Swimmers set for national champs

The feature of the 10-strong Wairarapa squad which will contest the national division two swimming championships at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre from tomorrow through until Saturday is their all-round ability across all strokes and distances.
Consisting of six members of the Masterton club who are coached by Anna Kitching and four members of the Carterton club who are coached by Russell Geange the Wairaraa contingent will compete in a total of 77 individual events at the short course meet against literally hundreds of other competitors all over the country.
And with a number of top 10 seedings going into the championships they should be a force to be reckoned with.
Brief profiles of the Wairarapa team are:-
HAMISH CUNDY, 15, Masterton: Cundy has qualified to contest eight events across all distances including the 1500m freestyle. He has been been swimming competitively for three years and his strengths are in freestyle and individual medley.
TARA FIELD,15, Masterton: Swimming at her second national meet Field will contest seven events.She is especially strong at backstroke and individual medley and will swim over three distances in each of these disciplines, including the 400im.
WILLIAM HAMILTON, 12, Masterton: Hamilton will be looking to improve further on his personal best times swum at last month's national junior champs. He has qualified to contest three middle to long distance events, including the 1500m freestyle, a distance not swum at the national junior level.He will also compete in backstroke and individual medley.
HANNAH HAMMOND,13, Carterton: Hammond has swum competitively for four years and this will be her second year competing at national level.
She is contesting 10 events covering all strokes and distances and should improve her rankings in breaststroke in particular.
JOE HAMMOND,12, Carterton: After competing at last month's NZ junior champs Hammond will take the step up and contest eight events here.He has been competing since the age of eight and his strengths are in backstroke and butterfly as well as the individual medley.
ELLA HUTCHBY, 13, Masterton: This will be Hutchby's first national competition and comes after only one year in competitve swimming.She has qualified to contest three events with her strength being in breaststroke where she will race over 100m and 200m.
BAILEY PETERSON, 13, Carterton: Peterson will be swimming for the second time at national level.She will compete in eight events with her main stroke being backstroke where she will swim over 50m, 100m and 200m. Peterson will also contest the 100m, 200m and 400 individual medleys as well
CHARLOTTE POPE,12, Masterton: Pope is also stepping up to division two after competing at the national junior champs last month.
She has qualified in 10 events covering all strokes with freestyle being her main strength. Pope has been swimming competitively for three years.
BEN RUBACK,12, Masterton: Ruback won his first national medal at the junior nationals last month and will compete in eight events at the division two meet. He excels over middle and long distances in both backstroke and the individual medley.
KATRINA SIMMONDS, 12, Carterton: After her four-medal success at the national junion champs last month, Simmonds will be hoping to carry that form into the division two competition.
Strong in all strokes and over all distances she will face a busy 12 event programme.