Swimming: Tauranga clubs to fore at champs

The 2013 Greerton Winter swim meet held at Baywave during the weekend was dominated by a handful of top clubs from outside the region but a number of swimmers from Otumoetai and Greerton clubs stood out.

Otumoetai, under head coach Stefan Swanepoel, arrived with a healthy squad of 41 swimmers - the biggest contingent of any club attending.

By the end of the weekend their swimmers had secured six first places, eight second places and 11 third places in a very competitive meet.

The action started on Friday night with the gut-busting 800- and 1500-metre freestyle events. Jess Miller came up against a strong field including American collegiate swimmer Taylor Armstrong and she prevailed over Taylor when finishing second in a fraction over 9 minutes. In the 14/15 year age group, Rhianna Maxwell swam credibly in a strong line-up to snare a podium finish. In the 1500m, Benji Rowe smashed his previous personal best set only a month ago by nearly 40s going under 18 minutes to claim the win.

Josh Pickett broke two Bay of Plenty records in the 100m and 200m breaststroke events and he also won the 50m breaststroke.

Samantha Carter claimed gold in the 100 and 200m butterfly, second in the 50m backstroke and butterfly, and third in the 100m individual medley.

George Culling (3rd 100 back, 3rd 200 back), Caelan Potts (2nd 50 back), Tem Strickland (3rd 50 back), Jess Miller (1st 400 free, 2nd 800, free, 2nd 200 free, 3rd 400IM, 2nd 200IM, Benji Rowe (1st 1500 free, 1st 200 fly, 2nd 400IM, 3rd 100 fly, 3rd 400 free), Rhianna Maxwell (3rd 8 free, 3rd 200 fly), and Harry Low (3rd 50 breast) all made the podium.

It was also a successful meet for Greerton swim club.

Libby Bradley, 14, took out the 50m backstroke in 32.06 and backed that up with a second placing over 100m freestyle in a personal best 1:00.80, just ahead of teammate Claudia Capp (15) in third. Capp was second over the 200m freestyle in 2:11.22 and third in the 200m backstroke. She also swam a strong 200m individual medley touching in third.

Blake Horne (14) won the 1500m freestyle in a new personal best 17:12.79. Ezra Cashmore celebrated his 13th birthday with a number of personal bests, including 31.13s for the 50m freestyle.