Napier Girls make it three in a row in NZ college swimming champs

Napier Girls High School withstood a fierce charge from Auckland’s St Cuthberts College to claim the New Zealand secondary school swimming championship for the third year in a row in Hamilton today.

Napier Girls have claimed the national title for each of the three years since a separate trophy has been at stake for girls.

They had a 54 point advantage going into today’s final session at Waterworld and ultimately just four points separated them from a superb challenge from St Cuthberts, with the two schools more than 200 points clear of the other challengers.

It was more clear-cut in the boys, with Westlake Boys High School winning the title for the first time by a commanding margin from the 2014 winners and cross-bridge rivals, Auckland Grammar.

The win by Westlake was led by outstanding 15 year old prospect, Finn Kennard-Campbell who followed his record-breaking form in the recent national short course championships with top performances in Hamilton. He was the leading male swimmer with seven gold medals and one silver in his eight swims, completing his programme with wins in the 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke today.

Dunedin’s Tame Govaerts (Kings) recorded a perfect five wins from his five swims, while Pakuranga College’s Tyron Henry matched Kennard-Campbell’s eight medal haul with four gold and four silver medals in the 14 years age group.

Pukekohe’s Zac Dell won the most medals overall, with nine in the 14 years age group comprising four gold, three silver and two bronze with victory in the 100m backstroke today completing his successful meet.

There was a depth of talent on display from the record 550 swimmers from 150 schools, with 23 males winning titles.

The real battle came in the chase for honours in the girls, with St Cuthberts College so close to ending Napier Girls’ reign.

Napier Girls has prospered with real depth in their ranks rather than relying on individuals. Their leader was 15 year old Ruby Adsett who won four medals including three gold, while 16 year old Maddie Mason won seven including two crucial silver medals today in the 100m breaststroke and 100m butterfly.

St Cuthberts fought hard led by Madeline Falconer and Millie Macdonald who won 11 medals between them including six gold.  Falconer, 14, won silver medals today in the 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly while Macdonald, 17, enjoyed an important win in the 100m breaststroke.

Unfortunately they came up just four points short, as Napier enjoyed an outstanding hat-trick of national titles.

Te Awamutu’s Vanessa Ouwehand, 15, was the leading gold medal winner with four including the 100m butterfly today.

There was a closer spread of talent in the girls’ competition with 26 swimmers earning gold medals, although Hannah Bates (Christchurch Girls) was again the leading individual in total medals with eight from two gold, three silver and three bronze.

There was plenty of interest in the performances of the Para-Swimmers including double IPC World Champion and Paralympian Nikita Howarth (Cambridge High) who won the 100m butterfly today after winning the 200m individual medley on Saturday.

Individual Para-Swimming star was Palmerston North’s Christopher Arbuthnott who took out victories in the 100m breaststroke, 200m individual medley, 50m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, and 100m butterfly in an outstanding meet.

The leading schools were:

Boys: Westlake Boys High School 768, 1; Auckland Grammar School 561, 2; Wellington College 320, 3; Lindisfarne College 306, 4; Stratford High 245, Pukekohe High 241, Taupo-nui-a-Tia 236, 7; Palmerston North Boys 233, Hamilton Boys 226, Kings College 219.

Girls:  Napier Girls High School 666, 1; St Cuthbert's College 662, 2; Waikato Diocesan 457, 3; Pukekohe High 434, 4; Hamilton Girls High School 340, 5; Baradene College and Columbia College  334, equal 6; Christchurch Girls 219, 8’ Diocesan School 218, 9; Whakatane High 206, 10.

CAPTION: Leading gold medallists Vanessa Ouwehand (Te Awamutu College) in action at the New Zealand secondary schools swimming championship in Hamilton today.

NZ Sec Schools