Coach: Swimmer Ciara Smith producing classy performances

Ciara Smith, left, is heading to the Youth Commonwealth Games. Smith and Annabell Simpson, right, have been swimming impressively for Northwave Swim Club. Photo/John Stone

Last week Northwave Swim Club coach Monica Cooper called squad member Ciara Smith with the news that she had been named in the New Zealand team to compete at the Youth Commonwealth Games.

"This will be an opportunity for Ciara to expand her international experience by competing against other world-class youth swimmers" said Cooper. "Ciara has been producing very classy performances this season".

Smith is one of 11 swimmers selected by the NZ Olympic Committee to be part of an overall team of 34 athletes.

Cooper was recently advised by Swimming NZ that Smith is now in the High Performance Sport NZ Pathway to Podium programme.

"Her achievements this season in breaststroke events have significantly lifted her national profile. Our Northwave swimmers have been flying the flag high for Northland," she said.

Last September Smith and her Northwave teammate Annabell Simpson, a backstroke specialist, travelled to Canberra. They were members of the NZ Age Group Team which competed at the Australian State National Championships. Smith won the 100m Breaststroke, both did personal best performances and broke Northland records.

Success for Smith and Simpson continued through summer at National Age and NZ Open Championships. Smith won all three breaststroke events at National Age and three Silver medals at NZ Opens.

A highlight for Smith at National Age Championships was to equal the NZ Age Group record in the 16yr girls 50m Breaststroke in a time of 32:33. Simpson picked up Gold in the 200m Backstroke and was a finalist at Opens.

Smith came very close to another NZ Age Record at Opens missing the 100m Breaststroke record by 100th of a second.

The third meet in succession was as members of the NZ team that travelled to Brisbane for the Australian Age Championships. Smith won two Silver medals in the 100m and 200m Breaststroke. Simpson placed 7th in the 200m Backstroke.

Several Northland records were set by Smith and Simpson over summer.

Smith and Simpson have both been selected to attend the annual Swimming NZ Outward Bound Camp at Anakiwa.

Cooper has now advised Smith and Simpson that they have both been selected in the SNZ Development Squad. They will attend the national squad camp in October.

Cooper commented that "Ciara and Annabell are excellent role models for all Northland swimmers. I have junior swimmers who want to be future NZ representatives and benefit by seeing first-hand how this can be achieved".

Smith and Simpson are second-year athletes of the Sport Northland Educare Talent Hub programme. Athletes are provided with lectures such as sports psychology and nutrition. strength and conditioning guidance and physiotherapy are also on offer.

When Smith arrives home from the Bahamas there will be little time to relax. In September she will be part of the NZ Youth Team competing at the Australian State Teams National Championships in Canberra.