Swimming: Off to Wellington for champion meet

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The Subway Wanganui swim team leaves for the National Age Group championships in Wellington today.

Departing from the Splash Centre at midday, the squad consists of seven girls and two boys, 13 to 16.

Team manager Neil Forlong said the trip is the culmination of many months of training, with several swimmers ranked in the Top 10 of their events. The leading prospect is Shannon Schimanski, ranked 1st in the 13-year-old girls 100m breaststroke, second in the 50m breaststroke.

She will also enter the 200m breaststroke, the 50m and 100m backstroke, 50m freestyle and 200m individual medley.

Rebecca Brown, 13, will be in four freestyle events, 50-400m, and the backstroke 50-100m.

Of the 15-year-olds, Jaimee Schimanski will enter three backstroke events, 50-200m, while Elena Forlong has two freestyle, three backstroke, three butterfly and the 400m individual medley.

Among the 16-year-olds, Laura O'Keeffe has a busy schedule with five freestyle events (nationally ranked in four), two backstroke and one each of butterfly, breaststroke and the individual medley. Sophie Couper will enter three backstroke events, as will Samantha Miller.

Of the boys, Stefan Hannan has two backstroke and the 400m freestyle, while Jacob Smith has three breaststroke (ranked nationally in two), two individual medley and the 50m freestyle.