More records topple in final night of Spring Competition
Thursday 27 September 2007, 10:31AM
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Eight further national marks were broken to seal a record-breaking run at the Swimming New Zealand Spring Championships that finished in Wellington tonight.
Overall three New Zealand Open records and 23 age group records were set at the short course championships at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre.
Leading the way was brilliant Southland prospect Natalie Wiegersma who set three New Zealand age group records and won three titles. The 17 year old stepped up as she looks to force her way into contention for the New Zealand team for next year’s Beijing Olympics.
Whangaparaoa Peninsula 14-year-old Mitchell Donaldson also established three new age group records and claimed two titles in a strong week with Hayley Palmer (North Shore), Corey Main (Howick Pakuranga), Liz Brown (Ashburton) and Orinoco Faamausili-Banse (Laser Mt Eden) all setting two records.
Palmer, Capital’s Kelly Bentley and Christchurch’s Annabelle Carey (Aquagym) established New Zealand Open records in the four day meet.
Banse 17, has been the toast of the New Zealand sprint scene with his national open record in the 50m freestyle long course earlier this year. He broke his own record in the heats of the 50m freestyle in 22.59 but was edged out for the overall honours in the final by veteran Scott Cantley (Capital).
Wiegersma continued her winning ways with a record for 17 years 200m individual medley in 2:13.44 as did Donaldson in the 100m medley for 14 years, clocking 1:00.28.
Shane Patience (Waves) 17, set an age record with an excellent 15:21.62 over 1500m, finishing second overall in a terrific battle with Daniel Ryan (Waterhole) who won in 15:18.07.
The other national age group records fell to Ben Stark (West Auckland) in the 15 years 50m freestyle with 23.60s, Daniel Bell (West Auckland) 17, in the 100m medley in 57.03, Liz Brown (Ashburton) 14, in the 100m butterfly clocking 1:02.28 and Gareth Kean (Capital) 16, with a time of 55.72 for the 100m backstroke as the lead-off in the medley relay.