Crawford leads further medal haul in Australia

Auckland’s Brearna Crawford added a second victory for New Zealand swimmers at the Australian Age Championships in Brisbane.

The Mt Albert Grammar club swimmer took out the 14 years 100m breaststroke in 1:12.46, following the win by Hannah Bates (Selwyn) earlier in the competition.

It highlighted a further five medals for Kiwi swimmers which brought the tally to 10 medals in five days, with the competition continuing until Saturday.

A highlight came with a second medal to 14 year old Gisborne swimmer Michael Pickett from the Enterprise club. He was second in the 50m freestyle, after winning silver in the 100m freestyle.

Pickett clocked 24.51 to earn his silver medal but the fireworks came in the heat when he cracked the 24-second barrier for the first time in 23.96s. This broke his own national record set at the New Zealand Age Championships last month. He also broke his own 100m freestyle record with an outstanding 52.76s.

There were silver medals to Ciara Smith (Northwave), Georgina McCarthy (Hillcrest) and Bates.

Smith, from the emerging Whangarei club, set a personal best 3:34.03 to finish second in the 16 years 200m breaststroke.

Bates, from Rolleston near Christchurch, earned her second medal with silver in the 16 years 200m individual medley after winning the 400m medley earlier. She bettered her previous best set in the heats with a 2:18.69 effort.

Hamilton’s McCarthy, who won the silver in the 14 years 200m individual medley earlier in the week, earned a further silver in the 400m medley, in a personal best 4:58.79.

The Australian Age Championships has attracted nearly 1900 of Australia’s best up and coming young swimmers and continues at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre until Friday.

Results days 4 and 5, Girls:

14 years: Georgina McCarthy (Hillcrest) 400m freestyle 4:31.15, 7; Brearna Crawford (Mt Albert Grammar) 100m breaststroke 1:12.46, 1; Tavarnya Howe (Pukekohe) 100m backstroke 1:05.37, 7; Georgina McCarthy (Hillcrest) 400m individual medley 4:58.79, 2.

15 years: Chelsey Edwards (SwimZone) 200 freestyle 2:05.65, 6.

16 years: Ciara Smith (Northwave) 200 breaststroke 2:34.03, 2; Ellie Eastwood (United) 200m breaststroke 2:38.61, 5; Gina Galloway (United) 100m butterfly 1:03.47, 10; Hannah Bates (Selwyn) 200m individual medley 2:18.69, 2;

Boys: 14 years: Michael Pickett (Enterprise) 50m freestyle 24.51, 2 (NZR in Heat); Sungju Kim (North Shore) 400m freestyle 4:15.54, 8; Sungju Kim (North Shore) 100m breaststroke 1:10.31, 9.

16 years: Lochlainn O’Connor (Greerton) 100 butterfly 56.71, 4.

17-18 years: Andrew Jeffcoat (Fairfield) 200m backstroke 2:04.52, 4; Jason Churches (North Shore) 200m backstroke 2:05.02, 7.