Rising star brings home five golds

Miranda Bell stands behind Todd Russell, Matt McLeod, and Sam Bell as they take a break from preparations for the Nationals.

Supplied Photo

They might not represent the local surf clubs anymore but five young local athletes certainly did Central Queensland proud at the State Surf Life Saving Championships at the Gold Coast recently.

None more than 17-year-old Miranda Bell who exceeded expectations by collecting five gold medals.

The five surf lifesavers, Miranda Bell, Sam Bell, Todd Russell, Matthew McLeod and Sam Bell (no relation to Miranda and the other Sam) compete for the Maroochydore and Mooloolaba Surf clubs but still train at Emu Park under Ted McLeod.

Ted said the five had made light of the difficult conditions, gaining high placed results in the age group events and also in some of the Open events.

For Ted the display by Miranda was remarkable.

“She’s got what it takes,” he admitted.

“She won the Open Belt race and to do that you need to be a strong swimmer.”

Miranda featured in many of the team events and also won the individual under-19 Surf Race.

The boys also had a very good carnival with everyone collecting at least one medal.

Todd Russell collected a selection of colours with a gold, two silvers and bronze his medal haul.

Matt McLeod won a gold as a part of the Maroochydore under-17 Surf team while the two Sam Bells each won a silver and a bronze medal.

McLeod’s win was in the same team as Todd Russell, an event Sam Bell gained his silver medal in as a part of the Mooloolaba team.

While collecting medals from the state carnivals is a fantastic achievement, the five are concentrating on this coming weekend when they compete in the National Championship, also at the Gold Coast.

The medal tally could have been even higher as there were some finishes just outside the medal positions.

Emu Park also had success in its own right at the event.

In the Open six person Rescue & Resuscitation event the team of Brian Phelan, Daniel McRae, Graeme Crow, Jake Simpson, Janet Spark and Sarah Kate Connolly won the gold medal.

The same team with the exception of Jake Simpson also won the Open Mixed Five person R&R event.