Youngsters Steal the Show on Day Two
- dale493
- 42 minutes ago
- 8 min read
Day Two Wrap - 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships
A host of exciting young swimmers have shown what they’re capable of on day two of the 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships in Auckland.
A total of four swimmers hit qualification times for the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships on day two of competition.
Promising 17-year-old Monique Wieruszowski (North Shore) led the way, setting an age group record as she swam a solid time of 31.24 in the 50m breaststroke at the Sir Owen G Glenn National Aquatic Centre.
Wieruszowski won silver at the 2023 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships and says she’s looking forward to attempting to go one better this year.
“I really want to redeem myself and take the opportunity to win the gold. I’ve been working on my swimming and I know I can go faster so I’m excited for the opportunity.”
Zyleika Pratt-Smith (Coast) placed second and Channelle Huang (North Shore) third. In the 17-18 age group Wieruszowski took the win ahead of Grace Jeromson (North Shore) in second and Mya Ketel (Nelson South) in third.
Earlier in the evening, Olympian Kane Follows narrowly missed out on qualifying for the World Aquatics Championships by a fraction of a second.
Follows made a solid start to the race as he pulled ahead of the field in the 200m backstroke. However, it wasn’t to be for the Neptune & Swim Dunedin swimmer who finished in 1:58.39s, an agonising 0.32s of a second off the World Championships qualification time.
Follows spoke immediately after the race.
“Anytime you try to go to the Olympics or a World Champs the margins are going to be tight. This time last year I was on the right side of it, this time I’m not on the right side of it. It’s just the way sport goes sometimes.”
Rising star Ariel Muchirahondo (Swim Rotorua) swam an impressive 2:01.89s to finish second in the 200m backstroke. The time saw him equal the 16 years New Zealand age record, as he achieved the time required for his sixth event for the upcoming World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships. Sam Brown (Coast) placed third in 2:02.40s.
In the 17-18 years age group, Daniel Williams (SwimZone Racing) took the top spot in 2:05.69s, followed by Brandon Holder (Phoenix) and Hans Haufe (Northwave).
19-year-old Milana Tapper (St Peter's) picked up the first national title of her career in a fast women’s 100m freestyle final. She finished in 54.94s, just ahead of Aquablack Chelsey Edwards (North Shore) who swam 55.13s for second. Zoe Pedersen (Coast) continued her strong meet, with the 18-year-old swimming 55.43s for third, with the time again under the qualification mark for the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships.
Pedersen’s time also saw her take the win in the 17-18 years age group, followed by Amelia Bray (North Shore) in second and Stacey Morgan (Triton) in third.
The men’s 100m freestyle saw an extremely tight finish. Aquablacks Carter Swift (Club 37) and Cameron Gray (Coast) were neck and neck for the entire race, with Swift inching ahead to take the win in 49.07s. Gray followed in 49.18s and Harrison Klouwens (Club 37) picked up third in 49.93s.
Igor Russanov (Coast) also continued his hot form, winning the 17-18 years age group in 50.64s and going under the qualification time for the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships. Kevin Zhang (Roskill) placed second and Noah Ireland-Spicer (Otaki Titans) third.
The multi-class competition saw a tight race in the men’s 200m freestyle as Ian Chen (St Paul's) and Finn Russ (Selwyn) duked it out for the top podium spot. Chen pulled away in the last 50m with an impressive swim seeing him smash the S19 New Zealand record by five seconds in a time of 2:08.13s. Russ (S19) placed second with Joel Watkins (Pukekohe - S19) in third.
Another national record fell in the 100m butterfly multi-class as North Shore’s Asher Smith-Franklin (S14) flew home to touch the wall in 58.87s to drop more than 1.5s from his previous record coming into the championships. Smith-Franklin was followed by Jole Watkins in second and David Beck (Club 37) in third.
In the women’s 200m freestyle multi-class, Denmark’s Camilla Witt took first place in 2:40.70s. Melissa Donoghue (Hamilton Aquatics), Charlotte Rozen (Wharenui) and Amber Proudfoot (Aquagym) followed to take gold, silver and bronze across the New Zealand racing.
