Otago contingent poised to make splash
From the rising superstars to the local Olympians, Otago's depth will be making a splash at the national championships this week.
Twelve swimmers from across the region will be among the more than 350 athletes, including 17 Aquablacks, vying for titles in Auckland starting today.
Neptune will be spearheaded by Olympians Caitlin Deans and Kane Follows.
Follows enjoyed a national championships to remember last season when he qualified for Paris and broke the national record in the men's 200m backstroke.
He will again line up for the 200m and 100m backstroke.
Deans also had a strong championships in 2024 and will line up for the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle in Auckland.
Aquablack Esme Paterson will race in the 100m freestyle, and the 50m, 100m, and 200m butterfly, and Tom Gold will compete in the 50m and 100m freestyle and the 50m butterfly.
Emilia Finer, who won five gold medals at the international ice swimming world championships earlier this year, rounds out the Neptune squad, racing in the 400m and 1500m freestyle, 400m IM and the 200m butterfly.
Kiwi's six swimmers is the largest contingent heading away.
Rising star Alfie Weatherston-Harvey will race in the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle, the 200m backstroke and the 400m medley relay.
Taka Sugiyama is in for a busy week swimming in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke, the 200m and 400m freestyle and IM, and the 400m medley relay.
Liam Rees is scheduled to compete in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke, the 200m and 400m IM, the 50m freestyle, and the 400m freestyle and medley relay, while Kale Twist will race individually in the 50m and 100m freestyle — he finished fourth in the 100m last year — and in the 400m freestyle and 400m medley relays.
Meg McLaughlan will race in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke, and the mixed 400m freestyle relay, and Abby Samuels is down for the 50m and 100m freestyle, the 50m butterfly, and the mixed 400m freestyle relay.
Alexandra swimmer Caleb Ludlow has has a fine season so far and will fly the flag for Central Otago.
He is scheduled to swim in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke, the 50m freestyle and the 200m IM.
Former Neptune swimmer Erika Fairweather will race in her new colours for North Shore for the first time at a national event.
The Olympian, who made the move to Auckland earlier this year, will race in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle.
Olympian Lewis Clareburt is training and competing overseas and will skip the national event.
The championships are a key for athletes qualifying for the world championships, para world championships and the world junior championships.
The championships runs until Sunday.
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