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Swimming’s rising stars bag record haul in Australia

New Zealand’s rising swim stars proved the rising quality and depth of the sport in this country with two further records on the final day of the Australian Age Championships in Brisbane.

The medals on the final day went to Pukekohe’s Kiana Swain and Auckland’s Brearna Crawford at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre.

It brought New Zealand’s tally to a record 18 over the six-day meet including five national records, with an additional 31 swims making A Finals.

Swain won a bronze medal in the 15 years 100m butterfly in a personal best 1:02.25, which was her second medal of the championships.

Crawford, from the Mt Albert Grammar club, was outstanding in finishing second in the 14 years 200m breaststroke. She was second fastest in her heat and then clocked 2:33.74 in the final which went under her own New Zealand record mark set at the recent national age championships by more than a second.

New Zealand finished the meet with two victories to Crawford and Christchurch’s Hannah Bates, 11 silver medals and five bronze medals, with the medals coming from nine clubs.

Day 6 results:

Female, 14 years: 200m freestyle, Georgina McCarthy (Hillcrest) 2:10.39, 10;200m breaststroke, Brearna Crawford (Mt Albert Grammar) 2:33.74, 2 (NZ Record).

15 years: 100m butterfly, Kiana Swain (Pukekohe) 1:02.25, 3.

16 years: 200m backstroke, Gina Galloway (United) 2:16.71, 4; Annabel Simpson (Northwave) 2:19.69, 7.

Male, 14 years: 200m freestyle, Michael Pickett (Enterprise, Gisborne) 1:58.98, 8.

15 years: 200m individual medley, Tyron Henry (Howick Pakuranga) 2:13.02, 7.

16 years: 200m backstroke: Thomas Watkins (Capital) 2:06.53, 5; Zach Dell (Pukekohe) 2:06.91, 6.

Image: Kiana Swain (Pukekoke).
Credit BW Media