NZ Swimmers Grab Six Medals on Opening Day in Australia

New Zealand swimmers earned six medals on the opening day of finals at the Australian age group championships in Adelaide last night.

They were led by gold medal performances from Wellington’s Callum Sinclair and brilliant Canterbury swimmer Sophia Batchelor in an impressive start by the 52-strong Kiwi contingent that has crossed the Tasman.

Sinclair (Tawa) won the 12-13 years 200m breaststroke in 2:28.54 in winning the final after topping the qualifiers. This broke Mitchell Donaldson’s national age record by nearly two seconds.

Batchelor (AquaGym), who has qualified for July’s FINA world open championships, dominated the 15 years 200m backstroke, winning the final in 2:13.68.

There were two second placings and two thirds in the finals. Bradlee Ashby (Hamilton) was second in the 15 years 200m backstroke in 2:07.04, after taking more than four seconds off his previous best.

Cameron Jones (Capital) was second in the 14 years 100m butterfly clocking 57.80 in the final, breaking his own national age record by more than half a second, just ahead of Auckland’s Max Polianski (United) who was third in 58.24 with two personal best performances.

Counties Manukau swimmer Ewan Jackson (Howick Pakuranga) was third in the 17-18 years 400m freestyle in 3:56.88, taking two seconds off his previous best.

New Zealand swimmers qualified for 12 finals in a strong opening day at the new aquatic facility in Adelaide.

The championships continue until Saturday.
NZ medal results:
200m breaststroke, 12-13yrs: Callum Sinclair (Tawa, NZL) 2:28.54, 1; Nic Groenewald (Nunawading) 2:30.52, 2; Joshua Zuill (Clayfield) 2:32.05, 3.
200m backstroke, 15 yrs: Sophia Batchelor (AquaGym, NZL) 2:13.68, 1; Hayley Baker (Nelbourne) 2:15.79, 2; Morgan Timms (St Peters) 2:15.95, 3.
200m backstroke, 15 yrs: Jordan Harriison (Miami) 2:05.73, 1; Bradlee Ashby (Hamilton, NZL) 2:07.04, 2; Regan Leong (Townsville) 2:08.74, 3.
100m butterfly, 14 yrs: Edward Marks (MLC Marlins) 56.53, 1; Cameron Jones (Capital, NZL) 58.86, 2; Max Polianski (United, NZL) 58.24, 3.
400m freestyle, 17-18 yrs: David McKeon (Wests Illawarra) 3:51.37, 1; Wally Eggleton (Miami) 3:54.93, 2; Ewan Jackson (Howick Pakuranga, NZL) 3:56.88, 3.
Full details: www.swimmingnz.org.nz