Western Bay swimmers in form at nationals

RECORD BREAKER: Otumoetai swim club's Tarquin Magner set a new record at the New Zealand Age Championships on Wednesday. PHOTO: File

Otumoetai swimmer Tarquin Magner was the individual star but there were plenty of other highlights from the opening three nights of finals for Western Bay swimmers at the New Zealand Age Championships in Wellington.

Tarquin made history when he finished second to win silver in the 13 and under 100m backstroke. He clocked 1:04.69 and set a NZ Age Group record by becoming the first 12-year-old to go under the 1:05 barrier. He won gold in the 200 free and silver in the 50 freestyle final.

His fellow club members have also raced well to have Otumoetai leading the Bay of Plenty clubs on the points tally by a slender margin from Greerton.

Tristan Eiselen, 14, won gold 200 butterfly PB (personal best), silver 50 fly, 4th 50 breast PB and swam another PB in the final 50 free. Ruby Matthews, 18, won silver in A Final 200 fly and bronze (17-18) A Final while Daniel Shanahan, 14, won gold in the 200 free and bronze medals in 400 freestyle (PB), 4 x 200 freestyle 15 and under Aquaknights Zonal Relay.

Greerton swimmers are led by Lochlainn O'Connor, 16, who won gold in the 4 x 200 freestyle 16 and over Aquaknights Zonal Relay, silver in 50 fly and bronze in 200 butterfly C Final (16-18). Cai Jager, 16, won bronze in the 50 free with Louis Fitzjohn, 13, ranked fourth after a PB in the 50 free final.

Ella Browne, 16, Kim Cadzow, 15, Olivia Cummings, 14, Louis Fitzjohn, 13,
Marijike Hattingh, 15 and Mia Pugh, 15, made finals and set PBs. Louis also won silver in the 400 IM.

Papamoa Swim Club's Zyleika Pratt-Smith, 13, was 5th final 100 backstroke and set PB, Mount Maunganui's Ayla Redshaw, 13, Molly Shivnan, 14, both improved their national rankings and set PBs while Tauranga's Travis Hudson, 14, contested the 100 breaststroke final and in a PB secured a national ranking of fourth.