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The start of something extraordinary

Seven Records Fall at Mayfair Pools NZ Age Group Championships

Seven records fell in a watershed session on the fourth night of finals at the Mayfair Pools New Zealand Age Group Championships in Wellington.

Leading the way was outstanding junior international Matthew Hutchings from the Wharenui club in Christchurch who dipped under the old record of London Olympian Matt Stanley at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre tonight.

The 17 year old clocked 1:51.15 to pipped the old mark set by Stanley three years ago.

Fellow Olympian Glenn Snyders lost his record when North Shore’s Jacob Garrod took out the 16 years 200m breaststroke. Garrod was timed at 2:19.87 which was nearly a full second under the old record.

Another London swimmer to lose a record was Wellington’s Samantha Lucie-Smith when fellow Capital club swimmer Emma Robinson just edged under the old mark to win the 18 years 800m freestyle in 8:50.45.

In the same event outstanding North Shore prospect Tabitha Baumann took more than two seconds off her old record for 17 years when she clocked an outstanding 8:45.28.

Other records fell to Canterbury swimmers from the AquaGym club.  George Schroder won the 17 years 200m breaststroke in 2:18.71 to lower his own record by nearly a second, while Sophia Batchelor clocked 59.50 to edge under her own mark in the 17 years 100m butterfly. Gabrielle Fa'amasuili from the Laser Mt Eden Swimming Club continued her excellent form breaking the girls 13 years 50m backstroke record during the morning session and lowering it again in the finals. Gabrielle's time in the final and new record was 29.34.

The championships conclude tomorrow.

CAPTION: Matthew Hutchins in action on his way to a new record at the Mayfair Pools New Zealand Age Group Championships at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre.

Credit: BW Media

NZ Age Groups