Huge promise at age group champs

Wanganui swimming coach Jane Lowe says her charges built up a lot of confidence during the five days of competition at the New Zealand Age Group Championships.

Held at the Kilbirnie Pool in Wellington, six of the nine members from Wanganui Swimming Club reached finals, breaking four Wanganui records in the process.

The best-performed were Laura O'Keeffe, 14 and Sophie Couper, 15, who placed fourth in events.

"O'Keeffe showed great form in the 200m freestyle, breaking the 14-year age group Wanganui record with a 2 minutes 11.02 seconds, just 0.20 off the Lisa Hartshorne Open record," said Lowe.

"Couper was also nudged out of a medal in the 200m backstroke in a personal best of 2:27.62."

Nina Eades, 14, raced with poise making three backstroke finals and personal bests.

She placed sixth in the 50m with 32.13, eighth in the 100m with a 1:09.10 and ninth in the 200m, at 2:30.64.

Couper and O'Keeffe were ninth in their 50m backstroke age-group final as Couper got a 32.86 while O'Keeffe went 32.97.

"O'Keeffe also set a new 50m freestyle time of 28.97, narrowly missing the closely fought top 10," said Lowe.

In breaststroke events, 15-year-old Jacob Smith showed his potential in the 200m, breaking Aaron Bunker's Wanganui record by three seconds in the heats and trimming it again with a 2:36.35 for sixth in the final.

Smith also recorded a personal best in the 50m of 34:57.

Fourteen-year-old Fergus Smith had a busy meet, his best being in the 50m butterfly when he placed eighth from a sharp 28.77, following up with a 1:04.32 and ninth in the 100m butterfly final.

Thomas Ireton, 17, was a finalist in the three backstroke events, setting a new Wanganui record of 29.08 in the 50m, to place seventh.

Ireton was also sixth in the 100m at 1:02.07 and eighth in the 200m with a 2:16.29.