Two-Day Programme Delivers Action-Packed Saturday in Hawke's Bay

17 hours ago
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Day Four Wrap – 2026 NZ Age Group Swimming Championships

An action-packed day of racing at the Hawke's Bay Regional Aquatics Centre saw two full sessions of competition crammed into Saturday, after Sunday's sessions were cancelled due to the incoming weather event. The result was a marathon day of competition with timed finals held across a morning and afternoon session. The athletes rose to the occasion, with Liam Curling (Coast), Lucas Bell (Wharenui) and Chloe Gladwin (Whakatane Swimming Club) among the standouts.

Morning Timed Finals

Grayson Coulter (North Shore) continued his remarkable championships with another national age record in the 200m freestyle, touching the wall in 1:52.96 to win the 14 years national title and the fastest time overall, his sixth age record of the championships. The time was just outside the Junior Pan Pacific Championships qualifying mark. Liam Curling (Coast - 1:54.47) won the 16 years title, Charlie Dickison (Nga Tai Tuatea a Taraika - 1:55.90) claimed the 15 years gold, and Fletcher Cummings (Liz van Welie Aquatics - 2:06.08) took the 13 years title behind visitor Malachy Adams.

It was the start of a fantastic day for Curling who hit the Junior Pan Pacific Championships qualification time again in the 100m freestyle, flying home to clock 50.69 in his lead-off leg of the 4x100m freestyle relay.

Tandia Fisher (Wharenui - 2:07.74) claimed the 15 years national title and the fastest time overall in the women's 200m freestyle. Alex McIntosh (United - 2:08.12) won the 16 years gold, Jade Lyles (Phoenix Aquatics - 2:11.63) won the 14 years title, and Indie Herbert (Parnell - 2:12.19) claimed the 13 years gold behind visitor Anae Delande.

In the multi-class finals, Chloe Gladwin (S19 - Whakatane - 2:20.98) broke the S19 NZ record in the women's 200m freestyle, with Thomas Magill (S19 - Papamoa - 2:14.94) winning the men's equivalent.

In the women's 100m breaststroke, Alex McIntosh (United - 1:14.19) doubled up to win the 16 years title and the fastest time overall. April Lin (Phoenix Aquatics - 1:14.63) took the 13 years gold, Channelle Huang (North Shore - 1:16.08) claimed the 15 years national title, and Hope Wang (Phoenix Aquatics - 1:17.51) won the 14 years title.

In the men's equivalent, Danny Sun (North Shore - 1:06.11) was impressive to claim the 16 years national title and the fastest overall time, Michael Yang (Phoenix Aquatics - 1:07.26) won the 14 years gold, Asher Thomas (Porirua City Aquatics - 1:08.68) took the 15 years title, and Tim Wei (Phoenix Aquatics - 1:13.50) claimed the 13 years national title.

Jessica Johnstone (SB9 - St Peter's - 1:19.97) was in a league of her own in the women's 100m breaststroke multi-class, going under the Pan Pacific Para Swimming Championships qualifying mark once again, while Summer Vincent (Dannevirke - 1:43.62) broke the SB14 NZ record. Charlie Alderton (SB19 - St Paul's - 1:29.48) won the men's 100m breaststroke multi-class.

Te Paki (Northwave - 2:07.95) was the standout in the men's 200m butterfly, winning the 15 years national title and the fastest time overall. Declan Broadfoot (Nga Tai Tuatea a Taraika - 2:08.85) claimed the 16 years gold, Kento Wangford (Parnell - 2:11.39) took the 14 years national title, and Nathan Hu (Tawa) won the 13 years title. On the women's side, Tahitian visitor Deotille Viideau won the event overall, as Paige Conley (Whanganui - 2:24.40) won the New Zealand 16 years gold. Alanna Rawson (St Peter's - 2:22.70) claimed the 15 years national title, Amelia-Rose Searle (North Shore - 2:28.10) took the 14 years title, and Indie Herbert (Parnell - 2:30.81) claimed the 13 years national title.

The relays rounded out the morning session. Phoenix Aquatics A (4:10.05) won the women's 4x100m freestyle in the 13-14 years age group ahead of Wharenui Swim Club A (4:12.29) and Parnell Swimming A (4:14.61). Parnell Swimming A (3:49.02) won the men's 13-14 years equivalent, less than a second ahead of Tahiti A (3:49.87), with Coast Swimming Club A (3:51.27) in third. Across the 16 and under relays, United Swimming Club A (3:58.57) claimed the women's gold and Coast Swimming Club A (3:31.25) won the men's event.

