Backstrokers Cap Off Stellar National Championships

dale493
May 26
6 min read

Day Five Wrap - 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships

Three backstroke athletes have qualified for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships on a brilliant final day of racing at the 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships in Auckland.

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Andrew Jeffcoat (United) led the way for the backstrokers. The 25-year-old had taken a step back from the sport but returned to the pool this year. He wasted no time in showing he’s still got what it takes, winning the 50m backstroke national title in 24.89s, to again go under the qualification time for the World Aquatics Championships which he had achieved in the heats that morning.

Jeffcoat was excited to be back at his best.

“I’ve been feeling pretty powerful, that’s the best output I’ve ever had. I’ve been focusing on the sprints and just red-lining it as much as I can and it’s obviously paying off. It’s pretty special to make that team and it’s great to be back in form.”

Cameron Gray (Coast) placed second and Zac Dell (Club 37) third.

In the 17-18 years age group, Jasper Cornish (Coast) won gold in 26.19s, followed by Daniel Williams (SwimZone Racing) in second and Brandon Holder (Phoenix Aquatics) in third.

The women’s 50m backstroke saw another two swimmers hit the World Aquatics Championships qualification time. Amber George (Coast) swam a quick 27.92s to win the national title and again go under the Worlds qualification mark. Savannah-Eve Martin (Coast) posted the time required in her morning heat, clocking 28.50s in the final to place third. Laura Quilter (Coast) placed second in 28.43s.

Martin was elated that she has achieved a childhood dream with her performance in the heats.

“I’m so happy! Being an Aquablack has been a huge goal of mine since I was little, so to finally make that time and get an Aquablack number, I’m super stoked.”

Milan Glintmeyer (Coast) capped off her excellent week to again go under the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships qualification time during the heats.

In the 17-18 years age group Rylee McBride (Wharenui) took the win, followed by teammate Hanna Abdou (Wharenui) in second and Danielle Asiata (Howick Pakuranga) in third.

The multi-class events produced some of the standout moments of the night. In the men’s 200m individual medley multi-class final, Asher Smith-Franklin (North Shore) emptied the tank as he desperately tried to swim under the time required for the World Para Swimming Championships.

The 19-year-old powered home in the last 50m, slapping the water and yelling in delight as he made the time required, touching the wall in 2:16.06s to also break his SM14 New Zealand record.

Daniel Smith (Pukekohe) capped off his record-breaking week to set an SM19 New Zealand record in 2:21.91s and claim the gold. Ian Chen (St Paul's) took second while Smith-Franklin placed third.

The women’s 1500m freestyle saw Aquablack Caitlin Deans (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) execute a great race in the distance event. Deans paced herself well, finishing strong to go comfortably under the World Aquatics Championships qualification time and secure a lifetime best of 16:12.18s. Eve Thomas (Coast) placed second and Sophie Hay (Hamilton Aquatics & RPC Waikato) third.

Deans was thrilled with her lifetime best in the 1500m freestyle.

"I'm absolutely stoked! To come away with all PBs is more than I could have asked for so I'm really happy. It's given more a lot of confidence for where I'm at and heading into Singapore."

In the 17-18 years age group Hay placed first, Olivia Bates (North Shore) second and Shae Jackson (North Canterbury) third.

It was an exciting men’s 50m freestyle multi-class final as Aquablack Cameron Leslie (Whangarei) again swam under the S4 qualification time for the World Para Swimming Championships to set the fastest time in the world this year with 37.72s. Daniel Smith set an S19 New Zealand record in 25.48s to place second with Finn Russ (Selwyn) third.

Another record fell as Quinn Pike (Hamilton Aquatics) took the win in the women’s 50m freestyle multi-class. Pike clocked a time of 29.86s to set the S19 New Zealand record. Rylee Sayer (Matamata - S7) placed second, with her time of 34.75s again qualifying her for the event at the World Para Swimming Championships. Camilla Witt (Denmark - S9) took the visitor third, while Tupou Neiufi (Mt Eden - S9) took Kiwi bronze.

The women's 200m individual medley multi-class saw Gaby Smith (Vikings - SM10) again swim under the qualification time for the World Para Swimming Championships. Smith powered across the pool to take the win in 2:43.21s. Charlotte Murphy (Aquagym) was also impressive, placing second as she broke the SM6 New Zealand record in 4:12.53s for the second time in the day. McKenzie Drage (Aquagym - SM8) placed third.

Gina McCarthy (Hamilton Aquatics & RPC Waikato) delivered a fantastic swim in the women’s 200m individual medley. The 22-year-old was particularly strong in the backstroke and built her lead throughout the race to clock a time of 2:15.38s. Zyleika Pratt-Smith (Coast) was second and Monique Wieruszowski (North Shore) third.

In the 17-18 years age group Wieruszowski placed first, Danielle Asiata second and Hanna Abdou third.

Louis Clark (North Shore) won an exciting men’s 800m freestyle. Clark was solid for the first 400m, before negative splitting the race to build a healthy lead and post a time of 8:05.57s. Brendan Visser (Coast) was second and James Leigh (Coast) third.

Leigh’s time of 8:19.61s saw him win the 17-18 years age group. Fraser Walker (United) took silver and Alfie Weatherston Harvey (Kiwi) third.

The men’s 200m individual medley was a tight race. Sam Brown (Coast) was leading at the halfway mark at the end of the backstroke leg. Kevin Zhang (Roskill) put in a gutsy effort attempting to reel him in but had to settle for second as Brown touched the wall in 2:03.47s. Blair Helms (North Shore) placed third.

In the 17-18 years age group Zhang placed first, Jacob Story (Mt Eden) took the visitor second, with Daniel Kregting (Roskill) winning the Kiwi silver and Hunter Lloyd (Raumati) the Kiwi bronze.

The final races of the evening saw the 4 x 100m medley relays. North Shore A won the women’s event in 4:07.82s, while Coast A won the men’s in 3:44.03s.

Other notable performances across the day included Grayson Coulter twice lowering his 13 years New Zealand age record in the 200m individual medley, with a 2:11.86s time in the C final. Jonty Howland (Dannevirke) broke the S6 16&U New Zealand age record in the 800m freestyle. Bruce Shen (Phoenix Aquatics) lowered the 16 years New Zealand record in the 50m backstroke.

All of the results and livestream of each session can be accessed via the links below to ensure you haven't missed any of the action. The winners of the 2024 Swimming NZ Awards and team announcements will be shared on our website shortly.

Programme & Results

Livestream

Championships Trophies

Harold Pettit Trophy

There were many swims across the 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships that stood out and were world-class swims. From World Aquatics or World Para Swimming qualification times, to huge personal bests, and tense selection races, these performances brought the crowd to their feet. Some notable mentions for the athlete with the most outstanding individual performance of the week:

Cameron Leslie securing the world number one ranking in the S4 50m backstroke and freestyle
Ian Chen shattering two Virtus World records in the 400m individual medley and 200m breaststroke
Big personal bests for Louis Clark and Caitlin Deans in the 1500m freestyle
The return of Andrew Jeffcoat in the 50m backstroke
Milana Tapper chasing Erika Fairweather to the wall with a personal best in the 200m freestyle

The winner of her first Harold Pettit Trophy with the most outstanding individual performance of the championships was Hazel Ouwehand (Phoenix Aquatics) for her 50m butterfly final, where she chopped nearly half a second off her New Zealand record and achieved the fourth fastest time in the world this year.

Top Open Club

Coast (1268) took the honours in a close battle with North Shore (1116 points) which changed hands from day to day, with Club 37 (475 points) coming third.

Top Open Club