Sensational NZ open champs for Te Awamutu swimmer

Vanessa Ouwehand. AON Swimming New Zealand National Open Swimming Championships, National Aquatic Centre. Photo / Simon Watts

St Peter's swimmer Vanessa Ouwehand enhanced an already glowing CV by winning her first national open title.

The 18-year-old ex Te Awamutu Swimming club member not only broke through for her maiden open title, she won two open titles in two days.

"Vanessa had an amazing Opens campaign and is a joys to have around the High Performance Centre," Johnson Raela, Communications & Digital Coordinator Swimming New Zealand told the Waipā Post.

Ouwehand posted a personal best time of 27.65 seconds winning the women's 50 fly on day one of Swimming NZ's annual open championships held at the National Aquatic Centre in Albany. It was a pb by .06 second.

She followed up on day two winning the open women's 100 fly in 1.01.13, a 2.39 seconds pb from her entry time.

Her butterfly times met the qualifying criteria to be eligible to contest World Cup meetings at up to four locations, including Singapore and Tokyo in November.

Ouwehand's time for the 100 fly also qualified her for the Junior Pan Pacific Champs and the Youth Olympics, however, on the age criteria she misses selection by one and two days respectively. By day four, her workload was taking its toll at Albany.

She swam the 200 fly, showing grit and determination holding on for the bronze medal in 2.19.30.

To cap off the week, the St Peter's 4 x 100 medley relay team won bronze in the final event. Ouwehand swam the fly leg in a time of 1.01.60.

In April she attended her final National Age Group Champs for those aged 18 years and under. She again shone in the butterfly events, winning gold over both 50m and 200m in 27.71 and 2.18.85 respectively. She slashed 2.86 seconds off her pb entry time for the 200m.

Ouwehand trains at the New Zealand High Performance Centre in North Shore, Auckland and is studying for a Bachelor of Accountancy degree at Massey University, Albany.

The Te Awamutu College old girl has just enjoyed a week back home in Te Pahū
catching up with family and friends. She has now returned to Auckland for Semester 2. Training will resume in another week. Her next major meet will be the New Zealand Short Course Champs in September.