Afternoon Timed Finals

Lucas Bell (Wharenui - 26.21) continued his outstanding championships to win the men's 50m backstroke 16 years title and the fastest overall time, going under the qualifying mark for Junior Pan Pacs for the third time in this event. Te Paki (Northwave - 26.75) won the 15 years gold, Noah Lomas (Swim Rotorua - 28.45) took the 14 years title, and William Gascoigne (Parnell - 30.20) claimed the 13 years national title.

Mackenzie Tobin (Parnell - 29.75) produced a fast swim to win the 15 years national title and post the fastest overall time in the women's 50m backstroke – with the mark less than half a second outside of the Junior Pan Pacific Championships standard. Jade Lyles (Phoenix Aquatics - 30.04) won the 14 years gold, Laura Menzies (Wharenui - 30.29) took the 16 years national title, and Myla Duncan (Kiwi - 30.51) won the 13 years title in dominant fashion.

Gladwin continued her fine form, adding a further NZ record in the women's 50m backstroke multi-class, clocking 36.72. Charlie Alderton (S19 - St Paul's - 37.17) won the men's 50m backstroke multi-class.

Declan Broadfoot (Nga Tai Tuatea a Taraika - 2:08.63) delivered a strong performance to win the men's 200m individual medley, 16 years title and fastest time overall. Te Paki (Northwave - 2:11.01) won the 15 years gold, Kento Wangford (Parnell - 2:14.16) won the 14 years title, and Nathan Hu (Tawa) claimed the 13 years national title.

In the women's 200m individual medley, Tahitian visitor Deotille Viideau was first to the wall in the 16 years final, followed by Laura Menzies (Wharenui - 2:25.69) who claimed the 16 years national title for the Kiwis. Hope Wang (Phoenix Aquatics - 2:26.17) won the 14 years gold, Olivia Vivian (Wharenui - 2:27.86) took the 15 years title, and Jenna Borea (Jasi - 2:29.34) claimed the 13 years national title.

Chloe Gladwin (S19 - Whakatane) made it two from two, breaking the SM19 NZ record in the women's 200m individual medley multi-class with 2:40.75. Thomas Magill (SM19 - Papamoa - 2:41.26) won the men's 200m individual medley multi-class.

In the men's 800m freestyle, Tahitian visitor Enoa Vial was the fastest finisher, claiming visitor gold in the 16-year-old age group. Tyler Lushkott (North Shore - 8:36.89) continued his fantastic form to claim the 15 years national title, while Soeren Wells (Wharenui - 8:37.25) won the 16 years gold for the Kiwis. Dominic Barton (North Shore - 8:53.44) won the 14 years national title, while Nathan Hu (Tawa - 9:11.09) took the 13 years title behind visitor Malachy Adams.

Paige Conley (Whanganui - 17:19.96) delivered a stunning swim in the gruelling women's 1500m freestyle, claiming the 16 years national title and the fastest time overall. Hope Wang (Phoenix Aquatics - 17:49.91) won the 14 years gold, Sadie Percy (Pirates - 17:57.26) claimed the 15 years title, and Jenna Borea (Jasi - 18:10.61) won the 13 years national title.

The mixed relays rounded out the evening. In the 4x50m freestyle, Parnell Swimming A (1:45.46) won the 13-14 years title, while United Swimming Club A (1:43.79) claimed the 13-16 years gold. In the 4x50m medley mixed, Phoenix Aquatics A (1:56.94) won the 13-14 years event and Wharenui Swim Club A (1:52.42) claimed the 13-16 years title.

Congratulations to all swimmers who won medals, made finals, and recorded personal bests across a busy day of racing.

Awards

The Hansell's Trophy was awarded to Jonty Howland (Dannevirke) for breaking the NZ Age Record by the biggest percentage margin during the championships, recognising his performance in men's 50m breaststroke multi-class. Howland broke the 16/U SB6 50m breaststroke mark by 2.75% in the heats with his time of 48.76.

Te Paki (Northwave) was awarded the Life Members Trophy for the most outstanding performance of the championships, recognising his outstanding performance in the men's 200m backstroke where he not only broke the 15 years NZ age record but also went under the Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships qualifying mark by over a second with his time of 2:02.91.

Parnell took out the Top Age Club award with 1708 points, while Dannevirke won the Top Multi-Class Age Club award with 361 points.