Swimming: Juniors excel in Australia

New Zealand's leading junior swimmers have broken five national records during the first two meets against Australia this week.

The New Zealand under-17 team scored two wins in the Hobart meet and four victories in Melbourne, along with the five new national age-group records.

Christchurch's Annabel Carey, part of the relay team awaiting Athens Olympic confirmation, won the 100m breaststroke in Hobart and Melbourne.

She clocked 1m 12.65s in Hobart and reduced that to 1m 12.56s in her Melbourne win.

Tauranga's Kendall Cochrane took out two butterfly wins in Melbourne.

She clocked 28.05s to win the 50m butterfly and 1m 04.40s in the 100m.

Wellington's Kelly Bentley won the 200m breaststroke at both meets.

The Capital Club swimmer recorded 2m 32.96s to win in Hobart and 2m 35.50s in Melbourne.

Cochrane also broke two national age-group records for the girl's 15 years 50m and 100m butterfly.

Auckland's Amini Fonua claimed two age-group records for 14 years boys.

He broke the 1996 record of Brad Herring in the 50m breaststroke, clocking 31.04s, and recorded 27.08s in the 50m butterfly, which broke Craig Radley's 1995 mark.

The other national record fell to Palmerston North's Cara Baker, who whipped more than two seconds off the 1998 record held by Casey Donoghue in the 13 years 200m freestyle, clocking 2m 05.62s.

The team return home on Saturday.

- NZPA