MIDWAY through the 10km race in the NSW open water championships held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre at Penrith in December, Taree Swimming Club's Lucas Kloosterhof wasn't sure if he'd make it to the finish line.
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This was the first time he'd attempted the 10km event. While conditions were just about perfect, Lucas conceded the going was tough.
"I wasn't sure if I was going to finish,'' he said.
"I just kept going and eventually pushed through. But I felt it after the race.''
Lucas had been swimming 5km events at State level since he was about 13. He had also contested 7.5km races. Now 17, he's graduated to the 10km marathons.
While saying he was 'miles off' the lead, Lucas was reasonably satisfied with his time of 2 hours 19 for his first crack at the 10km.
However, the championship had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak at Sydney's Northern Beaches, meaning the 5km race was put back to last weekend, again at Penrith. Here Lucas lined up in the 5km event and again claimed sixth place in a time of 1 hour 3 minutes.
Lucas said the 5km event also had its difficult moments.
"But after the 10km race, it was like a sprint,'' he laughed.
The year 12 Taree High School student and Black Head Surf Club member had spent a hectic December-January performing lifeguard duties at Black Head, where he was involved in a rescue at Diamond Beach.
"Yeah, it was a pretty busy time,'' he admitted.
He was still able to maintain his training regimen, clocking up four to five sessions at week at the Manning Aquatic and Leisure Centre. However, Lucas points at that some of his opponents at State events attend schools that have specialist swimming programs, so it's not really a fair playing field - or pool at least.
"They're training 12 times a week,'' he said.
Lucas now has his sights on the national open water titles to be held on the Sunshine Coast in March.
"They were supposed to be held last weekend at Penrith, but were postponed due to covid,'' Lucas said.
"It's still not 100 per cent sure they'll go ahead - it'll depend if all the borders are open. And I won't go if we have to go into quarantine when we get back - I'll miss too much school.''
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Lucas hopes to attend university next year. He expects it'll be easier working his training schedule with university commitments than it is now with year 12.
"I'm at school six hours a day so I have to work training around that,'' he said.
At this stage he's not sure what event he'd like to specialise. However, he said it will be the long distance races.
"I'm not much of a sprinter,'' he explained.
"Longer distance races suit me better.''
