Swimmer targets Aussie games
Chris Arbuthnott is hoping to cement his place in the New Zealand 2018 Commonwealth Games this week.
The Palmerston North Ice Breaker para-swimmer is contesting the ASA Age Group Championships in Auckland this week, which doubles as a Commonwealth Games trial.
Arbuthnott, 19, has already hit the qualifying time for the S9 100m backstroke at the Commonwealth Games, but he has yet to be confirmed a place in the team
With that in mind, Arbuthnott has put his other swimming strokes on the back-burner and will focus his attentions on backstroke, despite holding the NZ record in the 200m butterfly.
He has only entered two events at the ASA Age Group Championships - his Commonwealth Games the 100m backstroke and the 50m backstroke, an event where he also holds a national record.
He set a 1-minute 7.36-second 100m backstroke time earlier this year and was determined to knock that down further.
‘‘Anything faster [is my goal], then that will cement my place in Com Games,’’ he said.
His current time has him fifth in the Commonwealth.
Arbuthnott is not the only member of the Ice Breakers Swimming Club in action this week.
Fellow club member Oshieana– Breeze Sanisitou is entered in six events at the ASA Age Group Championships.
She will contest the 50m and 100m freestyle, the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke and the 50m butterfly.
Australian-based club member Laticia Transom is taking part in the Queensland swimming championships.
The recently-crowned Ma¯ori junior sportswoman of the year will contest the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle in the open category and the 100 and 200m freestyle in the 16-year-old category.
That trio will no doubt provide plenty of inspiration for the 10 young swimmers the club has heading to the Wellington junior championships this weekend.