Winners of the OceanKids 200m event at the Sand to Surf, from left: Danielle Fowler, Daniel Kregting, Caoilinn Gray, Sheldon Hogan and Kendra Gray. Photo / Simon Watts
Winners of the OceanKids 200m event at the Sand to Surf, from left: Danielle Fowler, Daniel Kregting, Caoilinn Gray, Sheldon Hogan and Kendra Gray. Photo / Simon Watts
Two Hamilton sisters are making waves in ocean swimming, having won their respective age groups in the most recent New Zealand Ocean Swim Series, 200m event.
The Gray siblings, Caoilinn, 10, and Kendra, 8, from Huntington, each won their age group at the Sand to Surf swim held in MountMaunganui this month. This was the fifth event in the seven swim Banana Boat New Zealand Ocean Swim Series.
Their wins in the 200m OceanKids event secured them places in the Jetstar Super Swim Squad for 2018. Throughout the season, each qualifying event will allow children the opportunity to earn a place in the 36-member squad.
The girls prepared for the event with their weekly training at Fairfield Swim Club and family swims at Lake Taupo. Caoilinn trains up to four times a week and Kendra trains twice weekly.
They were cheered on at the event by mum, Erin, and dad, John, as they ran through the finish line.
"The girls often swim in the pool and in open water at Lake Taupo so ocean swimming provides a new challenge for them," Erin said.
"They were thrilled to be able to take part in the event together and even more excited when they realised they had both won. Kendra loves to follow in her big sister's footsteps so she was very very excited."
The next opportunity for young swimmers to compete in an OceanKids event and win a place in the Squad will be at The Big Tahuna swim in Nelson on Saturday, March 31.
