Swimmers’ FAST end to a stellar season
The Fulton Amateur Swimming Team (FAST) have wrapped up their 2017/18 competition season on a high note and are celebrating a stellar year in the pool.
At the NZ Junior Festival in February at Westwave Pool in Henderson for 12 and under swimmers, 14 FAST swimmers attended with a 82 per cent personal best (PB) rate.
Leon Duke, Calee Dally, Drew Burrett, Lily Madill, Abigail Stewart and Harry Williams all claimed 100 per cent PBs with Leon being the stand-out performer was Leon Duke who placed 5th in the 200 back, 6th in the 200 breast and 7th in the 50 back and 100 breast.
Other top 10 place-getters were: Jessica Cochran, 7th 100 fly; Calee Dally, 8th 50 back; Remy Burns, 10th 200 back and 100 free; and Talia Chaney, 10th 200 back
Overall FAST placed 16th out of all clubs attending in the Auckland region. In the NZ Division II competition in March at the Rotorua Aquatic Centre, seven FAST swimmers attended claiming a 70 per cent PB rate. Spencer Menzies had 100 per cent PBs at the meet
Standout performer was Keegan Neate getting a silver medal in the 200 fly as well as placing 5th in 400IM; 6th 400 free; 7th 200 free. Keegan also qualified for the NZ Age Group Championships.
Mikaela Hawley picked up a 5th place in the 100 fly as well as qualifying for NZ Age Group Championships. Other top 10 placegetters were Leon Duke, 5th in 200 back and 7th in 400IM, and Spencer Menzies, 8th in 1500 freestyle.
Overall FAST placed 47th club in New Zealand.
Four FAST swimmers qualified for the NZ National Age Group Championships in April at AUT Millenium Pools at Mairangi Bay.
Keegan Neate, 15, and Mikaela Hawley, 13, attended for the first time, and qualified in the 200 fly and 100 fly respectively
Nathan Hickmott, 15,qualified for three finals, placing 5th in 50 free, 6th in 100 free and 10th in 50 back.
Standout performer was Elizabeth (Libby) Murphy, 13, who entered 9 events and qualified for 9 finals. She won gold in 100 fly; silver in 200 IM, bronze on 100 free, 200 free and 400IM and claimed top 10 placing in all other events
Libby gained the highest points of any Counties Swimmer (female and male), was the sixth ranked female swimmer out of 382 at the meet and was the 9th placed swimmer in NZ, male or female of all age groups
She also qualified for seven events at the NZ Open Championships in July and will represent New Zealand at the Australian State Teams Competition in Canberra in October
Overall, FAST placed 35th out of the 88 clubs attending.