Bell Stars on Record-Breaking Day Three in Hawke's Bay
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Day Three Wrap – 2026 NZ Age Group Swimming Championships
Lucas Bell (Wharenui) delivered the standout performance on day three of the 2026 NZ Age Group Swimming Championships at the Hawke's Bay Regional Aquatics Centre.
Bell punched his ticket to Vancouver, hitting two qualification marks for the 2026 Junior Pan Pacific Championships. The 16-year-old was in fine form, breaking the 16 years NZ age record in the 100m backstroke as he clocked 56.49 in the final. The Wharenui swimmer was dominant from the start, splitting 27.86 at the turn before storming home to lower the national mark in one of the swims of the championships.
Te Paki (Northwave - 57.30) won the 15 years title, Noah Lomas (Swim Rotorua - 1:00.87) won the 14 years title, with Reagan Liang (North Shore - 1:03.22) taking the 13 years crown.
Bell produced another phenomenal swim later in the evening, clocking a blistering 26.35 in the backstroke leg of the men’s 4x50m medley final, to also qualify for the event at the Junior Pan Pacs.
In the night's other racing Grayson Coulter (North Shore) broke another national age record, clocking 4:02.64 in the 400m freestyle. Tyler Lushkott (North Shore - 4:08.09) took the 15 years title, Soeren Wells (Wharenui - 4:08.92) won the 16 years national title, and Nathan Hu (Tawa Swimming Club) claimed the 13 years gold.
Laura Menzies (Wharenui - 1:03.22) continued her outstanding championships, claiming the 16 years national title and the fastest time overall. Alanna Rawson (St Peter's - 1:05.21) claimed the 15 years gold, Jade Lyles (Phoenix Aquatics - 1:04.22) won the 14 years title, and Myla Duncan (Kiwi / Swim Dunedin - 1:05.66) took the 13 years crown.
In the multi class racing, Chloe Gladwin (S19 - Whakatane - 4:53.42) broke the S19 NZ record in the 400m freestyle to win the women's title. Thomas Magill (S19 - Papamoa - 4:47.09) broke the S19 16 and under NZ record to win the men's equivalent. Emily Mullany (S19 - Dannevirke - 37.79) won the women's 50m butterfly multi-class on points, Charlie Alderton (S19 - St Paul's - 32.18) took the men's title, Chloe Gladwin (S19 - Whakatane - 1:17.62) won the women's 100m backstroke multi-class, and Nathaniel Wood (S10 - Porirua City Aquatics - 1:19.87) claimed the men's equivalent.
Madeleine Wilson (SwimZone Racing - 28.07) claimed the 16 years Kiwi gold in the 50m butterfly, finishing behind Tahitian visitor Deotille Viideau (27.68) who was first to the wall. Indie Herbert (Parnell Swimming - 28.36) broke the 13 years NZ age record to claim the national title in her age group, Mackenzie Tobin (Parnell - 28.79) took the 15 years gold. Jade Lyles (Phoenix Aquatics - 28.82) won the New Zealand gold in the 14-year-old age group title, finishing behind Fijian visitor Grace Khelan (28.00).
In the men’s 50m butterfly Liam Curling (Coast - 25.30) claimed the 16 years title and the fastest overall time. Grayson Coulter (North Shore - 25.71) broke the 14 years NZ age record, his fifth record of the championships, to claim the national title in his age group. Charlie Dickison (Nga Tai Tuatea a Taraika - 25.81) won the 15 years gold, and Reagan Liang (North Shore) took the 13 years title.
The women’s 200m breaststroke saw April Lin (Phoenix Aquatics - 2:38.59) break the 13 years NZ age record and claim the national title in the youngest age group. The previous record had stood for 23 years, making the swim even more impressive given Lin only turned 13 a few weeks ago. Hope Wang (Phoenix Aquatics - 2:45.29) took the 14 years gold, and Channelle Huang (North Shore - 2:44.47) won the 15 years title. Alex McIntosh (United - 2:38.24) delivered a strong swim to take the 16 years title, while Jessica Johnstone (St Peters) clocked 2:45.14 to lower her own SB9 NZ record and also place on the podium in the 16 years age group.
Connor Jenkins (Wharenui - 2:24.38) dominated the men's 200m breaststroke to take the 16 years title. Michael Yang (Phoenix Aquatics - 2:25.11) claimed the 14 years gold, Danny Sun (North Shore - 2:25.99) took the 13 years title, and Hugo Beeby (Neptune / Swim Dunedin - 2:28.71) won the 15 years national title.
Paige Conley (Whanganui - 4:28.75) claimed the 16 years Kiwi gold in the women's 400m freestyle after Tahitian visitor Deotille Viideau won the final in 4:28.66 – the two separated by less than a second in the closest finish of the night. Tandia Fisher (Wharenui - 4:31.47) took the 15 years title, Hope Wang (Phoenix Aquatics - 4:31.97) won the 14 years gold, and Jenna Borea (Jasi - 5:10.27) claimed the 13 years national title.
The relays rounded out the evening with Parnell Swimming A (2:04.84) edging Phoenix Aquatics A (2:05.28) in a tight women's 4x50m medley final in the 13-14 years age group. Parnell Swimming A (1:52.63) were back on the podium in the men's equivalent, winning gold ahead of North Shore Swimming Club A (1:53.58).
Across the 16-and-under relays, United Swimming Club A (2:01.22) claimed the women's 4x50m medley and Wharenui Swim Club A (1:44.24) won the men's event.
Congratulations to all swimmers who won medals, made finals and recorded personal bests on day three.
Prior to the start of the evening session on day three, a schedule change was confirmed due to the current weather warnings, with Sunday’s sessions cancelled. The remaining programme will now be condensed into a single day of racing on Saturday, with all events to be contested as timed finals across morning and afternoon sessions.
As a result, racing on Saturday 11 April will include the 200m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 200m butterfly and 4x100m freestyle relay in the morning. The afternoon session will include the 200m individual medley, 50m backstroke, men's 800m freestyle, women's 1500m freestyle, and the mixed 4x50m relays. Morning coverage begins at 8.30am, and afternoon has been moved forward to kick off from 2:30pm via the Māori+ livestream.
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