Hannah Bates leads the golden charge at schools swimming

Hannah Bates of Christchurch Girls High School continued her dominance at the New Zealand Secondary School Swimming Championships, claiming another four medals in Wellington today.

Bates grabbed gold in the 50m freestyle, 200m individual medley and 200m butterfly with a bronze in the 200m backstroke. Her total individual medal tally now stands at eight - seven gold and one bronze. She also broke meet records in the 50m freestyle and 200m butterfly.

The 14 year old still had enough energy to also win both skins events today in the 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre.

Manawatu’s Autahi Brock (Palmerston North Boys) took out the boys 50m backstroke skins, while Scott Fairburn (Westlake Boys) took the honours in the 50m breaststroke.

In the boys’ individual events, 13 year old Johnson Bishop (Taupo Nui-a-tia College) and 17 year old Hamish Trlin (Wellington College) top the gold medal count with four each. Bishop added two silvers to his overall tally while Trlin also has won a silver and a bronze.

Auckland Boys Grammar continued to assert their lead in the overall points competition with 288 after two days, to lead Wellington College.

Napier Girls High School have the lead in the girls on 417 points ahead of Pukekohe High School on 395.5 points.

Daniel Gaualofa (Kerikeri HS) remains at the top in the Para-Swimming competition with four golds in the 50m and 100m breaststroke, 50m freestyle and the 200m individual medley. His overall tally now stands at eight golds.

A total of 21 meet records have been broken in the first two days of competition.

Today’s records went to Stella Cheersmith (Papanui), Bates, Rebecca Moynihan (Waiopehu College), Caitlin Deans (Columba College), Maxwell Stubbs (St Johns Hamilton), Westlake Boys relay team, William Thomson (Hamilton Boys), Satori Dobbie (Middleton Grange), Emma Hanley (Saint Kentigern College), Jason Churches (Westlake Boys) and Lucy England (Sacred Heart-Lower Hutt).

The championships conclude tomorrow morning with a number of the swimmers also competing in the New Zealand Short Course Championships that begin in the same venue on Tuesday.

CAPTION: Hannah Bates (Christchurch Girls) in action at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Swimming Championships in Wellington today.

The image is free for editorial use only. Credit: BW Media.

NZ Sec Schools