Deans named in Oceania champs team

Caitlin Deans.
Caitlin Deans.
New opportunities await Caitlin Deans later this year.

The 18-year-old Neptune swimmer has been named in the 22-strong New Zealand team for the Oceania championships in Papua New Guinea on June 24-29.

Also in the squad is Stefannie Gillespie, who is now based in Hamilton but still represents Dunedin's Zenith club.

It will not be the first time Deans has represented New Zealand, although it will be her first time at the Oceania event.

She had not been told what races she would be swimming in, but was looking forward to the experience.

"I don't really have too many expectations, because I haven't really seen much.

"I looked at the results from last year, but it's more about the new experiences and opportunity to go that I'm worried about.

"So since it's my first time I'm not too worried about any results.

"Obviously I'll have some goals going into it, but it's more about the new experience."

The selection comes at a time when Deans is unsure what her future holds.

Having finished at Columba College, she is taking a gap year this year, working at a catering supplies company while continuing her training.

Her options for next year are to stay in Dunedin and attend the University of Otago, go to Auckland to train at the New Zealand high performance centre, or go to the United States on a college scholarship.

While swimming was the main factor in deciding that, there were other things to consider as well.

"The hard part is my family being here - you don't really want to go to the other side of the world and leave them," Deans said.

"But swimming will be the main influence [on the decision what to do]."

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