Records and Titles Cap Memorable Championships in Christchurch
Day Five Wrap – 2026 NZ Short Course Swimming Championships
Records, national titles and standout performances brought the 2026 New Zealand Short Course Swimming Championships to a close at Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre in Christchurch on Thursday night.
The final session delivered more New Zealand records and multiple-title winners, as five days of national championship racing wrapped up in the South Island.
Zoe Pedersen (Coast) was among those finishing the championships in style, powering to victory in the women’s 50m freestyle in 24.63. Alyssa Lawson (Hamilton Aquatics) claimed silver in 25.04, with Milan Glintmeyer (Coast) taking bronze in 25.55.
It was Pedersen’s third individual title of the championships, adding to her victories in the 50m and 100m butterfly.
“I’m so happy to do it in front of my family, my coach and my teammates. It’s such a good way to end the meet,” said Pedersen. “It was just go, go, go. That’s what Michael my coach told me and that’s exactly what I did. My breakout wasn’t too great this morning, so that was my biggest goal for tonight’s swim.”
Pedersen’s night wasn’t finished there, helping Coast to victory in both mixed relays.
She combined with Igor Russanov, Jasper Cornish and Savannah-Eve Martin to win the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay in 3:27.18, before joining Milan Glintmeyer, Hara Hughes and Brendan Visser to take out the mixed 4x100m medley relay in 3:45.41.
Cornish also added another individual title to his Christchurch campaign, winning the men’s 50m freestyle in 21.60. Jack Hendy (United) took silver in 21.87, just 0.01s ahead of clubmate Harrison Klouwens in 21.88.
Zyleika Pratt-Smith (Coast) continued her outstanding championships with victory in the women’s 200m individual medley in 2:13.01. Christchurch swimmers Bridie Quayle (Wharenui) and Hanna Abdou (Wharenui) completed the podium, taking silver in 2:16.56 and bronze in 2:17.80 respectively.
The victory gave Pratt-Smith her fourth individual national title of the week after completing a clean sweep of the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke events.
Kevin Zhang (Roskill) also finished the championships with three individual titles, adding the men’s 200m individual medley crown in 1:57.88 to his earlier victories in the 200m breaststroke and 400m freestyle. Fraser Walker (United) was second in 2:01.50, ahead of Daniel Kregting (Roskill) in 2:01.78.
There was plenty to celebrate in the distance events, with Alyssa Tapper (St Peter’s) completing the distance freestyle double by winning the women’s 1500m freestyle in 16:07.91, following her 800m freestyle victory and World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) qualifying performance earlier in the week.
Emilia Finer (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) claimed silver in 16:40.19 and Kezia Buissinne (North Shore) bronze in 16:46.32.
Alfie Weatherston Harvey (Kiwi & Swim Dunedin) broke the eight-minute barrier to win the men’s 800m freestyle in 7:56.97, ahead of Christchurch’s Soeren Wells (Wharenui) in 8:03.13.
William Tye (Nga Tai Tuatea a Taraika) continued his record-breaking week in third, clocking 8:07.90 to set a 15yrs New Zealand age-group record. The performance added to the 15yrs 1500m freestyle age-group record he set earlier in the championships.
The records continued in the multi-class events.
Asher Smith-Franklin (S14, Coast) won the men’s 50m freestyle multi-class in 24.75, setting an S14 New Zealand record and adding to the S14 100m freestyle record he established on Wednesday.
Quinn Pike (S19, Hamilton Aquatics) also secured another national record, winning the women’s 50m freestyle multi-class in an S19 record of 29.23. Australian visitor Amelia Steiner recorded the highest points score overall.
Aimee Van Aardt (SM18, Pukekohe) set an S18 New Zealand record of 3:52.06 on her way to victory in the women’s 200m individual medley multi-class, while Jonty Howland (SM6, Dannevirke) set an S6 16/U New Zealand record of 3:11.01 in taking silver in the men’s event behind Ian Chen (SM19, St Paul’s).
Howland’s performance added to the S6 16/U 100m breaststroke record he set on Wednesday.
There were further records from relay lead-off swims, with Grayson Coulter lowering his 14 years New Zealand age-group 100m freestyle record for the third time during the championships, this time to 50.06, while Cameron Leslie (S4, Whangarei) set a New Zealand record of 1:37.99 in the 100m backstroke.
The final night brought to a close five days of racing at Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre, marking the return of a New Zealand national swimming championship to Christchurch for the first time since 2010.
Across the championships, some of New Zealand’s leading swimmers produced World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) qualifying performances, Open New Zealand records, and age-group national records, alongside a host of closely fought national titles.
The championships also provided a fitting showcase for Parakiore and the return of national championship swimming to the South Island.
The 2026 New Zealand Short Course Swimming Championships are supported by competition partners Christchurch City Council and China Eastern.
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