Emily shines at State, snares silver medal

EMILY Rosskelly swam a personal best to win a silver medal at the recent NSW PSSA Championships at Homebush.

The youngster swam 32.45s in the 50m freestyle final – nearly a whole second below her previous best – to finish second and book a spot in the NSW team for the November Pacific School Games in Canberra.

She recently popped into McKeon’s Swim Centre to show off her silver medal.

“Emily recently joined our Junior squad after swimming with Bob Barrie for six months at McKeon’s,” her coach, Chris Buchanan, said.

“To be chosen for this team is such a great honour. Her previous coach was Shane Dowell at Albion Park and he must also be so proud, especially after Emily won the State Surf Lifesaving swim at Swansea Belmont in February.

“Emily has shown great maturity in the way she stepped into the squad and has benefited by swimming with a great team.”

Chris attended the previous Pacific Schools games where Emma McKeon and Te Haumi Maxwell were under his care. Both of these talented swimmers achieved gold medals at the championships.

Now the school is waiting for the Senior Schools Championships to be held in May at Homebush to see which other swimmers from Emily’s Squad can crack the team.

Expected to do well are Jessica Rosskelly, Alexis Mastro, Kailee Cross and Alexandra Sinadinovic from Wollongong.