Kiwis to feature at top US College meet

A number of New Zealand swimmers will be competing against some of the United States’ best college swimmers over the next two weeks.

A total of seven Kiwi swimmers, three women and four men, who are over on scholarship in the United States will feature in the NCAA Division I Championships.

In the women’s championships Natasha Lloyd, Georgia Marris and Sophia Batchelor will be competing with Lloyd the only one of the three to qualify for an individual event in the 100 yard breaststroke.

In the men’s championship Commonwealth Games swimmer Corey Main is joined by Matthew Hutchins, Samuel Perry and Alex Hancock.

Hutchins, who is studying at Wisconsin University, ranks the highest of the New Zealand swimmers with a 8^th place seeding in the 500 yard freestyle. He is also entered in the 200 and 1650 yard freestyle.

The women’s event runs from March 19 to 21 and is being held at the Greensboro Aquatic Centre in North Carolina. A total of 281 swimmers will compete in the championships.

The men’s event, at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre in Iowa, will run from 26 to 28 March. A total of 235 swimmers will compete in the championships.

New Zealand Swimmers at 2015 NCAA Division I Championship:

Sophia Batchelor – Florida (Aquagym, Canterbury)
Alex Hancock – Auburn (Howick Pakuranga, Counties Manukau)
Matthew Hutchins – Wisconsin (Wharenui, Canterbury)
Natasha Lloyd – Auburn (North Canterbury)
Corey Main – Florida (Howick Pakuranga, Counties Manukau)
Georgia Marris – Florida (United, Auckland)
Samuel Perry – Stanford (St Peter’s, Waikato)

CAPTION: Matthew Hutchins in action.