Batchelor stars again at national age group swim championships

Christchurch teenager Sophia Batchelor continued her record-breaking run on the third day of the Mayfair Pools New Zealand age group swimming championships in Christchurch last night.

Batchelor, 14, who is coached by Leanne Speechley at the Aqua Gym club, recorded two further records in finals last night to take her tally to four in three days.

She clocked 2:02.91 to win the 14 years final of the 200m freestyle, which took nearly two seconds off the 15-year-old record held by former Olympian Sarah Catherwood.

Batchelor backed this up with a national record in the 100m backstroke, where her time of 1:02.82 was the best of the night in all age groups. She took 1.24 seconds off the previous record.

The other record went to North Shore swimmer Chloe Francis who won the 16 years final of the 200m freestyle in 2:01.26, the fastest of the time, in a superb performance. This was 2.4 seconds off the previous record, also held by Catherwood.

Francis, coached by Scott Talbot, was only 1.38s outside the qualifying time set for the Commonwealth Games, which must be achieved at next month’s trials in Auckland.

“Both girls are swimming really well and the results are very encouraging. Both of them are unrested for this meet so it will be exciting to see what they can do at the Trials,” said Swimming New Zealand’s Jan Cameron.

The championships continue until tomorrow.

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