All-Star Evans Lauded for Great Year

WAIS swimmer Blair Evans was listed in the Telstra International All Star Team at last night’s Swimmer of Year Awards in Canberra.

Evans was named in the team following a break through 12 months in which the 18 year-old won her first national title in the 800m freestyle and competed at her first World Championships in Rome in July.

The team included some impressive names including Libby Trickett, Stephanie Rice, Brenton Rickard and 2009 Swimmer of the Year Jessica Schipper.

WAIS Swimming Performance Manager Greg Hodge said Evans 2009 form warranted the WA stars name being listed among Australia’s finest.

“It’s good recognition for Blair for a solid 12 months,” Hodge said. “Looking at the names in the team it is a fair representation of elite swimmers but also extra incentive to keep moving in an upwards direction.”

Also lauded on the night were Australian swimmers who had retired in the course of the last 12 months, a list that included Jennifer Reilly and Lara Carroll.

Hodge stated that both women had continued a strong WA tradition of producing representative swimmers.

“WAIS and WA have a proud history of producing Australian representative swimmers, and Jen and Lara both continued that trend,” Hodge said.

“The great thing about both these women is that it continues to provide incentive for future athletes to pursue their dream of representing Australia or competing at the Olympics, and that it is achievable.”