College sport: Region's best get ready to fight it out in pool

By DAVE WORSLEY

The three zonal swimming meets were held for Auckland, Waitakere North Harbour and Counties Manukau last week to find the qualifiers for the champion of champions meet on March 25.

Corney Swanepoel from Rangitoto College qualified in the senior boys freestyle and butterfly, as expected, and Glenn Snyder from Westlake Boys also qualified in two events, the senior boys butterfly and breaststroke.

The talent is evident in the multiple qualifiers among the senior ranks.

Eleven swimmers in total have qualified in more than one individual final.

Jennifer Simiss of Baradene College, Emma Blake from Diocesan, Fankee Snell of Epsom Girls, Aimee Gordon from Mt Roskill, Evan Ackett of Onehunga High, Victoria King from St Cuthberts and Daniel Fulton of Pukekohe High are some of the multiple finalists.

At the New Zealand age-group champs in Wellington Swanepoel won the Life Members Trophy for the most outstanding individual performance with his New Zealand record of 23.99s in the 50m butterfly.

The North Shore Club, featuring a large number of students from Rangitoto College and both Westlakes took out the Top Club Trophy from Spirit of Southland and Christchurch's Aquagym clubs.

Auckland won the Freyberg Shield for top region.

ATHLETICS

This week will be busy for athletics - Auckland's champion of champions meet is today and North Harbour's is tomorrow.

Auckland has had its qualifying events and there are some familiar names among the qualifiers.

Last year's athletics sportsman of the year, Jordan Vandermade, now a senior, has qualified in the 400m, discus, javelin and long jump to re- confirm his all-round potential.

Other names to emerge were basketball star Kahn Le Provost Shepherd from Avondale College.

He has qualified in the 100m, long and high jump as well as the shot put.

Mt Roskill Grammar's distance programme seems to be in good heart. Intermediates Biruk Belachew and Fetalow Zomo are expected to battle it out in the 1500m and 3000m. Andrew Haigh is tipped to perform strongly in the seniors.

Ami-Jo Mann from Kings College has qualified in the 400m, 800m, 3000m and high jump.

WAKA AMA

The third national schools sprint event was held at Orakei Basin and provided plenty of action as paddlers from 50 schools fought for titles.

The outstanding performance came from Gisborne's Lytton High division one girls' team who successfully defended the title they won last year.

A combined team from Gisborne Girls High and Gisborne Boys High took out the division one mixed titles in the 250m and 500m finals.

In the division one boys' 500m final, the inexperienced crew from Rutherford College upset last year's winners, James Cook High.

This week:

Today, Athletics, Auckland schools, champion of champions, Ericsson Stadium.

Tomorrow, Tennis champion of champions finals, 9am ASB Tennis Centre.

Athletics, North Harbour schools, Sovereign Stadium, 4pm-8pm.

Waterpolo, North Island secondary schools - various pools around Auckland, March 11-14.

North Island secondary school champs March 11-14, Lake Karapiro.

Friday, Auckland secondary schools triathlon champs, Maraetai.