Swimming: Country schools mount attack

Callum Stammers (Tokomairiro) wins the boys under-14 backstroke at the Otago secondary schools...
Callum Stammers (Tokomairiro) wins the boys under-14 backstroke at the Otago secondary schools swimming championships at Moana Pool on Saturday. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Gregor Fea (Wakatipu High) led the country schools' attack at the annual Otago secondary schools swimming championships at Moana Pool on Saturday.

Fea (17) was the dominant swimmer in the senior boys events and left the city swimmers behind him when he won the 50m butterfly in 27.1sec and the 50m backstroke in 30.94sec.

Dunedin swimmer Adam Simpson (Otago Boys) was second in the butterfly in 28.24sec and Kieran Applegarth (Kings) third in 28.60sec.

Fea's school-mate Marc Lemaire-Sicre was second in the backstroke in 31.66sec and Simpson third in 31.90sec.

Rhys Pryde-Wall (Bayfield) pipped Fea in the 50m freestyle in a time of 26.67sec and Cody Latta (John McGlashan) won the 50m breaststroke in 35.07sec.

But the country boys filled the minor placings, with Fea second in 35.57sec and Gary Dennison (Wakatipu) third in 35.7sec.

The Queenstown pool is no longer closed during the winter months and this has made a big difference to local swimmers who can now train 12 months of the year.

Fea, a butterfly specialist, demonstrated this when he won the open 50m butterfly at three major provincial championships this season in Auckland, Canterbury and Otago.

Fea's efforts this season have pleased his coach, Frank Wylie.

"McGregor's matured a lot in the last two years. When he steps up to the blocks he's ready to race," Wylie said.

City schools retained their edge in the senior girls events, with Kate Godfrey (Otago Girls) winning the 50m butterfly in 32.40sec from school-mate Glendene Rout 32.57sec.

Godfrey won the 50m backstroke in 34.10sec and was second to Rout in the 50m freestyle in 29.66sec.

Adrienne Tameilau (Otago Girls) won the 50m breaststroke in 37.24sec from Carina Doyle (Kavanagh), who swam 39.58sec.

Country pupils were also included in the swimmers who broke records at the championships.

Callum Stammers (Tokomairiro) set new marks in the boys' 14 and under 50m backstroke (30.01sec) and 50m breaststroke (34.13sec).

Benjamin Gray (Tokomairiro) marked himself as a swimmer of potential when he broke McGregor Fea's record in the boys' under-14 50m butterfly with a time of 28.93sec.

The other records were: Emily Poon (Columba College), girls' 14 and under 50m butterfly (31.66sec); Frances Newbold (St Hildas), senior girls' 50m butterfly (30.86sec); Rebecca Thom (St Hildas), girls' 14 and under 50m breaststroke (37.64sec); Otago Girls 200m freestyle relay (1min 57.94sec); Otago Girls 200m medley relay (2min 13.49sec).

 

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