NZ team make a splash at Australian State Teams Short Course

Thirteen-year-old Brearna Crawford led the way for the New Zealand team competing at the 2016 Australian State Teams Short Course Championships on the weekend.

While the New Zealand team cannot officially be given a place at the meet, unofficially they finished in fourth with a total of 17 podium finishes from the team of 39.

“This is a fantastic development competition for our up and coming swimmers,” said Swimming New Zealand’s Gary Hurring who was head coach for the meet.

“It gives them a taste of high level competition in a fun and exciting, team orientated format. This meet is an essential competition at the base of our high performance swimmer pathway.”

Crawford claimed two of the five gold medals won the by New Zealand team in the 50m and 200m breaststroke as well a silver in the 100m breaststroke.

The remaining first place finishes were shared among Kaylee Jackson (Jasi) in the 50m breaststroke who also broke the 15 years’ age group record with a time of 32.08, Ciara Smith (Northwave) in the 100m breaststroke and Zac Dell (Pukekohe) in the 200m backstroke.

Dell was also a multi-medallist claiming the silver in the 100m backstroke as well as bronze in the 50m backstroke and the 14-15 years’ boy’s medley relay.

Other multi-medallists included Georgina McCarthy (Hillcrest) who finished second in the 200m individual medley and 200m backstroke, Callum Prime (North Shore) with a silver in the 200m individual medley and bronze in the 16-17 years boys medley relay, Xavier Hill (Kiwi West) with bronze in the 200m butterfly and 16-17 years boys medley relay and Jason Churches (North Shore) with bronze in the 200m backstroke and 16-17 years boys medley relay.

George Smith (United) and Tyron Henry (Howick Pakuranga) completed the boys 14-15 years medley team that finished third while Tame Govaerts-Paul (Zenith) and Sam McKenzie (Tasman) were in the boys 16-17 years medley.

The remaining medals went to Ellie Eastwood (United) with a silver in the 200m breaststroke and Sasha Reid (Aquabladz New Plymouth) with a bronze in the 200m backstroke.

Along with the 17 podium finishes more than half of the team’s swims were personal bests.

While the results from the team were impressive Hurring was also pleased to see the great attitudes displayed by the team throughout the meet.

“Our team captains (Callum Prime and Vanessa Ouwehand) were great role models to the swimmers.”

“The team integrity was never more noticeable that at the end of the meet when the swimmers did a circuit of the pool shaking the hands of all the other team swimmers and coaches.”

“We also saw for the first time an ‘all teams’ chant before the third session. All the teams clapped in one huge circle while two of our swimmers hit a rubbish bin to a tribal beat in the middle. It was very motivational.”

The New Zealand team was:

Females: Brearna Crawford (Mt Albert), Paris Cutler (Ashhurst), Bianca Donnelly (Rotorua), Tavarnya Howe (Pukekohe), Sophie Irving (Capital), Georgina McCarthy (Hillcrest), Sasha Reid (Aquabladz New Plymouth), Marina Segedin (United), Kiana Swain (Pukekohe), Cecilia Crooks (Neptune), Caitlin Deans (Neptune), Ellie Eastwood (United), Madie Falconer (United), Gina Galloway (United), Ruby Heath (SwimZone Racing), Kaylee Jackson (Jasi), Vanessa Ouwehand (Te Awamutu), Annabell Simpson (Northwave) and Ciara Smith (Northwave).

Males: Johnson Bishop (Taupo), Zac Dell (Pukekohe), Tyron Henry (Howick Pakuranga), Xavier Hill (Kiwi West), Quinton Hurley (Jasi), Sungju Kim (North Shore), Lochlainn O’Connor (Greerton), Bryn Rumble (Wharenui), Ikko Shibuya (Mt Eden), George Smith (United), Paddy Bayliss (Rotorua), Jason Churches (North Shore), George Dorrington (Karori Pirates), Tame Govaerts-Paul (Zenith), Max Kennedy-Till (United), Sam McKenzie (Tasman), Callum Prime (North Shore), Nick Pryde (Neptune) and Thomas Wilson (QEII).