Event Wrap of the 2024 Makos Zonal Secondary School Open Water Swimming Championships
The 2024 Makos Zonal Secondary School Open Water Swimming Championships were held over the weekend in conjunction with the La Grande Swim event hosted in the Banana Boat NZ Ocean Swim Series. The weather was challenging in the middle of the swim, with near perfect for open water swimming at the start and finish line.
A total of 31 students took part in the Secondary School side of racing across two distances. The long swim (5km) had 10 students brave the longest swim in the series and 21 students take on the mid-distance (2km).
The first swimmer across the line was Marcell Kepess (Garin College - 1:14.28) to claim the 14-15 year boys long swim title ahead of Alex Gibson (Burnside High - 1:20.04) and Zac Bowie (Cashmere College - 1:21.47). Lachlan Crawford (Timaru Boys' High - 1:22.00) took home the gold in the 16-19 year boys event.
In the girls events, Sophie Pahl (Garin College - 1:23.29) was the first female and fourth female overall in the series to finish the long swim, taking out the 16-19 years age group ahead of Nevaeh Reddy (Cromwell College - 1:23.49) and Rory Gordon (Christchurch Girls' High - 1:25.57). Charlotte Taylor (Nelson College for Girls - 1:55.59) took home the 14-15 years title.
The mid-distance swim (2km) saw Holly Smith (Christchurch Girls' High - 28.39) be the first swimmer across the line in the whole series, taking out the 16-19 year girls title in the process. Kate Dawson (Burnside High - 29.47) and Mya Blackmore (Marlborough Girls' College - 36.07) rounded out the podium. Keshia Linyard (Nayland College - 29.46) took home the 14-15 years girls title, with Emma Campbell (Timaru Girls' High - 31.16) the silver and Mia Spencer-Morgan (Cashmere High - 31.22) the bronze. For the 12-13 years girls, Nia Linyard (Nayland College - 29.43) won the gold ahead of Felicity Wright (Lincoln High - 32.04) and Addison Campbell (Timaru Girls' High - 38.59).
For the boys, Ray Suzuki (Burnside High - 28:53) took home the gold medal in the 16-19 years boys and second fastest male in the series, ahead of Ryan Beardsmore (Awatapu College - 29.39) as the third fastest male in the series for the silver medal and Tom Freedman (Cashmere High - 42.56) the bronze. Joe Langley (34:19) won the 12-13 years gold medal, with Ethan Anderson (Cashmere High - 37.08) and Cody Ballinger (Middleton Grange School - 37:09) rounding out the podium. Corby Allison (Christchurch Boys' High - 37.49) won the 14-15 years boys title in a close battle with Kees Groot (Roncalli College - 37.50) for silver and Max Eadie-Lilley (Cashmere High - 39.55) for bronze.
Cashmere High School took out the Top School Points having 10 students participate with some great swims.
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.
