Recent Secondary Schools Swimming Competitions saw some excellent times, personal bests and record breaking swims. Congratulations to:

Aidan Blair, Noah Brummitt, William McFarlane, Ted Menzies, Isaac Robertson and Alfie Weatherston-Harvey.

Alfie continues to be a fish in water with the best record times in the Boy's 14-and-under 200 IM, Boy's 14-and-under 200 Backstroke and Boy's 14-and-under 100 Backstroke. Fantastic results, Alfie.

In addition to the Otago Secondary School Championships the week between Easter weekend and ANZAC weekend, Alfie travelled to Wellington for the Apollo Projects National Age Group Swimming Championships. This was his first experience of swimming at this level and he found it a significant step up in terms of quality and intensity.

Having qualified for five events (50,100 and 200 Backstroke, 400 IM and 50 Butterfly) he made the final of the 200 Backstroke and 400 IM and finished 6th and 7th respectively. He set new personal bests (PB’s) in those races and the 50 Fly as well as equalling his PB in the 100 Backstroke.

Over the last five days Alfie, William and Isaac have been competing at the Apollo Projects NZ Division Two Championships at Moana Pool. Alfie could not do the events that he had done in Wellington.

William, Year 9 was at his first National Level meet. On day one he took 6 sec off his PB in the 200 Freestyle in the heats. In the final, he equalled that time and finished first by two body lengths but was unfortunately disqualified for a false start. He suffered disappointment in the 200 IM and 100 Fly being disqualified for the same technical infringement. However, he showed real resilience to come back and finish third in the 50 Freestyle with a 1 sec PB. 

Isaac, Year 13 competed in the 50 Freestyle and finished with a time of 27.61 sec. He, William and Alfie represented Otago in the 4x50 Medley and 4x100 Medley Relays. Isaac competed in the 4x50 Freestyle Relay and Alfie and William in the 4x100 Freestyle Relay. 

All three swam very well and set some very fast times. Alfie competed in six individual events and set new PB’s in all races (heat and final) including a 41 sec reduction in his 1500 Freestyle time. He got first in the 1500 Freestyle and 100 Butterfly, second in the 200 and 800 Freestyle, and third in the 400 Freestyle and 200 IM. 

As well as this Mary McFarlane who does remedial reading and writing work at King's High School was honoured with Life Membership of Swimming NZ for over 50 years volunteering as a Technical Official.