Declan Sutton, aged 16, and 11-year-old wunderkinds Leah Pickvance and Millie Edwards-Bradshaw have all won through to the Schoolsport Australia meet.

Catching up with the hard training trio was no easy ask as their morning exertions are done and dusted by 7 o’clock in the small, thankfully heated, town pool.

While Declan is no stranger to rep swimming, this will be his first national schools – and he’s entered in the 16 years 50m back and 4x50m medley relay.

Representing Macksville High School, Declan looks like he’s been sleeping on a medieval rack, after a growth spurt has him towering at 190cm, with the wingspan of a black cockatoo.

He and Leah are coached at Macksville by Tony Kokegei and Renee Pickvance, while Millie has been working with Dean Lawrence at Coffs Harbour.

Millie’s Hobart schedule will be the 11 years 50m back, 4x50m free relay and 4x50m medley relay, while Leah will suit up for the 11 years 50m free, 4x50m free relay, 4x50 medley relay and the all ages relay.

Tony notes that the program of all three could be tweaked depending on the race schedule at nationals, as the entrants get strategic.

For the girls, this will be their second time at national schools after they contested same last year at Adelaide.

“To have three kids from this area is a great thing, and I expect all three to do very well,” Tony told the Guardian.

For their part, the young swimmers are quietly focussed and backing their preparation, which has been helped by Macksville’s Soulitude Health.

St Patrick’s Macksville student Leah said she was looking only to achieving a faster time in her pet 50 free.

Millie will be repping it for Macksville Public School and her goal is as simple as: “A PB and to make it to the final”.

And the last words from the long humble streak, Declan: “I just hope to swim to the best of my ability”.

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