A Whangarei schoolboy has just earned a place in a coveted national junior swim squad.
Eleven-year-old Chris Benton won his age group at the Bay of Islands Classic swim in Paihia on Saturday, the sixth event of seven in the New Zealand Ocean Swim Series.
His win in the 200m OceanKids event has secured him a place in the Jetstar Super Swim Squad. This means he will travel to Auckland for a weekend camp with elite swimmers and coaches in May.
Throughout the season, each qualifying event has allowed children the opportunity to earn a place in the 36-member Squad. The squad is made up of the age-group winners from each of the Ocean Swim Series legs.
After hearing about the camp and placing second at the event last year, Chris was determined to qualify for a place in the 2017 Squad. He spent four to five hours a week training at the Whangarei Amateur Swimming Club to prepare for the event.