Jury Grabs first Swimming medal at AYOF

North Shore’s Alannah Jury grabbed the first medal in the pool for the New Zealand team on the final day of competition in the Australian Youth Olympics in Sydney today.

Jury, 17, broke the national age group record on her way to finishing third in the 800m freestyle final. The Rangitoto College student clocked 8:50.62 to go under the age group record held by Cara Baker by more than a second.

“I felt relaxed going into my swim today and was hoping to get into the top four,” she said after her medal. “I’ve now got my sights set on the 10km race at London 2012.”

Nine New Zealand swimmers qualified for finals at Olympic Park today.

Sarah Fraser (Taupo), Renee Stothard (Howick Pakuranga) and Shelby Wilson (Fairfield) finished sixth, seventh and ninth respectively behind Jury in the 800m freestyle final.

North Shore’s Katie Kenneally completed an outstanding meet, finishing fourth in the 200m individual medley, just pipped out of a medal, and followed this with seventh in the 200m breaststroke.

Ben Stark (North Shore), another multi-finalist this week, was fourth in the 50m freestyle in 23.73, 7/10ths outside the national age group mark held by Beijing Olympian Orinoco Faamausili-Banse and only 8/100ths from the bronze medal.

Sam Robinson (North Shore) came home strongly but was pipped for a medal by just 8/10ths of a second in the 1500m freestyle. The 16 year old clocked 15:58.09 after being well back at the midway mark.

Team-mates Nathan Capp (Greerton, Tauranga) finished sixth.

The men’s medley relay combination finished fifth in 4:02.68, and the girls sixth in their medley relay final.

The New Zealand team finished fifth overall behind Australia Gold, Australia Green, Canada and Japan.

New Zealand finals results, day 4:
800m freestyle: Kelly Marquenie (AUS) 8:49.17, 1; Jessica Ashwood (AUS) 8:49.73, 2; Alannah Jury (NZL) 8:50.62, 3. Also Sarah Fraser 9:12.92, 6; Renee Stothard 9:13.63, 7; Shelby Wilson 9:14.34, 9.
200m individual medley: Katie Kenneally 2:21.18, 4.
50m freestyle: Ben Stark 23.75, 4.
200m breaststroke: Katie Kenneally 2:41.96, 7.
1500m freestyle: Sam Robinson 15;58.09, 4; Nathan Capp 16:14.02, 6.
400m medley relay, girls: NZL 4:28.31, 6.
400m medley relay, boys: NZL 4:02.68, 5.

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18th January 2009

Jackson impresses on day three in Sydney

New Zealand swimmers raced in eight finals on the third day of the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney.

Howick Pakuranga’s Ewan Jackson impressed in finishing fifth in the final of the 200m backstroke in 2:07.84, which is closing in on Scott Talbot’s national age group record for 15 years.

Ben Gillies (Napier Aquahawks) was sixth in the same final while Renee Stothard (Howick Pakuranga) was seventh in the girls’ final in 2:21.31.

Sam Robinson (North Shore) finished a strong fifth in the final of the 400m freestyle while clubmate Alannah Jury was sixth in the girls’ final in 4:21.35.

Adam McDonald (Southland) continued his strong form at the Festival with another finals appearance, finishing fifth in the 100m butterfly in a slick 56.02s.

The boys’ combination was fourth in the 400m freestyle relay in 3:34.62 and the girls' sixth in their final in 4:00.90.

The Festival finishes tomorrow with the young New Zealand team continuing to set personal bests in most swims.

Results, NZL finals:
400m freestyle: Alannah Jury 4:21.35, 6.
400m freestyle: Sam Robinson 4:03.21, 5.
100m butterfly: Adam McDonald 56.02, 5.
200m backstroke: Renee Stothard 2:21.31, 7.
200m backstroke: Ewan Jackson 2:07.84, 5; Ben Gillies 2:09.79, 6.
400m freestyle relay, girls: NZL 4:00.90, 6.
400m freestyle relay, boys: NZL 3:34.62, 4.