Event Wrap of the 2024 NZ Secondary School Open Water Swimming Championships
The 2024 NZ Secondary School Open Water Swimming Championships were held over the weekend in conjunction with the Legend of the Lake event hosted in the Banana Boat NZ Ocean Swim Series.
It was a beautiful morning with the stars shining brightly as competitors started arriving, with Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) producing stunning conditions once again for the championships to be held.
A total of 131 students took part in the championships across three distances. The long swim (3.5km) had 59 students complete the lap of the lake, 47 students completing the mid-distance event (1km) and 20 students take on the short-distance (500m).
In the long swim, Daniel Kregting (Mt Roskill Grammar - 41.52) put on an impressive display as he claimed the 16-19 year boys title, as well as comfortably taking out the overall series event. Kinnon Broekhuizen (Hamilton Boys' High - 42.19) crossed the line for silver and Michael Smith (St Patrick's College Silverstream - 45.13) the bronze. Jack Rust (New Plymouth Boys' High - 44.08) took home the gold in the 14-15 year boys event with a strong swim, ahead of Ollie Kennett (Horowhenua College - 45.05) and Harry Pool (Tauhara College - 46.34) rounding out the podium. In the 12-13 years boys, Jackson Rowlands (New Plymouth Boys' High - 47.15) took home the gold, with James Heap (St Paul's Collegiate Hamilton - 50.16) winning the silver and Finn Bevington-Crean (Papamoa College - 52.55) the bronze.
In the girls long swim, Sophie Hay (Waikato Diocesan School for Girls - 42.35) was the first female overall in the series to finish the long swim and the third swimmer out of the water overall in a super impressive swim to take out the 16-19 years age group. Olivia Bates (Epsom Girls Grammar - 45.38) was the second female overall to claim the silver ahead of Emma Bendall (Tararua College - 48.40) for bronze. Eliana Brown (Awatapu College - 47.31) took home the 14-15 years title as the third placed female in the series overall, with Marina Nadilo (Queen Margaret College - 47.55) and Hayley McIntyre (Waikato Diocesan School for Girls - 50.17) the silver and bronze respectively. Maeve McDonnell (Pakuranga College - 51.16) won the 12-13 years girls ahead of Gemma Hay (Waikato Diocesan School for Girls - 51.24) and Sunny Brugh (Cambridge High - 55.26).
16-19 Year Winners (3.5km)
14-15 Years Winners (3.5km)
12-13 Years Winners (3.5km)
The mid-distance swim (1km) saw the local Leo English (Rotorua Boys' High - 12.02) the fastest swimmer overall as he won the 14-15 year boys title, with Harry Pool (Tauhara College - 12.25) and Caign Boonen (Hamilton Boys' High - 13.08) close behind for the medals. Jack Kennett (Horowhenua College - 12.28) was the third fastest overall to claim the 12-13 year boys title, with Simosi Tukia (Hamilton Boys' High - 13.07) and Dominic Rowland (Trident High - 14.12) rounding out the podium. Cooper Everett (Mt Maunganui College - 12.46) took home the 16-19 year boys title, ahead of Alex Wilton (Opotiki College - 13.19) and Benjamin Gordon-Glassford (Saint Kentigern College - 14.01).
The girls mid-distance swim saw Olivia Bates (Epsom Girls Grammar - 12.36) the first out of the water to win the 16-19 years title, with Holli Macdonald (Gisborne Girls' High - 13.09) and Arianna Roberts (Tauranga Girls' College - 13.12) rounding out the podium. Paige Franklin performaned strongly to take the 14-15 years title just ahead of Sophia Maltai-Spence (Mt Maunganui College - 13.23) and Carina Roberts (Tauranga Girls' College - 15.52). Millie Skidmore (Woodford House - 13.42) took out the 12-13 years title, with Evie Metcalfe (Mt Maunganui College - 14.33) just pipping Maeve McDonnell (Pakuranga College - 14.35) for the silver.
16-19 Year Winners (1km)
14-15 Years Winners (1km)
12-13 Years Winners (1km)
Cooper Everett (Mt Maunganui College - 6.13) was the fastest student across the short distance (500m), with a commanding swim to claim the 16-19 year boys title. Jyde Low (St John's College Hastings - 6.36) took out the 14-15 year boys title, with Harry Pool (Tauhara College - 6.36) and Mitchell Everett (Mt Maunganui College - 8.12) rounding out the podium. Simosi Tukia (Hamilton Boys' High - 6.34) claimed the 12-13 year boys title, ahead of Zach Toomey (Tauranga Boys' High - 8.08) and Lucas Mellor (Papamoa College - 8.46).
In the girls 500m event, Olivia Bates (Epsom Girls Grammar - 6.20) completed her morning swims with her third medal of the championships by winning the 16-19 years title, with Arianna Roberts (Tauranga Girls' College - 6.37) and Holly Smith (Christchurch Girls' High - 6.50) just behind. Sophia Maltai-Spence (Mt Maunganui College - 6.45) won the gold in the 14-15 years age group, with Paige Franklin (Central Hawke's Bay College - 6.49) ahead of Hayley McIntyre (Waikato Diocesan School for Girls - 7.07). For the 12-13 year title, Millie Skidmore (Woodford House - 6.57) won the gold with Maeve McDonnell (Pakuranga College - 7.20) and Breanna Franklin (Central Hawke's Bay College - 8.39) the silver and bronze respectively.
16-19 Years Winner (500m)
14-15 Years Winners (500m)
12-13 Years Winners (500m)
Mt Maunganui College took out the Top School Points with 169 points, with Waikato Diocesan School for Girls (93 points) in second and Hamilton Boys' High School (85 points) in third.
Thanks to the Banana Boat NZ Ocean Swim Series team for delivering this event and to all the swimmers who got active in the water over the weekend.
