Success for Swim Rotorua at Waikato Summer Championships

Ryan Wilkinson (left) and Jack Weston (centre) celebrate a 1-2 for Swim Rotorua in the boy's 17 years and older 50 metres breaststroke

A team of 11 Swim Rotorua swimmers impressed at the weekend's Waikato Summer Championships.

The swimmers took home 35 age group medals and a further eight top-three spots in the open events. The event programme saw age group medals presented from the morning heat results, with the fastest 16 swimmers progressing to the A and B evening finals.

New Zealand youth international Paddy Baylis continued his recent fine form with a victory in the open 200m freestyle with a cleverly crafted time of 2 minutes 01.56 seconds. He was kept busy with further visits to the podium in the open finals in the 400m freestyle, 1500m freestyle and 100m backstroke, and age group medals in the 400m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 200m medley, 200m freestyle, 1500m freestyle and 100m backstroke.

Breaststroke ace Jack Weston was in dominant form in the open breaststroke events to take home two victories in the 50m and 200m open finals, plus a second place in the open 100m final. He also picked up two golds and one silver from his efforts in the morning age group events.

Emily Spear, fresh from her Saturday victory in the iconic 2km Hinemoa Swim at Tikitapu, produced a great series of results. Her best performance came in the 400m medley where she grabbed third place and the silver medal in her age group.

Josh Balmer continues to improve and develop his race skills. He tasted victory five times in his 13 years age group with solid efforts in the 200m and 400m freestyle, 50m breaststroke, 100m backstroke and in the 200m medley. Further medals were won in the 100m freestyle (silver) and in the 50m freestyle (bronze).

James Baldwin picked up four age group medals which came in the 16 years 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle and in the 50m butterfly. Jasmine Hagan, 13, made a big impression on her age group debut. She won her signature 100m backstroke event with a great time of 1 minute 12.84 seconds. Jasmine also picked up the silver medal in the 200m backstroke. Kapua Warbrick was another Swim Rotorua medallist which came in the girls' 14 years 50n breaststroke. Ryan Wilkinson enjoyed some great racing to win the silver medal in his age group 50m breaststroke and advanced to the A final where he placed fifth overall.

Representing Swim Rotorua in the junior 12 years and under events were Theo Harvey, Lina Stahlhut and Stella Weston. These three were using the competition to fine-tune their final preparations for the AquaKnights Junior Festival in mid-February. Theo won the mixed 100m and 200m freestyle events in quick times of 1 minute 06.50 seconds and 2 minutes 25.37 seconds respectively. Theo showed his allround ability to take silver medals in the 50m freestyle and 200m medley, and bronze medals in the 100m butterfly and 200m breaststroke.

Lina showed her strong competitive nature to dig in and take home two victories in her favourite 100m and 200m backstroke events. In the 200m medley and 200m freestyle, Lina took second place and then a third place in the 50m backstroke. Stella underlined her growing potential as she produced best times galore. Her top placings came in the 50m and 100m breaststroke.

Head coach Alastair Johnson said it was another good hit-out for the swimmers.

"Despite a gruelling three-week training phase, the swimmers have managed to achieve some great times. We now have a long intensive training phase to get the swimmers ready for the National Age Group Championships which takes place in April."

He said Swim Rotorua was proud of their athletes' achievements in Hamilton.

Swim Rotorua was a well-balanced club run by volunteers passionate about their community partnerships, he said.

"Improving access to swimming at the grass roots level and raising the level of swimming ability in Rotorua continues to be our paramount focus in 2018."