Chloe Gladwin (Whakatane) swam a strong time of 1:18.61s to take the win and set a S19 New Zealand record in the 100m butterfly multi-class. Youngster Rylee Sayer (Matamata - S7) placed second with Aquablack Lili-Fox Mason (Wharenui - S10) in third.
Back in the open swimming, Gina McCarthy (Hamilton Aquatics & RPC Waikato) was a cut above in the women’s 200m backstroke, finishing in 2:13.59s to win the national title. Isabelle Gibson (Club 37) placed second, while Tess Whineray (North Shore) placed third.
It was Hanna Abdou (Wharenui) who took the win in the 17-18 years age group, ahead of Danielle Asiata (Howick Pakuranga) in second and Kate McLaren (Trojans) in third.
In the men’s 50m breaststroke, Hara Hughes (Coast) was a cut above, winning in 28.28s. Caleb Carlisle (Napier Aquahawks) placed second in 29.26s, Jacob Story (Mt Eden) the visitor bronze and Benson Li (North Shore) third in 29.54s.
In the 17-18 years age group Li took first place, Joseph Reiher (Porirua City Aquatics) second and Jonathan Swanepoel (Coast) third.
The evening was rounded out with the mixed 4 x 100m freestyle relay. Coast was too good, finishing three seconds ahead of their nearest competition in 3:31.20s.
Other notable performances across the day were Chloe Gladwin breaking the S19 New Zealand record in the 200m backstroke (2:52.06s), Te Paki (Northwave) breaking his 14 years New Zealand age record in the heats (2:07.00) and final (2:06.70) of the 200m backstroke, and Aimee Van Aardt (Pukekohe) breaking the S18 New Zealand record of the 100m butterfly (1:59.16).
Day three will see more must watch races, with Aquablack Erika Fairweather (North Shore) in action in her favoured event, the 400m freestyle, where she’ll be joined by her Olympic teammates Caitlin Deans (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) and Eve Thomas (Coast). Three-time Paralympic gold medallist Cameron Leslie (Whangarei) will get his campaign underway, the 35-year-old racing in the 50m backstroke multi-class. Aquablack Hazel Ouwehand will be back in the pool contesting the sprint distance 50m butterfly.
Day Three Preview - Friday 23 May
The reigning World Champion in her main event is the headline for day three and she will be the first event up. The list of events in order are:
400m freestyle
400m freestyle multi-class
100m backstroke
50m backstroke multi-class
200m breaststroke
50m butterfly
50m butterfly multi-class
4 x 200m freestyle relay
Reigning World Champion and NZ Record holder Erika Fairweather will return for her main event, the 400m freestyle, to kickstart day three. All eyes will be on the action and the clock as Eve Thomas and Caitlin Deans will also be aiming for qualifying times for Singapore. Louis Clark will have some youngsters for company in the men's event, with James Leigh (Coast) who recently achieved the qualifying time for Romania and Brendan Visser (Coast) close upon entry times.
Aquablack Lili-Fox Mason will be back in the pool for the 400m freestyle multi-class and five swimmers will battle for the men's title.
It's incredibly close in the women's 100m backstroke, with four young swimmers hoping to claim the national title following Aquablack Helena Gasson's retirement late last year. Amber George, Savannah-Eve Martin (Coast), Milan Glintmeyer and Isabelle Gibson will be pushing the pace and close to times for Romania and Singapore respectively. Cooper Morley (North Shore) enters as the fastest upon returning from his semester at college, with Zac Dell and Kane Follows not far behind.
Reigning World Champion and Aquablack Cameron Leslie (Whangarei) will make his first appearance of the championships in the 50m backstroke multi-class, with Chloe Gladwin (Whakatane) the fastest seed in the women's.
Zyleika Pratt-Smith (Coast) and Melissa Cowen (North Shore) are close on their entry times in the 200m breaststroke, as are Sam Brown and Blair Helms (North Shore).
NZ Record holder and Aquablack Hazel Ouwehand is comfortably the fastest seed in the 50m butterfly and has already achieved the qualifying time for Singapore in this event. Cameron Gray goes in as the fastest seed entering the championships for the men.
Youngster Rylee Sayer (Matamata) will race the first of the events she has already achieved a qualifying time for Singapore in as she takes on the 50m butterfly multi-class alongside Aquablacks Gaby Smith and Lili-Fox Mason. Asher Smith-Franklin enters as the fastest male seed.
