AS far as first days of high school go, Cameron Waite's is hard to beat.
It coincided with Cardiff High's swimming carnival, on January 29.
"I wanted to break at least one of the records, just any of them," Cameron, 12, said.
"My dad was looking on Facebook and the school website and saw there were some to be broken."
Cameron entered and won every single event for his age group and broke the school records for his age group in the 100 metre freestyle, 50 metre freestyle, 50 metre backstroke and 50 metre breaststroke.
The 100 metre freestyle record had been standing for 46 years.
"I felt excitement," he said of this event.
"I was leading the whole way and I could hear the announcer say I'd broken a record. It felt good. I only found out later it was 46 years and was pretty excited."
Cameron is one of three standout Cardiff swimmers who will compete at the NSW Combined High Schools Sports Association Swimming Championships, from April 28 to 30.
He will be joined by year nine student Georgia Christian-Milne, 14, and year eight student Tasha Banek, 13.
The trio has already made it through the Westlakes Zone Swimming Carnival and Hunter Regional Swimming Carnival.
Cameron came first in all the events in his age group at zone and received two first places, three second places and a fourth place at regionals. He will compete in six events at state.
Georgia entered and won every single event for her age group at the school's carnival and broke the school's records for her age group in the 100 metre freestyle, 50 metre freestyle, 50 metre breaststroke and 50 metre butterfly.
"I was pretty stoked," said Georgia, who has broken school records before.
"I definitely had my eyes set on those records, it's a good challenge to have every year. The 100 metre freestyle I was pretty close to the specific time I was aiming for and had set my sights on for a while."
Georgia was unable to attend the zone carnival but used her previous times to secure a place in the regional event, where she received first place in five events, a third place and a fourth place.
She will compete in seven events at state.
Tasha entered and won every single event for her age group at the school's carnival, came first in all of her events at zone and received third place in the 100 metre backstroke at regionals.
"I'm proud of what I've done," she said.
Tasha will compete in the 100 metre backstroke at state.
Principal Josh Gane said the three students qualifying was an "outstanding achievement for a school our size".
He said their success led to Cardiff High being named the champion school at the zone level for the first time in recent memory.
"They are in junior school so hopefully they can represent the school and achieve for the school for many years to come."
Cameron said he was "pretty nervous" about the state event and would maintain his five weekly training sessions and eat red meat before the event.
He has been swimming competitively since 2019 and joined Charlestown Swimming Club a year ago.
Olympic hopeful Georgia said she was "pretty excited". "I did not get to go last year due to COVID so it will be good to see everyone again."
She said she'd "stay focused", eat pasta with meat beforehand and might intensify her eight training sessions per week.
She is a member of Novocastrian Swimming Club and has competed since she was 10.
Tasha said she too was "nervous" and would "hope for the best", have pasta and chocolate milk before the event and stick to her three sessions per week. She's been competing for five years.
