Swim Rotorua performs at AquaKnights Long Course Champs during heavy training

Swim Rotorua head coach, Alastair Johnson. Photo/File

Swim Rotorua head coach Alastair Johnson is pleased with his team's latest competition results among a heavy workload.

The AquaKnights Long Course Champs were held over the weekend.

The team of 12 Swim Rotorua swimmers fine-tuned their preparation for the nationals at the end of the season.

"We did well despite being in heavy training as our main focus is on the nationals,"
Johnson said.

"With Hamilton's Waterworld 50m pool closed for refurbishment, it was a coup for Rotorua to host the event."

Western Heights High School student Annelyse Cowie, 14, produced an excellent series of races to win seven medals. Her successes came in her signature breaststroke events where she had a clean sweep in the 50m, 100m and 200m events.

Josh Balmer, 14, was in fine form to take home five age group medals including a solo gold in the 200m freestyle. Further medals were claimed in the 50m breaststroke, 100m butterfly, and 50m and 100m freestyle.

James Baldwin, 16, took the top honours in the 200m freestyle plus a brace of bronzes in the 50m freestyle and 100m backstroke.

Younger brother Sam, 13, showed his speedy credentials to get his hands on the silver medal in the 100m freestyle.

Paddy Baylis, 18, displayed his endurance abilities to win the boys' open 800m freestyle and earn a second place in the 1500m freestyle. Paddy also picked up bronze medals in the 400m freestyle and 400m individual medley.

David Boles, 17, won gold in the 200m medley, silver in the 200m backstroke, plus bronze in the 1500m freestyle.

Skye Cox, 15, produced an aggressive 50m freestyle to win the gold. Skye backed that up by making a total of three A finals.

Emily Spear, 14, came second in the open 1500m freestyle and then grabbed silver in the 400m medley and two bronzes in the 200m medley and 200m breaststroke.

"It has been a successful three days of racing for our swimmers. Our main focus was to race tough and fine-tune those all-important race skills," Johnson said.

"Our attention now shifts to get our Division 2 swimmers in peak condition for next week, whilst our national age groupers will be doing their last block of heavy work before their nationals in mid-April."