Swim Rotorua enjoy success at short course champs

Rotorua swimmer David Boles produced a scintillating series of performances at the Central Swimming Short Course Championships in Taupo. Photo / File

Swim Rotorua enjoyed a successful outing at the Central Swimming Short Course Championships in Taupō.

The event, held at the end of last month, attracted nearly 200 swimmers aged 13 years and older from the Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay, Poverty Bay, Taranaki and Waikato.

The format saw the age group winners declared from the morning heats, and the overall
fastest 24 swimmers progressing to the evening ABC finals.

David Boles, a double bronze medal winner from the recent Oceania Championships, produced a scintillating series of performances. Boles was in great form in his backstroke events where he dominated the field to win gold in the 100m and 200m in his age group and in the A final.

In the 100m, Boles dipped under the one minute barrier for the first time to go 59.72s. In the 200m he smashed the 18 years and open Bay of Plenty records with a time of 2m 5.2s.

He came from behind to steal victory in the open 1500m freestyle with another best time of 16m 37.19s. His other medals came in the 800m freestyle and
200m butterfly.

Theo Harvey continued to impress with committed performances. He took home five gold medals in the boys' 13 years age group. His victories came in the 200m and 400m freestyle, plus a clean sweep in the 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly. Harvey's 400m freestyle time was another improvement of 4m 34.78s.

Skye Cox, 16, earned four medals with some cracking races in her freestyle and backstroke events. Her only gold came in the 400m freestyle. Two of silvers followed in the 50m freestyle, in a best time of 28.18s, and 200m backstroke, plus a bronze in the 200m freestyle.

Rocco Marsh maintained his stellar performances of late to grab a medal of each colour. His gold medal came in the boys' 16 years 200m medley. His superb effort in the 200m freestyle saw him rewarded with a silver medal in a great time of 2m 0.53s in the B final. In the hotly contested 100m freestyle, Rocco sealed the bronze medal with a time of 55.85s.

Emily Spear has been training hard recently and it paid off with a good series of performances. In the 200m freestyle she took silver. Further successes and three bronze medals came in the 400m freestyle, 200m butterfly and the 1500m freestyle.

John Paul College student Lina Stahlhut pushed herself hard throughout the weekend. She managed to reach the podium with a triple set of bronzes which came in the girls' 13 years 400m medley, 400m freestyle and 200m backstroke.

Annelyse Cowie capitalised on her improved breaststroke technique to win a brace of silvers in the 14 years age group. Her time of 1m 18.59s was a new best time to underline her growing stature in her signature stroke. Her other silver came in the 200m event with a time of 2m 49.73s.

James Baldwin won silver in his favourite 50m freestyle with a solid time of 25.29s. He managed to take that down to 24.95s in the A final. He then teamed up with David Boles, Theo Harvey and Rocco Marsh to earn another silver in the open 4x100m medley relay.

Head coach Alastair Johnson was satisfied with the team's efforts over the three days.

"Everyone has pushed themselves hard despite an intense programme with a short rest between races. This intensity will serve them well as they start their final build up to the AIMS Games and the National Short Course Champs in a few week's time."