Swim The Distance Challenge: Eva Kinsella snatches win from Angus Blair

PUSHED IT: Eva Kinsella swam a total of 54.4 kilometres in the final two weeks of the Swim the Distance challenge to win the individual leaderboard by just 4km. Picture supplied

More than 142,000 laps of the Olympic Pool Complex's 50-metre pool were completed by those in this year's Swim The Distance Challenge.

The 234 participants faced the task of swimming the equivalent distance of Midway to Mahia — 45.5km — over eight weeks via laps of the pool.

Despite the event being disrupted by Covid-19 requirements, 74 managed to achieve the distance or more while over 7100km were clocked up by all those who took part.

Eva Kinsella topped the individual leaderboard with 224.9km after a late dash.

She started the final week 7.5km behind fellow Comet Swimming Club member Angus Blair but put in a tally of 22.3km to snatch the top spot by 4.8km from Angus.

Comet crushed the team leaderboard standings with a total of 887.35km, well clear of second-placed TKO team, who completed 393.25km.

At the prizegiving, Arapeta Ngarimu was the winner of the major spot prize — a Samsung S21 cellphone valued at $1849.

The awards were given out at Smash Palace on Sunday after the challenge was extended to make up for lost time over lockdown.

Eva Kinsella 224.9km, 1st; Angus Blair 220.1, 2nd; Jodiehsa Kirkpatrick 204.6, 3rd; Damon Meade 155, 4th; Noah Wright 142.2, 5th; Janelle Proffit 140.7, 6th; AJ Kinsella 120, 7th; Sophia O'Hara 113.85, 8th; Andy Corson 103.2, 9th; Ropata Proffit 101, 10th.

Comet 887.35km, 1st; TKO 393.25, 2nd; Turanga Turtles 244.67, 3rd; Kau Kau Nutz 213.75, 4th; Gisborne Herald 152.8, 5th; Hikurangi 134.75, 6th; J16 Mareikura Squad 50.925, 7th; Cedenco 36.1, 8th.