Swimming: Medals galore for Bay four

BAY'S BEST: Hawke's Bay four medal winners from left Ryan Hurley, Jake Stephens, Olivia Wellington, and Reese Drager. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

The influence of branding has been around for decades and these days it has a lot to do with the name behind the brand.

All of Hawke's Bay's four medal winners from last weekend's New Zealand Junior Swimming Festival Aquaknights Zone in Rotorua rank the most decorated Olympian of all time, American Michael Phelps, as their idol.

Three of the four, Napier Aquahawks Olivia Wellington, and Ryan Hurley and Greendale's Reese Drager race in swimwear which bears the name of the bloke who won 28 Olympic medals and the fourth, Aquahawk, Jake Stephens used to race in MPs.

"They got ripped and I've got better ones now," Stephens said.

Whatever the 12-year-old Year 8 Lindisfarne College student got as replacement swimwear is obviously working.

He won silver in 200m butterfly and bronze in the 200m breaststroke and 100m individual medley.

He also broke a club record in the 200m individual medley which Bertie Bassett-Foss set in 2010.

The following day, which was his fourth consecutive day of racing, he won all six of his races on his way to capturing the intermediate title at his school's swimming sports.

Stephens, who has been an Aquahawk for eight years, also broke two school records, one which was set in 2004 and the other in 2010.

Eleven-year-old Wellington, who has been an Aquahawk for three weeks after switching from the Greendale club, was the most successful of the Bay contingent with three golds, three silver and a bronze.

She won gold in the 200, 100 and 50m backstroke, silver in the 200 and 100m individual medleys and 50m freestyle and bronze in the 100m freestyle.

"This was my third time at the event and I exceeded my expectations. Last year I got one gold," Wellington said.

Eleven-year-old Tamatea Intermediate Year 7 pupil Hurley set personal bests in all eight of his races and returned home with three silvers and a bronze.

Silvers were won in his 200, 100 and 50m breaststroke and bronze in the 100m individual medley.

Hurley's previous best personal bests in the events he won medals in were bettered by margins of between six and 12 seconds.

The Aquahawks contingent was quick to heap kudos on the work done by their coach Karen Kamper during the three-day Rotorua meet.

Like Wellington, 11-year-old Drager, is a Year 7 Taradale Intermediate School student.

She won silver in the 200m breaststroke and bronze in the 100m breaststroke.

"Last year I didn't win any medals. Training harder was the key this time," Drager said.

"I had the best coach at the meet in Gary [Knight] and the best team manager in my dad Charlie too," she added.

All four swimmers are hoping to represent their respective schools at the September AIMS Games in Tauranga. They hope to continue in swimming long enough to have a crack at New Zealand representation.

Stephens recorded qualifying times for the division two nationals next month but won't be attending because he will be representing the Westshore Surf Life Saving Club at the under-14 nationals in Mount Maunganui from March 2-5.

Wellington, Hurley and Drager are too young for division two nationals this year but will aim for that level next year or the national age group champs.