SNZ Events
Epic Swim
High Performance
SNZ Events
Epic Swim
High Performance
Team captains Zac Reid and Gina Galloway are relishing in their roles as team captains for the 2018 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Suva, Fiji.
The championships start tomorrow with 201 athletes from 11 nations competing across 4 days of tough international competition, at the Damodar Aquatic Centre.
A number of team captains, including Reid (Aquabladz) and Galloway (United) fronted to local media for a photoshoot and interviews yesterday to share their thoughts on the competition.
“We have a strong team of 18 swimmers who are prepared and ready to race and test ourselves against the swimming powerhouses of USA, Australia, Canada and Japan,” says Reid.
Galloway added, “Fiji has welcomed us with open arms to their beautiful island nation, the pool feels great and it will be exciting to see how racing goes outdoors and under the hot Suva sun.”
Amadika Atkinson (North Shore), Erika Fairweather (Neptune), Chelsey Edwards (SwimZone) and Eve Thomas (Coast) are the first Kiwis in action on day one, in the women’s 200m freestyle event.
Australian based Atkinson who is on her first national team, leads the Kiwi quartet with a qualifying time of 2:02.20s.
“I didn’t have the best prep leading into the NZ Opens, and I didn’t swim as fast as I’d like to, but I’m ready to go hard here for NZ,” says Atkinson.
Fairweather and Thomas will also compete in the women’s 800m freestyle later in the session.
In the men’s 200m freestyle event Reid will line up alongside team mates Tyron Henry (HPK) and Quinton Hurley (Jasi).
Reid who won the event at the 2018 Aon NZ Opens seven weeks ago, is ranked 6th going into the race and is eager to gauge where his racing is at ahead of the 400m freestyle on Friday where he is ranked number one.
Hurley will also line up in the men’s 1500m freestyle alongside Paddy Baylis (Swim Rotorua).
Galloway is ranked 10th in her favoured women’s 100m backstroke event, with four American’s occupying the top spots.
Fellow NZ team mates Greta Agnew (United) is ranked 12th and Kyla Alexander (United) 16th.
Thomas Watkins (Capital) will compete in the men’s 100m backstroke and is ranked 16th going into the event.
Rounding out the Kiwis in the pool on day one are Lochlainn O’Connor (Greerton) and Hannah Bates (Aquagym) competing in the 200m butterfly events.
The finals session on day 1 will also include the mixed 4x100m medley relay.
As per event rules, only two athletes per nation can qualify for a final.
Day 1 Race Programme for NZ Team.
Session 1 Heats:
Women’s 200m Freestyle Amadika Atkinson, Chelsey Edwards, Erika Fairweather, Eve Thomas.
Men’s 200m Freestyle Zac Reid, Tyron Henry, Quinton Hurley.
Women 100m Backstroke Gina Galloway, Kyla Alexander, Greta Agnew.
Men’s 100m Backstroke Thomas Watkins.
Women’s 200m Butterfly Hannah Bates.
Men’s 200m Butterfly Lochlainn O’Connor.
Women’s 800m Freestyle Erika Fairweather, Eve Thomas.
Men’s 1500m Freestyle Quinton Hurley, Paddy Baylis.
Mixed 4x100m medley relayTBC
Important Links for the 2018 Junior Pan Pacific Championships
