Our swimmers are among the best in the country, securing top 10 results at the 2018 New Zealand secondary schools swimming championships.
Held in Wellington, this year’s championships saw 630 swimmers from 158 teams across the country take part.
“This championship had all the potential to be a momentous occasion for our squad of six, each of whom had qualified through their earlier successes at Swim NZ sanctioned meets,” says teacher in charge of swimming, Roger Bell.
“Graeme Smith and his staff at the St Paul’s swimming club had done a fantastic job with the swimmers’ training programmes and Michiel Badenhorst at the St Paul’s gym centre had strengthened their body conditioning and coordination, meaning the squad were well prepared for the six sessions of racing.”
The extent of this preparation was revealed right from the opening session. By the end of the meet, St Paul’s was in the ‘top 10 schools in New Zealand’ by coming eighth for the boys’ relay, eighth for overall boys’ points and fifth for co-ed secondary schools.
“For us, this championship event certainly lived up to its hype. I am extremely proud of all the swimmers involved. Many thanks also to Mrs Jo Haskell who assisted as co-manager and time-keeper,” says Mr Bell.
Ben Littlejohn will soon head to Australia with the New Zealand under-17 squad to compete in the state championship and the other swimmers will soon compete at the New Zealand short course championship.
The individual swimmers’ performances were as follows:
Brendan Hunt (Year 13) qualified to compete in 10 senior boys’ (16-18 years) events: 1 x 4th, 1 x 5th, 1 x 6th and 4 x PB’s (swam below his New Zealand seeding time).
Ben Littlejohn (Year 11) qualified to compete in 13 senior boys’ (16-18 years) events: 2 x gold, 3 x silver, 2 x bronze, 4 x 4th, 1 x 5th, 1 x 6th and 7 x PB’s (swam below his New Zealand seeding time).
Thomas Griffin (Year 12) qualified to compete in 11 senior boys’ (16-18 years) events: 1 x 4th, 1 x 5th, 1 x 6th, 1 x 9th and 2 x PB’s (swam below his New Zealand seeding time).
Jacob Gibbs (Year 12) qualified to compete in six senior boys’ (16-18 years) events: 1 x 4th, 1 x 6th and 1 x PB (swam below his New Zealand seeding time).
Sam Peoples (Year 9) qualified to compete in eight of the 14 years boys’ events: 7 x PB’s (swam below his New Zealand seeding time) and he also competed in one senior boys’ (16-18 years) event: 1 x 5th for the 200m freestyle relay.
Ben Haskell (Year 9) qualified to compete in six of the 14 years boys’ events: 2 x PB’s (swam below his New Zealand seeding time).
