Swimming: Youngsters earn places in squad

Te Manewha Rikihana has qualified to attend the Jetstar Super Swim squad.

Two Tauranga swimmers have won places in the coveted Jetstar Super Swim Squad to be held in Auckland this weekend.

Liam Shanahan, 9, from Bethlehem Primary School, has been in the squad for the past two years and not only achieved his goal of scoring a trifecta but also finished in better time than the 10-year-old boys and girls.

Te Manewha Rikihana has qualified to attend the Jetstar Super Swim squad.

Members of the squad will take part in the camp this weekend, from Friday to Monday, with some of New Zealand's best swimmers and coaches including Tauranga's multiple New Zealand record holder Nathan Capp.

"I'm looking forward to meeting other swimmers at the camp, especially Kane Radford and Nathan Capp who are local swimming heroes here in the Bay of Plenty region," Otumoetai Swimming Club member Liam said.

Liam's dad Tony Shanahan says this is an awesome achievement for him and he is delighted that Liam has made the camp again.

"As he has got older, he has developed a healthy respect for the ocean and each time he goes out it is not without a little trepidation.

"The fact that he still goes and does well is to his credit."

"The motivation he gets from the coaches and meeting all the other Jetstar kids keeps him going through the winter and focused on his training," Tony Shanahan said.

"The encouragement, training advice, as well as the ocean swims themselves have really helped him develop as a swimmer and surf lifesaving athlete, and will I am sure result in him winning a few medals to rival his big brother during the forthcoming carnival season."

Joining Liam is Te Manewha Rikihana, 8, who swam in his first ever State Ocean Swim Series in the Wellington Capital Classic event in January and won his age group.

The Mount Primary pupil is a member of the Otumoetai Swimming Club and the Omanu Surf Club.

"I am looking forward to swimming with the elites and coaches at the camp and staying in a hotel for the first time.

"I'm also looking forward to meeting new friends and learning to swim even faster," Te Manewha said.

The Jetstar Super Swim Squad is formed with girl and boy in each age group at the State OceanKids 200m events.

There are 30 places in the squad up for grabs each season.