Otago swimmers are catching their breath after collecting a massive 32 medals and setting 11 Otago records over five days at the national age-group championships recently.
After Dunedin Olympian and world champion Erika Fairweather, who is now training in Auckland, paved the way for so long, Otago’s next generation of swimmers are putting their hands up and making a name for themselves.
Swimming Otago development and events co-ordinator Kerren Keach said the Otago crew had a "fabulous" campaign in Hawke’s Bay.
"They had an awesome campaign — it was really good," Keach said.
"They do put in the hours training which is rewarded at the end of the race.
"Even the kids that didn’t get a medal, or a record, still performed outstanding with new personal-best times. It was really good to see."
Over the final two days, Wanaka’s Hana Carnie was in flying form yet again and added another record to her tally.
She equalled her female 13 years 50m backstroke record of 31.28sec in the heats and lowered it in the final in 31.13sec to win gold.
She added a silver in the 200m individual medley in 2min 31.86sec.
Neptune swimmer Lily McGrath also stormed home to set the Otago female 15 years 100m breaststroke record, when she won gold in 1min 15.09sec.
William McFarlane (Kiwi) was crowned the male 16 years 800m freestyle champion in a personal-best 8min 58.42sec.
Fellow Kiwi swimmer Neo Salmonsson added another two medals to his haul.
Salmonsson won silver in the male 16 years 200m butterfly with a personal-best 2min 08.58sec and bronze in the 200m individual medley with another personal best of 2min 12.52sec.
Neptune swimmers Annalise Miller won silver in th 13 years 200m freestyle in a personal-best 2min 12.86sec and club-mate Charlotte Aburn won the 16 years division in a personal-best 2min 08.84sec.
Taieri swimmer Bella McEntyre won bronze in the 15 years 200m freestyle in a personal-best 2min 11.70sec.
Across in Australia, Fairweather finished second in the women’s 800m freestyle at the Australian open championships.
Fairweather swam 8min 23.19sec behind Olympian Lani Pallister in 8min 18.71sec. Neptune’s Caitlin Deans was fifth in 8min 35.47sec.
Kane Follows finished third in the men’s 200m backstroke in 1min 58.96sec and Auckland Olympian Lewis Clareburt was sixth in 2min 1.03sec.
