Electric Atmosphere & Showdowns Conclude Short Course Champs
- dale493
- Sep 26
- 4 min read
Day Five Wrap - 2025 NZ Short Course Swimming Championships
It was an electric atmosphere to conclude the 2025 NZ Short Course Swimming Championships in Auckland, with records falling and tight racing across the final night of competition.
The session opened with a bang in the women’s 50m freestyle, where Aquablack sprint specialist Chelsey Edwards (North Shore) powered home in 24.64 to take gold ahead of Hazel Ouwehand (Phoenix Aquatics) and Zoe Pedersen (Coast).
“It was good with the girls, it’s great to have a lot of us right up there swimming well,” said Edwards. "I’m really stoked with how the week’s gone, I got a NZ record in the 100m so I can't complain! And I want to thank everyone for a great meet.”
In the women’s 50m freestyle multi-class, Australian visitor Jade Lucy outpaced the Kiwis to touch the wall first in 29.77. Emily Mullany (Dannevirke) was just behind to win the Kiwi gold, Lili-Fox Mason (Wharenui) took Kiwi silver, Australian Summer Vincent took the visitor bronze, with Brooke Anderson (Vikings) rounding out the Kiwi podium.
The men’s 50m freestyle was decided by the slimmest of margins, Cameron Gray (United) smashing the second 25m to sneak the win in 21.67, just 0.02s ahead of Jack Hendy (Club 37). Jasper Cornish (Coast) took the bronze medal.
A New Zealand record fell in the men’s 50m freestyle multi-class. Daniel Smith (Pukekohe) set a personal best and S19 record as he powered home to clock a time of 25.05. The event capped off a fantastic campaign for 17-year-old Smith, who won eight titles across the week. Jole Watkins (Pukekohe) won silver and David Beck (Club 37) bronze.
The women’s 200m individual medley was won comfortably by visitor Rebecca Meder (North Shore) who placed 10th in the event at the World Championships earlier this year. Meder clocked a fast time of 2:05.80. There was a great battle for the national title with Zyleika Pratt-Smith (Coast) holding on for the title ahead of Gina McCarthy (Hamilton Aquatics & RPC Waikato) who took silver. Bridie Quayle (Wharenui) won the bronze medal.
Chloe Gladwin (Whakatane) executed a smooth and controlled swim to take the win in the women’s 200m individual medley multi-class in a time of 2:37.72, setting a SM19 record. Lili-Fox Mason (Wharenui) followed for second, with Emily Mullany in third. Charlotte Murphy (Aquagym) set a SM6 NZ record with a time of 4:13.30.
It was all Lewis Clareburt (Club 37) in the men’s 200m individual medley. Having been in fine form throughout the week he didn’t disappoint, swimming a great time of 1:54.77 to take the win and finish just outside the NZ record. Kevin Zhang (Roskill) won the silver medal, Australian Oscar Kreutzberger took the visitor bronze and Daniel Kregting (Roskill) the Kiwi bronze.
“It was a pretty decent race. I wasn't out quite fast enough to get that record and I probably didn’t do enough in the breaststroke,” said Clareburt. “I’ve had that 1:54 time a few times in my career and it just shows what a class swimmer Bradlee Ashby was when he set the record.”
Ian Chen (St Paul's) swam a well measured race in the men’s 200m individual medley multi-class to clock a time of 2:22.66 and take the win. Luka Willems (Wharenui) set a SM18 NZ record in 3:40.63 to place second, with Lucas Robins (Otaki Titans) in third.
The gruelling women’s 1500m freestyle event saw old teammates Erika Fairweather (North Shore) and Caitlin Deans (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) go head to head. The pair pulled ahead of the field and went stroke for stroke for virtually the entire race. Deans pushed over the last 25m, forcing a sprint finish but Fairweather held on to win in a time of 15:49.69, just 0.29 ahead of Deans. Emilia Finer (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) took the bronze.
“It was a good race. Around the 1400m mark I knew it was time to go and luckily I’d saved enough energy to put the burners on at the end,” said Fairweather.
The men’s 800m freestyle saw Australian Luke Higgs storm home in 7:55.48, while Larn Hamblyn-Ough (Coast) secured the Kiwi gold. Alfie Weatherston Harvey (Kiwi & Swim Dunedin) and Fraser Walker (United) rounded out the podium.
The relays wrapped up the evening in style. The North Shore team of Grayson Coulter, Louis Clark, Chelsey Edwards and Erika Fairweather claimed the mixed 4 x 100m freestyle relay in a NZ record time of 3:25.98, anchored by a blistering final leg from Fairweather. Coast A placed second and Club 37 A third.
The mixed 4 x 100m medley relay multi-class went to the Aqua Rockets in 5:09.85, while the Australian visitors Swimming New South Wales closed the meet with victory in the mixed 4 x 100m medley relay in 3:44.22. Coast A won the Kiwi gold, ahead of Coast B and North Shore A.
To conclude the championships, the top club trophies were awarded across three categories. The Top Age Club was won by North Shore (2441 points) ahead of Wharenui (1541 points) and United (1075 points). Pukekohe (429 points) won the Top Multi-Class Club ahead of Wharenui (378 points) and Club 37 (319 points). For the Top Open Club trophy, Coast (1200 points) retained their title ahead of North Shore (944 points) and Club 37 (418 points).
There were many other strong performances across the day. We have acknowledged the record-breaking performances from the morning below:
Zoe Pedersen - women's 50m freestyle (24.99) - 18 years NZ age record
Grayson Coulter (North Shore) - men's 50 freestyle (23.61) - 13 years NZ age record
Igor Russanov (Coast) - men's 50 freestyle (22.13) - 18 years NZ age record
Charlotte Murphy - women's 200m individual medley (4:14.32) - SM6 NZ record
Grayson Coulter - men's 200m individual medley (2:05.15) - 13 years NZ age record
Chloe Gladwin - women's 1500m freestyle multi-class (18:40.94) - S19 NZ record
Thomas Magill (Papamoa) men's 800m freestyle multi-class (9:31.17) - S19 NZ open & age record
That concluded a thrilling week of competition at the 2025 NZ Short Course Swimming Championships. Congratulations to all swimmers, coaches and supporters for making the competition a success.
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