Howick Pakuranga lead, three records set at junior swim championship

The burgeoning talent of young swimmers is well spread after the second day of the New Zealand Junior Swimming Championship in Wellington tonight.

There were three national age group records set at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre today, with two to Gisborne swimmer Michael Picket and one to Jonathan Selman from the Coast Swim Club in Whangaparaoa.

Pickett from the Enterprise club clocked 26.53s to set a new record in the 12 years 50m freestyle and 28.91s in winning the 50m butterfly. Selman set a new record in the 12 years 50m backstroke in 31.16s in this mornings session and then went on to beat that again going 31.11s in the evening session in the 200m regional medley relay.

Auckland 11 year old Alice Waldow leads the way in the girls’ competition with seven medals to date. The United club swimmer has five gold medals, a silver and a bronze with her four wins today coming in the 50m freestyle, 50m and 100m backstroke and 50m butterfly.

She is closely followed by Georgina McCarthy, 12, from the Ace club in Hamilton who had two medals of each colour with a win today in the 200m breaststroke.

Chasing them is Zoe Maddigan, 10, from SwimZone Racing in the Hutt Valley who had two wins today in the 100m backstroke and 200m freestyle.

Whakatane’s Tarquin Magner leads the way in the boys’ competition with seven medals, including five gold medals. The 10 year old had four wins today in the 50m and 200m freestyle and 50m and 100m backstroke.

The challenge from the powerful North Shore club is led by 11 year old Andy Cheong who has four wins from his four events so far, with today’s victories coming in the 50m and 100m backstroke.

Counties Manukau swimmer Ryan Oliver, 11, from the Howick Pakuranga club, also has seven medals but year to get to the top of the podium. His four medals today included second in the 50m back and 50m butterfly with bronze medals in the 100m backstroke and 200m freestyle.

Oliver’s performances have helped spark the powerful Howick Pakuranga club who have taken a significant lead in the Top Development Club Points. They lead on 715.50 points from North Shore 547, SwimZone Racing 403, United 402, Capital 365, Tawa 334, Ace 235, St Pauls 234.50, Coast 224 and Kiwi West Aquatics 216.

The championships, which have attracted 457 swimmers from 83 clubs throughout the country, has one further session tomorrow morning.

CAPTION: Alice Waldow from the United club in Auckland, who has seven medals after two days of the New Zealand Junior Swimming Championships.

The image is free for editorial use only. Credit: BWMedia