Swimming: Kerikeri's Kaia Derbyshire finds spot on Jetstar Super Swim Squad

The newest members of the Jetstar Super Swim Squad (left to right front row) are Kaia Derbyshire, Ryleigh McEwan, Grace Crowe, Judd Brown, Ella Crowe and Liam Shanahan. Photo / Supplied

A Kerikeri girl has just secured a sought-after place in a national junior swim squad.

Eight-year-old Kaia Derbyshire won her age group at the Bay of Islands Classic swim held in Russell last Saturday. The event was the first of six qualifying events in the seven-swim Banana Boat New Zealand Ocean Swim Series.

Her win in the 200m OceanKids event has secured her a place in the Jetstar Super Swim Squad. This means she will travel to Auckland with a caregiver for a weekend camp in April, where she will be taught by an elite coaching team made up of top New Zealand swimmers in both a pool and ocean environment.

Throughout the season, each qualifying event will allow children the opportunity to earn a place in the 36-member squad.

Having competed in two NZ Ocean Swim Series events previously, Kaia was thrilled to win her age group and qualify for a place in the squad.

She prepared for her swim by training five days a week which consisted of ocean swimming practice to get ready for the open water conditions, and she even trained in the pool wearing her wetsuit.

Kaia was cheered on by her family as she crossed the finish line, and was also joined at the event by her mum, Trudy, who won her age group in the 500m "Give it a Go" swim.

Trudy Derbyshire said hard work paid off for her daughter.

"Kaia trained really hard for this event and didn't realise she had won until prize giving so she was stunned but also very chuffed with herself!

"I hope Kaia learns new techniques for faster ocean and pool swimming. I also hope she meets new friends and is inspired by her swimming idols."

Banana Boat New Zealand Ocean Swim Series event director Scott Rice says the squad is a great initiative for young swimmers.

"The Jetstar Super Swim Squad has made a real difference to young New Zealanders over the past six years," he said.

"The feedback over this time has been consistently positive from both the squad members and their families.

"It is not only the technical skills that they leave with, but the exposure to elite swimmers and bonding with their swimming peers that leaves them with positive life-long memories."

The Banana Boat New Zealand Ocean Swim Series runs from November 2017 to April 2018. The 2018 Jetstar Super Swim Squad Camp will take place in Auckland on April 27-29.

The next opportunity for young swimmers to win a place in the squad will be at the upcoming Interislander Capital Classic swim in Wellington on January 28.