Young kiwis start well at Australian Age Group Champs

An outstanding start for the future stars of New Zealand swimming has seen three medals claimed on the opening night of finals at the Australian Age Swimming Championships in Brisbane.

Georgina McCarthy, from the Hillcrest club under coach Matt Teokotai White, finished second in the girls 14 years 200m individual medley. Her time of 2:20.30 broke her own New Zealand record and saw her improve from bronze to silver from the same event in 2016.

Bay of Plenty’s Tristan Eiselen from the Otumoetai club, continued his excellent form from the New Zealand Age Group Championships claiming silver in the boys 14 years 100m butterfly in a time of 58.30. He was joined on the podium by Michael Pickett from the Enterprise Swim Club in Gisborne who finished just 9/100ths behind in third.

Six other kiwi swimmers made A finals in the first evening session at the Australian Age Group Championships that has attracted nearly 1900 of Australia’s best up and coming young swimmers and continues at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre until Friday.

New Zealand results from day one:

Boys 16 years: Lochlainn O’Connor (Greerton) 200m butterfly 2:07.08, 6;

Girls 14 years: Georgina McCarthy (Hillcrest) 200m individual medley 2:20.30, 2 (NZ 14 years record); Brearna Crawford (Mt Albert Grammar), 10:

Boys 14 years: Sungju Kim (North Shore) 200m individual medley 2:16.17, 9: Tristan Eiselen (Otumoetai) 100m butterfly 58.30, 2; Michael Pickett (Enterprise) 100m butterfly 58.39, 3:

Girls 16 years: Madeline Falconer (United) 100m freestyle 57.64, 10:

Girls 15 years: Sasha Reid (AquaBladz New Plymouth) 200m backstroke 2:22.24, 8; Kiana Swain (Pukekohe) 2:23.46, 9;