Swimming: Greening's first national title

TRAINING AGAIN: Josh Greening completes some more laps in his countdown to this weekend's Greendale club meet at Flaxmere Waterworld. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

SHOULD Hawke's Bay swimmer Josh Greening need a motivational push during his training sessions he only needs to think of two words ... Commonwealth Games.

Heretaunga Sundevils' Greening, 18, has set selection for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Australia's Gold Coast as his long-term goal after winning his first national title during last week's short course nationals in Auckland. The EIT Electrical Trade Course student won the 17-18 years 50m freestyle final by .02 of a second with a time of 23.41s.

"Josh's title was awesome for our club. He is the first swimmer from our Flaxmere-based club who was born in Flaxmere and grew up in Flaxmere to win a national title for at least 10 years," coach Willy Benson said.

"It was the result of two-and-a-half year work after coming back to swimming refreshed after a five-year break. I started when I was four and finished when I was 10 because I wasn't really enjoying it," Greening recalled.

He also qualified for the open final and finished ninth overall and eighth best of the Kiwi starters. Along with 2008 Olympian Benson, who has coached Greening since his return, Greening, Nick Macky and Joseph Belcher finished third in the open men's 4 x 50m freestyle relay.

With Benson also winning the open men's fly final the nine-strong Sundevils contingent returned home with two titles and one podium finish.

"I spent a couple of nights celebrating with family and then got into serious training again with this weekend in mind," Greening said.

He was referring to the Greendale club's meet at Flaxmere Waterworld this weekend. Greening is one of 67 Sundevils among more than 160 entries.

"I'm going to have a crack at the Hawke's Bay-Poverty Bay record of 23.29s ... I'm almost there," the 2m tall Greening said.

Former Sundevil Matt Thomas set the record during the 2004-05 summer.

Benson has no doubt Hastings Boys' High School product and former Wakely Shield rugby player Greening has the goods to achieve his 2018 goal.

"We just need to put a bit more meat on his bones and he will get there. Most top swimmers peak in their early 20s these days."

Between pool and gym training sessions, Greening does eight of each a week, he can train up to 30 hours each week.

"It's my No 1 sport and that's the level of commitment I need to put in to achieve my goal," Greening said.

He is also ranked among the top 10 in his age group for the 50m and 100m backstroke.
Macky, in fly and freestyle sprint events, and Matt Sexton in 100m and 200m breaststroke events are other Sundevils tipped to shine at the meet which has events tomorrow afternoon and Sunday morning.

Ella Jamieson and Bevan Jacobs will spearhead the Central Hawke's Bay club's assault. Mahina Ross and Sam Whiteside are among the Aquahawks expected to perform well and Olivia Gray will be among the host club's best hopes.