Australia finishes second at Youth Games

Australia has finished second on the medal table at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games in The Isle of Man, tallying 29 gold, 28 silver and 17 bronze across four days of competition.

The nation’s future swimming stocks appear to be in good hands with NSWIS swimmers Ami Matsuo and Te Haumi Maxwell headlining a number of promising results at the Games. Matsuo won individual gold in the women’s 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and 200m freestyle, as well as relay gold in the women’s 4x100m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relays. Maxwell then won gold in the men’s 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, and 4x100m freestyle relay to cap an amazing few days in the pool for Australia.

Matsuo and Maxwell were joined on the gold medal dais by fellow NSWIS swimmer Jarrod Poort, who triumphed in the men’s 1500m in a time of 15:09.19.

NSWIS cyclist Caleb Ewan continued the form that saw him win junior world championship gold recently, taking individual gold in the men’s road race before joining compatriots Robert McCarthy, Jack Beckinsale and Alex Morgan to win gold in the men’s team road race. Ewan is coached by NSWIS coach Mick Kejda.

NSWIS Emerging Talent Squad athletes shone in the track & field events, with Taylah Sengul and Nat Apikotoa taking gold in the women’s discus and triple jump, respectively. Sengul also won silver in the women’s shot put, with Abbie Taddeo winning silver in the women’s 100m hurdles.

The men’s track & field events were highlighted by Jack Edwards and Josh Clarke, who each won bronze in the men’s 110m hurdles and 100m, respectively.

The final day’s medals were highlighted by NSWIS gymnast Declan Stacey. Stacey won gold in the men’s floor CIII, posting 13.950 points to upstage more fancied rivals from England and Cyprus.