Three more records set at age group swim championships

Three further national records were set on the second night of finals at the Mayfair Pools New Zealand Age Group Swimming Championships in Christchurch last night.

Brilliant Canterbury prospect Sophia Batchelor (Aquagym), 14, grabbed her second record in two nights with a superb effort at the QEII Leisure Centre.

She clocked 57.56 to win the 14 years 100m freestyle, which was nearly a full second under the old mark of former Canterbury Olympian Sarah Catherwood that has stood for 15 years.

Auckland’s Michael Mincham (Waterhole) took out the 13 years 400m freestyle final in 4:15.60, which was two seconds under his own national record that he set in January.

Ashburton’s Josie Kydd won the 15 years 50m butterfly in 28.29s, which edged under the old mark by 2/100ths of a second.

Taranaki’s Dylan Dunlop-Barrett (Bell Block) took out the 17-18 years 400m freestyle final in an outstanding battle with Hamilton’s Jonathan Pullon (Fairfield) in 3:57.46 with only 18/100ths of a second separating the pair.

Commonwealth Games hopeful Gareth Kean (Capital, Wellington), 18, won the 200m backstroke final in 2:00.11, which is 7/10ths outside the qualifying time required at next month’s trials for a spot on the team to New Dehli.

Swimming New Zealand’s Jan Cameron said she was again impressed with the spread and qualify of the performances, in particular the resurgence of promising performances from South Island swimmers.

The championships continue until Saturday.

Full results: http://swimmingnz.org.nz/results/?mt_id=42