Best until last for Kiwis at Australian State Age

Northland’s Callum Prime saved the best until last for the New Zealand swim team at the Australian State Teams Age competition in Canberra.

The 15 year of from the Northwave club scored the only victory of the meet for the Kiwi team, when he won the 400m individual medley at the Australian Institute of Sport aquatics centre in Canberra on Sunday.

Prime was part of a 39-strong New Zealand team invited to the three-day short course meet for the first time, with the competition comprising a mix of rapid-fire individual events and team races.

He clocked 4:25.81to beat off the challenges from each Australian State team.

Other swims of note were the second placing of Christchurch swimmer Kaylee Jackson in the 100m breaststroke. The 14 year old from the Jasi club clocked 1.12.45.

Christchurch’s Kaylee Jackson also impressed to be third fastest in the 14 years 50m breaststroke in 33.12.

Swimming New Zealand’s Donna Bouzaid said the meet proved an important experience for the age group swimmers.

“It gave them the opportunity to compete against all of the best age group swimmers in Australia and it was their first international swimming competition for virtually all of them,” Bouzaid said.

”It showed them where they have to reach to and at the same time gave experience at a big meet, to be part of a larger team situation and experience in the need recover and compete in four back-to-back sessions.”