Key Details
Heats will be held from 9am each morning, with finals held in the evening from 6pm. Whilst there is no better place to watch the racing than live from in the grandstands, all sessions of the championships will be available live and free on the Swimming NZ YouTube channel.
Dates: 21 - 25 May
Location: Sir Owen G Glenn National Aquatic Centre
Heats Start: 8.55am (livestream), 9am (racing)
Finals Start: 5.50pm (livestream), 6pm (racing)
Alongside the championships, the 2024 Swimming NZ Awards will be presented during the finals sessions from Thursday to Sunday. These awards will recognise outstanding achievements and service to the sport during the 2024 calendar year.
Day Previews
Each day of competition has must watch races. An overview of each day has been provided below.
Day Four - Saturday 24 May
Our legends kick off the night on day four before rounding out the night with the must watch 200m freestyle. The list of events in order are:
Legends Relay - 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay
200m butterfly
50m breaststroke multi-class
100m breaststroke
100m freestyle multi-class
200m freestyle
Mixed 4 x 100m medley relay
NZ Age Record holder Ariel Muchirahondo is the fastest entry in the 200m butterfly as he will try to go under the two minute mark for the first time in his career, having already achieved the qualifying time for Romania. Neve Tassicker (Nga Tai Tuatea a Taraika) and Esme Paterson (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) are the fastest seeds for the women.
NZ Record holder Josh Willmer returns for the 50m breaststroke multi-class as he will have competition across the classifications with ten males entered, whilst there are three women battling out the spots on the podium.
Monique Wieruszowski will be racing the clock in the 100m breaststroke, whilst Hara Hughes (Coast) and Blair Helms enter with nearly identical times for the men.
Youngster Rylee Sayer will be hoping to go faster again in the 100m freestyle multi-class after having already achieved the qualifying time for Singapore, whilst Aquablacks Gaby Smith and Lili-Fox Mason will both be hoping to follow her lead. Four-time Paralympian Cameron Leslie will be the one to watch as 15 males take part in the men's event.
Reigning World Champs silver medallist and NZ Record holder Erika Fairweather will be hoping to add the 200m freestyle event to her Singapore campaign, as will Milana Tapper who recently swam close to the qualifying time. Aquablacks Eve Thomas, Caitlin Deans, Chelsey Edwards and Summer Osborne (North Shore) will all be hoping to swim under two minutes and push their case for a relay team after the women's team made the final in Paris last year.
Louis Clark, Brendan Visser and James Leigh will meet again over the shorter 200m freestyle distance.
Coast and North Shore are neck and neck on entry times for the mixed 4 x 100m medley relay.
Day Five - Sunday 25 May
The final day of racing promises more thrilling battles, with Aquablacks, emerging young talent and relay rivalries set to close out the championships. The list of events in order are:
200m individual medley
200m individual medley multi-class
50m backstroke
50m freestyle multi-class
Women's 1500m freestyle
Men's 800m freestyle
4 x 100m medley relay
Gina McCarthy and Sam Brown head into the 200m individual medley as the fastest seeds, whilst Aquablack Gaby Smith and Asher Smith-Franklin do for the multi-class event.
The group of developing backstroke girls resume their battle across the shortest distance, with Amber George having recently achieved the qualifying time for Singapore. Experienced Aquablacks in Laura Quilter and Hazel Ouwehand will be in the mix with Savannah-Eve Martin, Isabelle Gibson and Milan Glintmeyer.
Aquablack and Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Andrew Jeffcoat (United) returns to the national championships as the one to beat ahead of Zac Dell, Cooper Morley and Aquablack Cameron Gray in the men's 50m backstroke.
Rylee Sayer and former World Record holder Cameron Leslie will be the ones to watch in the deep fields of the 50m freestyle multi-class.
Eve Thomas and Caitlin Deans are set for a close race after both have already achieved the qualifying time for Singapore in the 1500m freestyle.
Louis Clark and Larn Hamblyn-Ough are set to resume their long distance battles in the 800m freestyle.
Coast and North Shore will be battling for the final relay bragging rights to round out the championships on Sunday evening, this time in the 4 x 100m medley relays.
