Golds in the pool for Edwards
Hutt swimmer Chelsey Edwards was one of just five Wellington swimmers to win events at the national short course (25m pool) championships in Auckland last week.
Four other Hutt swimmers also medalled.
Edwards, 15, came away with five golds and four silver medals, and four Wellington records. She was placed second in the country among all ages for 200m freestyle, third in the 50m event, and fifth in the 100m.
‘‘It was my first sub 25 seconds in the 50m freestyle and first 55 seconds in 100m freestyle,’’ Edwards said. ’’I did what I wanted to do – for the 50m freestyle I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I achieved my goals.’’
The championships were trials for the World Short Course championships to be held in Canada in December, with just two swimmers, freestylers Daniel Hunter and Michael Mincham, reaching qualifying standards.
But Edwards, who lives in Upper Hutt and attends Chilton St James, had one of her best competitions, winning all freestyle events 400m and under and the 200m medley, an event she came fifth in last year. She is off to the Queensland champs with Hutt Swimmer Ruby Heath on December 8 for tougher competition, now she is used to handling the pressure of top competitive swimming.
Heath came third in her 200m butterfly last week, with fellow Swimzone Racing club mates Lucy England and Georgia More coming second in their 200m butterfly events. The other Hutt medallist was Leyton Tapa in the 50m freestyle. However Max Drummond, who swims for Porirua City Aquatics but lives in the Hutt, was placed top five in most of his events.