Cranleigh swimmers set for IAPS national finals

Back in February the school hosted five teams in the qualifying round with only the fastest 16 swimmers from across the country in each event making it to the final stage.

With an impressive 17 qualifying it is a significant leap from the ten events they went through in last year.

The boys will be led by their captain Max Foster in the under-13 50m backstroke, while Will Grainger will be competing at the IAPS for the first time in the under-13 50m freestyle.

Max Martin and James Patient will also both be making their first appearances in the final in the under-12 25m butterfly and 50m freestyle respectively.

Max Windle is looking to maintain his winning streak at the IAPS finals by defending his national title in the 50m breaststroke. Like last year, he will be looking for a second national record in the under-11 category.

The under-10s have two representatives this year, one of which is Tom Cope in the 25m backstroke.

The girls captain Maya Magee will be leading a strong female contingent as she qualifies again for the under-13 50m backstroke.

Lulu Fulton and Jess Brooke will be joining Magee and have qualified again in the same events as last year; the under-13 50m breaststroke and 25m butterfly respectively.

They will be joined this year by Olivia Russell, who was part of the winning 4 x 25m freestyle relay that won the bronze medal last year.

She will take part in her first individual event in the under-13 50m freestyle.

The under-13 team will be busy, with the 4 x 25 medley relay and the 4 x 25 freestyle relay.

Alice Walton is in a strong position in the under-12 50m backstroke after a dominant display in the qualifying round in February.

In the under-11 category, Millie Brooke is back again in the 25m butterfly and newcomer Imogen Pilling is in the top 16 in the 50m breaststroke.

Olivia Martin makes it a full house with an under-10 qualification in the 25m breaststroke.

Head of swimming Will Philpot said: “Taking part in 17 events at the finals is an amazing achievement and the swimmers should be extremely proud of themselves.

“It is fantastic to see every age group represented from the under-10s through to the under-13s, with a boy and a girl in every age category this year, therefore reiterating the strength of the team.”