SWIMMING

Records tumble at 2022 NSW Jewish Championships

Kyron Israelsohn (left) and Hannah Pajor. Photo: Shane Desiatnik
Kyron Israelsohn (left) and Hannah Pajor with their 2022 AJN Cup trophies. Photo: Shane Desiatnik

Nine event records were broken at the 72nd NSW Jewish Swimming Championships at Des Renford Aquatic Centre’s 25m indoor pool last Sunday, including one set in 2009 in the meet’s biggest event, the AJN Cup open men’s and women’s 100m freestyle races.

The start of heat 4 of the 2022 AJN Cup open men’s 100 free event on February 27. Photo: Shane Desiatnik

The men’s event, contested by 17 swimmers, was won by 25-year-old Kyron Israelsohn in 51.69 seconds, breaking David Schnabl’s record that lasted 13 years, by 0.17 of a second.

It was Israelsohn’s sixth consecutive AJN Cup men’s race win, adding to two previous title wins.

Second was 17-year-old City of Sydney Aquatic Club swimmer Alexander Thompson (53.05) and third was 20-year-old Kincoppal Rose Bay (KRB) swimmer Adam Amoils. Both finished second and third to Israelsohn in last year’s race.

Israelsohn, who now trains at KRB, told The AJN that breaking Shnabl’s record felt surreal “because I swam in this event for the first time in 2009, so I actually saw him set that record”.

“I felt strong at the back end of the race, and when I finished it was great to see Alex and Adam right by my side – I think Alex dropped about three seconds from last year.

“I keep coming to this event because I want to support, and set the standard for, the next generation of Jewish swimmers.”

In the women’s AJN Cup race, featuring 16 swimmers, the podium order remained the same as last year too.

From left: Adam Amoils, Kyron Israelsohn, Alexander Thompson. Photo: Shane Desiatnik

It was an all-Maccabi podium, with Hannah Pajor, 17, posting a PB of 1:01.05. Ella Leshetz, 14, also got a PB (1:03.49) to finish second, and Jessica Williams, 17, was third (1:04.97).

Pajor said she didn’t expect a PB time as she hadn’t raced in a few months, but, she said, “I’d trained hard, and my streamlines at each turn were very good, which was the key.”

Other highlights included Israelsohn adding the men’s 50 fly and 50 free to his win tally, and Thompson breaking his own record in the men’s 200 individual medley, and another record in the 50 breaststroke.

Tamryn Schubert beat her own women’s 200 individual medley record and Savanna Goldring (37.86) broke a record in the 15 girls’ 50 breaststroke that was set in 1993 by Monique Edelstein.

Pajor set a new women’s 17-24 age record in the 50 free, and Leshetz set an U17 record in the 50 free.

From left: Ella Leshetz, Hannah Pajor, Jessica Williams. Photo: Shane Desiatnik

Joe Bos trophies for outstanding swimmers of the meet were awarded to Kobi Balkin (12 and under), and Alexander Thompson (13 and over).

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