Local teenager sets the standard at second schools swimming

Wellington 13-year-old Bronson Lloyd set the tone with a brilliant start to the New Zealand Secondary Schools Swimming Championships in his home city.

The Tawa College student won three gold medals and a silver in his fourth race on the opening day, while Auckland’s Brearna Crawford enjoyed three straight wins for Mt Albert Grammar to top the individual tables in the girls’ competition.

Meanwhile defending champions Westlake Boys High School made a strong start with last year’s star performer, Finn Kennard-Campbell, 16 and Jonathan Selman, 14 claiming six medals including four wins between them.

This enabled Westlake Boys to take the early advantage in the boys contest, leading on 866 points ahead of Wellington College on 790, St Andrews College (Christchurch) on 703 and Palmerston North Boys on 662.

Lloyd was matched with three wins by outstanding Para-Swimmer Chris Arbuthnott from Palmerston North Boys, the only two boys to enjoy three wins.

The other multiple winners in the boys’ competition were Kennard-Campbell and Selman, Jedi Morland-James from Wellington College, Quinton Hurley (St Andrews College), Thomas Raymond (Matamata College) and Xavier Hill (Palmerston North Boys), all with two wins each.

Crawford, 13, won the 100m freestyle, 200m breaststroke and 50m butterfly, to be the only female with three wins, while Chelsey Edwards,15 (Chilton St James School) and Gina Galloway, 15 (Diocesan) and Hannah Bates, 16 (Christchurch Girls) all enjoyed two wins each.

St Cuthbert’s College (Auckland) have a narrow lead in the girls competition on 699 ahead of Diocesan School for Girls on 641 with Napier Girls third and Pukekohe High School fourth.

The championships, which have attracted 552 swimmers from 150 schools, continue on Saturday with sessions at 9am and 4pm with the final session at 9am only on Sunday.

Points after two sessions, Girls: St Cuthberts College 699, Diocesan School 641, Napier Girls 523, Pukekohe High School 428, Waikato Diocesan 426, Columba College 395, Baradene 363, Mt Albert Grammar 297, Wellington East 228, Wellington Girls 226.

Boys: Westlake Boys 866, Wellington College 790, St Andrews College 703, Palmerston North Boys 662, Hamilton Boys 457, Napier Boys 433, Pukekohe 364, Auckland Grammar 290, Stratford 285, Lincoln 284.

CAPTION: Bronson Lloyd in action at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Swimming Championships in Wellington. Credit BW Media.

NZ Sec Schools