Swimming: Northland swimmers impress at nationals

Northland's top age group swimmers have delivered on their potential, returning with six national medals.

Northwave swimmer Melita Raravula continued her rise up the swimming ranks as she returned with three gold medals and one bronze.

Raravula, 16, who represented New Zealand at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney earlier this year, lived up to her rankings at the New Zealand Age Group Championships as she won gold in the 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly events in the girls' 16-years age group during last week's racing.

The 16-year-old also brought home a bronze medal in the 200m breaststroke and was a close fourth in the 50m breaststroke.

Fellow Northwave swimmer Freyah Ruri proved she has the potential to go a long way as she took out the girls' 14-years 200m backstroke.

Ruri also secured a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke and made finals in three other events - placing fourth in the 100m freestyle, fifth in the 50m butterfly and seventh in the 50m backstroke.

Northwave coach Monica Cooper said Raravula's and Ruri's successes are a testament to the hard work they have been putting in.

"We've got a good young group of swimmers coming through," said Cooper. "I think they've all come away with a far greater awareness of what's expected at that national level.

"Probably the difference I saw on this trip compared to others in recent years was the team spirit."

Cooper said the Northland team were extremely supportive of each other and could see the success breeding success as other athletes' desire to be on the podium grew.

"What pleased me was there were a number of swimmers stepping up and a number making finals.

"There were swimmers who hadn't been to nationals before so it was a good step up for them and a good chance to understand what is required at nationals."

Three other Northwave swimmers also made finals and then placed in the top eight in multiple events.

Callum Prime qualified for four finals and was unlucky to not to pick up at least one medal when he finished fourth in both the 50m and the 100m backstroke events for the boys' 13-years.

Prime also came in a creditable fifth in the 200m backstroke and improved on his ranking in the 200m individual medley with a seventh placing.

Matthew Gordon, 14, also made four finals, placing seventh in both the 100m and 200m backstroke, eighth in the 200m individual medley and tenth in the 50m backstroke.

Ellie Eastwood completed a fantastic week for the Northwave swimmers, competing as a 12-year-old in the mixed 12 and 13-years age group where she made finals for all her events.

The only other Northland swimmer to make a final was Bream Bay's David Platt who finished ninth in the boys 16-years 200m backstroke.

The Northwave Swimming Club finished a creditable nineteenth out of over 80 clubs from New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia and Tahiti.