Rotorua swimmer grabs five medals at national competition

Josh Balmer (centre) collects his gold medal. Photo/Supplied

Swim Rotorua swimmers have brought home eight medals from the annual Secondary Schools Swimming Nationals in Hamilton.

Josh Balmer, 13, from John Paul College had an outstanding nationals at the weekend to win five medals. Josh won a fiercely fought 400m freestyle to take the title in an impressive time of 4:31.52sec. Other medals came in the 200m medley (silver), 100m backstroke (silver), 100m freestyle (bronze) and 200m freestyle (bronze).

Western Heights High School student Annelyse Cowie made her national schools debut in fine style to win a brace of bronzes. These came in the 13 years 100m and 200m breaststroke with respective times of 1:23.90sec and 2:56.34sec.

Also representing John Paul College was Bianca Donelley who competed in the 15 years age group. Bianca's top placing came in the 50m freestyle sprint where she secured the bronze medal in a time of 28.03sec.

Other swimmers representing local schools were James Baldwin (Rotorua Boys' High School), David Boles, Molly Sinclair, Milla Theobald and Kapua Warbrick (John Paul College), Paddy Baylis, Skye Cox and Rebecca Reid (Rotorua Lakes High School), Damon Cowie (Western Heights High School), Emily Spear (Bethlehem College) and Ryan Wilkinson and Tahlia Wilkinson (Trident High School).