Milana Tapper Hits World Short Course Qualifying Standard
Day Three Wrap – 2026 NZ Short Course Swimming Championships
Milana Tapper has joined younger sister Alyssa in achieving a World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) qualifying mark, highlighting another record-filled night at the 2026 NZ Short Course Swimming Championships in Christchurch.
Tapper (St Peter’s & Griffith Uni) produced a commanding swim in the women’s 400m freestyle at Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre, touching the wall in 4:04.13 to go comfortably under the qualifying standard for Beijing.
It comes just two days after younger sister Alyssa achieved a qualifying mark in the women’s 800m freestyle on the opening night of competition.
The sisters went head-to-head in tonight’s 400m final, with Alyssa pushing Milana through the closing stages before taking silver in 4:06.48. Emilia Finer (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) claimed bronze.
“This race was definitely harder than this morning. Alyssa was really creeping up on me around that last 100, 200-metre mark, so I thought I’ve got a bit of work to do,” said Tapper. “Alyssa had a blistering time as well. It was a good race. I’m glad to get the World Aquatics qualifying mark ticked off with all the preparation I’ve done. I’m excited to see what I can do over the next 12 months.”
In the evenings other racing Milan Glintmeyer (Coast) continued her outstanding championships in the women’s 200m backstroke, taking gold in 2:05.69 and setting an 18 years New Zealand age-group record. Laura Menzies (Wharenui) took silver and Hanna Abdou (Wharenui) bronze.
In the men’s 200m backstroke, Cooper Morley (North Shore) claimed the national title in 1:55.94, while just 0.05s separated Mitch Ellis (Liz van Welie Aquatics) and Alfie Weatherston Harvey (Kiwi & Swim Dunedin) for silver and bronze respectively.
The butterfly events produced more repeat champions. Zoe Pedersen (Coast) backed up her 50m butterfly title from Monday night with gold in the women’s 100m butterfly in 59.25. Australian visitor Annika Kobus recorded 59.52, with Brooke Swan (Nelson South) taking New Zealand silver and Ania Maritz (United) bronze.
Christchurch’s Christopher Elson (QEII) also completed a butterfly double, adding the men’s 100m title to his 50m victory from the previous night. Elson stopped the clock at 51.53, ahead of Brendan Visser (Coast) and Hugo Wrathall (Jasi).
Asher Smith-Franklin (S14 – Coast) did the same in the men’s multi-class events, following his 50m butterfly victory with gold in the 100m butterfly in 59.53. David Beck (S14 – United) claimed silver and Preston Maxwell (S14 – Nga Tai Tuatea a Taraika) bronze.
In the women’s multi-class 100m butterfly, Aimee Van Aardt (S18 – Pukekohe) took gold, ahead of Lili-Fox Mason (S10, Wharenui) and Londyn Dillinger (S9, Murihiku), with Dillinger also setting an S9 national record.
There was another record in the women’s multi-class 50m breaststroke, where Summer Vincent (SB14 – Dannevirke) lowered the SB14 New Zealand record with a 43.05 swim on her way to bronze. Isabella Thurlow (SB9 – Wharenui) took gold in 39.23, with Greer Holland (SB19 – Zenith) claiming silver.
The open women’s 50m breaststroke went to Zyleika Pratt-Smith (Coast) in 30.88, adding to the 200m breaststroke title she won on the opening night. Brearna Crawford (Waitakere) took silver and Alex McIntosh (United) claimed bronze for the Kiwis, while Australian visitor Jessica Daley finished third overall.
One of the closest races of the night came in the men’s 50m breaststroke, where just 0.08s covered the podium. Roman Anderson (Tawa) got his hand on the wall first in 27.30, just 0.02s ahead of James Slessor (Waitakere), with Jasper Cornish (Coast) third in 27.38.
Ian Chen (St Paul’s) enjoyed a successful night in the multi-class events, winning the men’s 50m breaststroke in 32.21 before setting an S19 New Zealand record in the 200m freestyle with a 2:03.85 swim.
James Haydon (S14 – United) was the New Zealand silver medallist in the 200m freestyle behind Chen, while Australian visitor Zachary McCamley finished second overall and Jack Bugler (Blenheim) rounded out the podium. Haydon had earlier taken silver in the 50m breaststroke, with Luka Willems (SB18 – Wharenui) claiming bronze.
Local swimmer Lili-Fox Mason (S10 – Wharenui) continued her strong championships with victory in the women’s multi-class 200m freestyle. Mason recorded 2:21.75 to take gold, adding to her 400m freestyle title from Monday night. Quinn Pike (S19 – Hamilton Aquatics) took silver and Aimee van Aardt (Pukekohe) bronze.
Kevin Zhang (Roskill) produced an aggressive swim to take out the men’s 400m freestyle in 3:49.39. Zhang built a sizeable lead through the opening half of the race and held on over the closing stages to secure the national title. Australian visitor Noah Magoffin finished second overall, with Visser taking New Zealand silver. Soeren Wells (Wharenui) rounded out the podium with bronze for the Kiwis.
Coast capped another successful night in the pool with a dominant victory in the women’s 4x50m freestyle relay. Pedersen, Amber George, Glintmeyer and Savannah-Eve Martin combined to win in 1:40.30. Australian visitors Somerville House Aquatics finished second overall, with Heretaunga Sundevils taking New Zealand silver and United claiming bronze.
The 2026 New Zealand Short Course Swimming Championships continue tomorrow with the 200m butterfly, 100m breaststroke and 200m freestyle to be amongst the events contested.
The championships mark the return of national championship swimming to Christchurch, with five days of racing taking place at the new Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre.
The 2026 New Zealand Short Course Swimming Championships are supported by competition partners Christchurch City Council and China Eastern.
Key Details
Heats will be held from 8:30am each morning, with finals held in the evening from 5pm. All sessions of the championships will be streamed on the Swimming NZ Vidzing channel.
You can purchase full livestream access to all five days of racing for $24.95, or alternatively pay $5.00 for an individual session pass.
Dates: 27 September – 1 October
Location: Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre, Christchurch
Heats Start: 8.25am (livestream), 8:30am (racing)
Finals Start: 4.50pm (livestream), 5pm (racing)
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