Emma stars in exalted company

Mid Sussex Marlins swimmers had done well enough to even make the south east region age group championships at Crawley but they were not finished there.
marlins girls relay membersmarlins girls relay members
marlins girls relay members

They turned in some excellent performances, with 13-year-old Emma Shilton the star of the show

This meet was held in the long course pool and was only for those who had achieved the qualifying times set. Apart from representatives in individual events, Marlins also had four relay teams out (boys and girls medley and freestyle).

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Shilton had qualified for a staggering seven events, a great achievement in its own right, and she produced personal bests in all her swims.

In the 200IM she made the final and bettered her position from 10th place to fifth, and in the 100m breaststroke she also made the final, bettering her position from seventh to fifth.

But the swim of the meet was her 200m breaststroke, where in the heat she knocked an amazing 15seconds off her PB and was rewarded with a National Qualifying time. It also took her through to the final in third position.

Will Curry (13) and Caleb Boyden (14) both swam well to gain a PB in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, while Leah Clarke (13) had a great swim in the 100m backstroke.

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Meghan Stevens (10) swam a steady 200m backstroke and after a disappointing 200m breaststroke, finished her regionals with a gutsy swim in the 200m freestyle, where she achieved a three-second PB.

Jamie Dooley (12) had a good swim in the 100m backstroke, finishing in a creditable 13th position.

Performing well were the boys freestyle relay team of Ben Stevens (12), Robin Boyden 12), Will Curry and Caleb Boyden and the boys medley relay team where Caleb and Will Curry were joined by Jamie Dooley and Jake Newman (14).

The girls also did well in the relays, with the freestyle team comprising Emma Shilton, Izzy Watson (13), Leah Clarke and Molly Firth (14) and the medley line-up seeing Ellen Marchant (12) replace Molly Firth.