Triple Threat for Young Otago Swimmer at National Championships

It proved a triple treat for Dunedin swimmer Jeremy Hopkins on the third night of finals at the Mayfair Pools national age group championships in Wellington today.

The 14 year old from the Neptune club won three straight events in an impressive display at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre.

It took Hopkins to five gold medals after three days, one behind the individual leader Wilrich Coetzee (Coast) who has six gold medals.

Hopkins continues to swim for the Neptune club although is now based in Western Australia. His parents moved recently to Thailand for business with Hopkins moving to Perth for his schooling, which has relatively close access to Asia.

He won the 400m individual medley in 4:52.42, the 50m butterfly and the 100m freestyle in 55.34 in successive events.

The only national record was set by in-form Hawkes Bay 13 year old Bobbi Gichard. The Greendale club swimmer continued her record breaking form to lower her own national record in the 100m backstroke. She was timed at 1:02.49 which was nearly half a second under the record she set last December.

North Shore’s Yeonsu Lee enjoyed two further wins tonight to take her total to five gold medals as the leading female ahead of the four gold medals won by Paige Schendlaar-Kemp (Howick Pakuranga) and Sophia Batchelor (Aquagym).

The championships continue until Saturday.

CAPTION: Dunedin’s Jeremy Hopkins in action on the way to victory in the 14 years 400m individual medley at the Mayfair Pools national age group swimming championships in Wellington.

Credit: BWP Photography

Full results: www.swimmingnz.org.nz

For further information contact:

IAN HEPENSTALL  Media Manager Swimming NZ High Performance Sports Media NZ Ltd Tel 09 2327822 Mob 0275 613181 E: ian@sportsmedianz.com Skype: kiwiheps