Surf Lifesaving: Clubmates huge threat to Lewis' quest for three-peat

Reece Akuhata with his three gold medals after last year's national championships. Photo/File

Don't be surprised if Hawke's Bay's national under-19 beach sprint champion Ben Lewis is dethroned by an Ocean Beach Kiwi clubmate this week.

That was the call from Ocean Beach Kiwi sprint coach Greg Larsen on the eve of his contingent's departure to the New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships, which begin on Thursday and continue until Sunday at Mount Maunganui.

"Friendly rivalry is bringing out the best in all of our sprinters and Ben [the winner of the last two national under-19 titles] is being challenged by Reece [2018 national under-16 champion Akuhata] and Wesley [Akeripa] who have moved up to the under-19 age group this season," Larsen said.

The trio have hotly contested all events this season pushing each other to perform at their best in sprints and flags consistently finishing in the top three placings in competitions during the buildup to nationals. Akeripa broke his leg a week before last year's nationals in Gisborne and couldn't compete.

"This season Wesley is bigger and stronger and is the big improver in the sprints," Larsen said.

Akuhata, who won three golds last year in the under-16 sprint and as a member of the under-19 and under-16 relay teams as well as silver in the under-16 beach flags is consistently the best beach flag competitor but has had to overcome niggly injuries throughout this season. Akeripa who has won six out of nine sprint races on the sand this summer and is still improving.

While Larsen acknowledged Lewis has yet to perform at his best this summer he agreed Lewis has a habit of pulling out the big performances when he wants to.

Based on performances in flags and sprints this trio along with Papamoa's New Zealand Youth team representative Aidan Smith are favoured to contest podium placings this week.

At Eastern Regionals Smith won the beach sprint and Akeripa and Lewis finished second and third respectively. At the New Zealand Representative Challenge the next day representing Hawke's Bay, Akeripa, out sprinted Smith. Lewis, Akuhata, Kyle Corneilssen and Grayson Hesketh, who filled in for Akeripa last season, won the under-19 beach relay title at last year's nationals.

With Akeripa back in the team they scored a convincing win at the Eastern Regionals last month and have a good chance of giving Ocean Beach Kiwi a third consecutive national title. OBK will also aim for a third consecutive under-16 beach relay title.

Following Akuhata and Akeripa's departure to the under-19 age group the two remaining members of last year's winning under-16 team, Hesketh and Zethan Bennett will be joined by Corban Watson and Llewellyn Ward-Leikis. This quartet was unbeaten all summer until they were pipped on the line by Waikanae at the Eastern Regionals, an event Larsen labelled "the mini nationals".

"Baton changes and starts have been worked on and they have a great opportunity to make it three in a row at nationals," Larsen said.

OBK's under-19 female sprinter Jess Tucker was unbeaten in all of her open and under-19 races this season until she finished second to Waikanae's national champion Brianna Irvine in the under-19 sprint at the Eastern Regionals. Tucker also has a strong chance of a podium finish this week.

Ocean Beach Kiwi sprinters who have won their 100 metre races in their age group at their school athletic champs this summer include: Akuhata and Hesketh at Lindisfarne College, Akeripa at Napier Boys' High School, Tucker at Havelock North High School, Olivia Kirkpatrick at Iona College, Layla Christison at William Colenso College, Anna Van der Hout at Hastings Christian School, and Tayla Swanwick at Taradale High School. All of these athletes will be competing for OBK relay teams this week.