Leah swam competitively in all four events and two relays, achieving personal best times and narrowly missing the bronze in the 50m backstroke, 50m freestyle and 7-9 years 200m medley relay.

Other top performers for the Marlins were Keeley Sutton, achieving 5th, 7th and 9th placings in the 50m fly, back and free, while Cohen Welsh had a great swim in the backstroke earning him 8th place. Cohen was also selected in the Swimming North Coast (SNC) 7-9 years 200m free and medley relays.

It was a day for the girls however with Leah (135 points) topping the overall pointscore tally for the SNC team while Keeley (42 points) was one of the top 10 performers.

The NSW Speedo Sprint finals are for swimmers aged seven to 12 years, swimming 50m in all the strokes with only the top four in each age group and stroke qualifying from each area across the State.

The Macksville Marlins were well represented with seven swimmers qualifying for the finals and cementing their spot in the SNC team of 62 swimmers from clubs spanning Forster to Kingscliff.

At just seven years of age, Keeley Sutton, Bailey Pickvance and Kirby Welsh got a taste of competitive racing as they swam for the first time at these finals and at this impressive Aquatic Centre. Asha Searle was also a newcomer at these championships and competed extremely well considering he was struck down with a virus only days before.

Fellow Marlins Courtney Clark and Cohen Welsh took it all in their stride while they punched out personal bests in the pool.

Marlins results: Keeley Sutton, 7 yrs, 50m free 9^th, PB, 50m breast 27^th, PB, 50m back 7^th, PB, 50m fly 5^th, PB. Bailey Pickvance, 7 yrs, 50m free 19^th, PB, 50m breast 14^th, PB, 50m back 29^th, PB. Kirby Welsh, 7 yrs, 50m free 28^th, PB.

Leah Pickvance, 9 yrs, 50m free 4^th, 50m breast 3^rd, PB, 50m back 4^th, PB, 50m fly 7^th, 200m free relay 3^rd, 200m medley relay 4^th.

Cohen Welsh, 9 yrs, 50m free 22^nd, 50m breast 37^th, 50m back 8^th, PB, 50m fly 39^th, 200m free relay 8^th, 200m medley relay 8^th. Asha Searle, 10 yrs, 50m back 37^th. Courtney Clark, 10 yrs, 50m back 31^st, PB, 50m fly 36^th, PB.