Swimmers do well at NZ short course

The competition was fierce at the recent NZ Short Course swimming champs in Auckland, among the field of international and national swimmers for medals, top 10 rankings and a place in the evening open ABC finals.

Swimmers from the Taupo¯ Swimming Club had a very successful week, with outstanding results.

Johnson Bishop won gold in the 17/18 age group 200 breaststroke and silver in the 50 and 100 breaststroke. Johnson qualified for A finals in these events and won open bronze in the 200 breaststroke. He swam personal best times in the 50 and 100 breaststroke which also broke his own BOP records.

Keira Allott raced in the 14 year age group. She won silver in the 400 freestyle and bronze in the 200 freestyle, also making the open finals for both. She is the youngest swimmer in the team. Keira consistently swam personal best times and placed top 10 in her age group.

Toni Saunders raced in the 16 year age group.

She won bronze in both the 50 and 100 backstroke.

Toni consistently qualified for evening finals. As well as backstroke finals she also made finals for the 50 fly, 200 individual medley, 100 individual medley and 100 freestyle.

Toni consistently swam personal best times and ranked in the top 10 in her age group.

Thomas Bishop raced in the 16 year age group. His best result came in the 100 breaststroke where he placed eighth in a good personal best time.

He also swam personal bests in the 100 Individual Medley and the 50 and 100 backstroke.

Nathan Rowland raced the 50,100 and 200 breaststroke in the 15 year age group. He came away with three personal best times and three top 10 placings.

Nathan’s best placing was fifth in the 100 breaststroke.

Cuda Tawhai raced in the 50 freestyle para class.

He swam a solid heat swim to qualify for the evening final where he placed sixth.

Cuda was right on his personal best time.

It is many years since Taupo¯ Swimming Club has returned from a national meet with such outstanding results.

Coach Peter McCallum enjoyed the week with his team, and they were managed by Lisa Rowland and Janet Bishop.

Photo / Supplied Taupo¯ Swimming Club medallists from the recent New Zealand Short Course Championships. From left: Johnson Bishop, Toni Saunders and Keira Allott.