Manawatu swimmer leads medal haul at Australian Age Champs

Palmerston North swimmer Mya Rasmussen has continued her medal run at the Australian age championships in Adelaide.

Rasmussen led a run of five medals by the New Zealand swimmers in the last two finals sessions at the championships.

After a victory in the 400m individual medley earlier in the week, the 15 year old won two silver medals to conclude the championships.

She was second in the 200m individual medley in 2:18.61 which was 5/100ths of a second under the long standing national age group set by Atlanta Olympian Anna Wilson in 1993.

Rasmussen, from the Kiwi West Aquatics club, also won a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke in 2:25.33.

Northland 16 year old Hayley McIntosh (Northwave) won a silver medal in the 800m freestyle in 8:50.76, while Taranaki’s Zac Reid, also 16 from the Aquabladz club, won a bronze medal in the 1500m freestyle in 15:50.44.

Taranaki success continued with Joshua Gilbert from the Stratford club who won a bronze medal in the 14 years 200m breaststroke in 2:25.45, just outside his own national age record.

There were three close podiums with Pukekohe’s Tavarnya Howe fourth in the 12-13 years 100m backstroke as was Wellington’s Chelsey Edwards in the 14 years 200m freestyle in 2:05.00.

Results from day 5 and 6 finals:

Girls 12-13: 400m freestyle Georgina McCarthy (Hillcrest) 4:34.42, 7; 100m backstroke: Tavarnya Howe (Pukekohe) 1:06.39, 4.

14 years: 200m freestyle Chelsey Edwards (SwimZone Racing) 05.00, 4; 400m medley Edwards 5:09.45, 6.

15 years: 200m freestyle Olivia Corrin (Enterprise, Gisborne) 2:04.67, 5; Mya Rasmussen (Kiwi West, Palmerston North) 200m medley 2:18.61,2 (NZ Age Record); 200m breaststroke: Rasmussen 2:35.33, 2.

16 years: 800m freestyle Hayley McIntosh (Northwave) 8:50.76, 2.

Boys 14: 400m medley Joshua Gilbert (Stratford) 4:44.75, 5; Gilbert 200m breaststroke 2:25.45, 3.

16 years: 1500m freestyle Zac Reid (Aquabladz) 15:50.44, 3.