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The start of something extraordinary

Julian Layton has sights set on gold at Oceania Champs

Breaststroke specialist Julian Layton is hunting for a win at next week’s Mayfair PoolsOceania Championships at the West Wave Aquatic Centre in Henderson, Auckland.

Layton, who trains at the Indooroopilly Swimming Club in Brisbane, Australia, has his sights set on taking home the title in the 200m breaststroke in a time close to his personal best.

The 19 year old claimed silver in the 200m breaststroke at the recent New Zealand Open Championships, with Commonwealth Games team member Glenn Snyders the only one to finish ahead of him.

Layton also medalled in the 50m and 100m breaststroke events at the Open Championships, taking home bronze for both swims, beaten to the top two spots both times by Ben Walsh and Glenn Snyders.

His goal for top finishes in his favoured 200m breaststroke event continues towards events later this year as he hopes to also win at the New Zealand Short Course Championships and to medal at the Australian Open Short Course Championships.

Focused on reaching his goals he intends to keep working hard on stroke specific techniques and race stroke rating in his breaststroke dominated training programme with his coach Chris Mooney.

Layton will be competing in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke events at the Mayfair Pools Oceania Championships next week from 20 to 23 May.