mind where I place. I’ll be happy with a personal best,” Lucy said.
The Games begin on December 3 and end on December 9.
