Swimming: Pair up to necks in talent pool

Sophie Couper (right) and Laura O'Keeffe, Wanganui swimmers, will take on the big guns in Auckland this morning at the New Zealand Open championships that double as a qualifying meet for the Commonwealth Games. Photo/Bevan Conley

Two Wanganui swimmers dive into perhaps their biggest challenge yet when they compete at the New Zealand Open championships in Auckland this morning.

Sophie Couper and Laura O'Keeffe have the chance to progress with the championships doubling as a qualifying meeting for the Commonwealth Games in Scotland in July.

While others have gone before, it is rare for swimmers from Wanganui to compete at this level.

Usually Wanganui Swimming Club members compete at age-group level.

The two Year 12 Wanganui High School students will be up against it to reach Commonwealth Games qualifying times but are intent on improving personal bests and breaking Wanganui records this week.

They will be up against New Zealand's best and this meet is by far the biggest swimming challenge they have had.

O'Keeffe will swim the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle events, kicking off with the shorter distance this morning in the Westwave Pool in Henderson.

She is ranked in the top 20 800m swimmers in the country.

Couper competes in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke, with the 50m her first event this morning. She is ranked in the top 28 200m backstrokers in New Zealand.

Safely through this meet, the pair are part of an eight-strong Wanganui Swimming Club team heading to the New Zealand Age Group Championships in Wellington in two weeks.