SHANE HURNDELL
Katie Bone and Matt Thomas were the toast of the Heretaunga Sundevils contingent after the first night of finals at the national open swimming championships in Christchurch last night.
Eighteen-year-old Bone collected two golds and a silver medal. Her first gold came in the 100m fly with a Hawke's Bay-Poverty
Bay record time of 1m03.93s.
She recorded another personal best time when she won her 200m individual medley final in 2m25.04s. Bone collected her silver with a 2m38.21s swim in her 200m breaststroke final.
Thomas secured a berth in the New Zealand team for the July Oceania championships in Cairns with a time of 24.70s in his 50m fly semifinal. He had earlier recorded a 25.05s heat time which was also under the qualifying time of 25.15s.
Thomas will start in his final tonight.
"Katie exceeded all our expectations and for Matt to gain a spot in a New Zealand team before swimming a final was pretty special," said Sundevils coach Jon Winter.
His team finished the night with three golds, two silvers and two bronze medals.
Jordyn Mahanga won gold in her 16 years 200m breaststroke final. Tim Dawson collected a silver in his 17-18 years 50m fly final with a time of 25.66s after collecting a bronze in his 100m freestyle final.
"The freestyle title was his and he was pretty gutted after losing it. He took his frustration out in the best possible way with his silver," said Winter.
Fifteen-year-old Daniel Bell won the Sundevils other bronze in his 200m backstroke final.
Sixteen-year-old Jamie Strachan did well to finish fourth in her 50m freestyle final as she is a first timer at this level of competition.
The nationals continue until Sunday.
