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Batchelor proves standout again in national age group swimming

Canterbury continues to rise on the back of brilliant Christchurch swimmer Sophia Batchelor at the Mayfair Pools national age group championships in Wellington.

The 15 year old Rangi Ruru student won two further titles, both in new national record time at the Kilbirnie Aquatic Centre tonight.

Batchelor (Aqua Gym), coached by Leanne Speechley, won the 15 years 50m backstroke and 100m butterfly to continue her winning run at the championships.

The world short course championship representative was the fastest overall in both finals tonight. She clocked 28.78s in the 50m backstroke to take a second off Emily Thomas’s former record and earned an impressive 831 FINA points in the process.

She broke the 50m backstroke record in the heats and lowered it again in the final where she was only half a second off the national open record.

Batchelor recorded 1:00.97 to take 7/10ths of a second off the previous national record in the 100m butterfly with 777 FINA points.

Napier’s Naomi Smit also set a national record when she took out the 50m backstroke title in 29.72, which edged under Batchelor’s old mark.

They were the only national records tonight but their family fun was to the fore again.

Howick Pakuranga’s Corey Main won the 200m freestyle and 100m backstroke for 16 years where his 58.10s was the fastest overall, while his younger brother Bayley won the 13 years final of the backstroke.

In the same event United’s Max Polianski continues his winning way while Blake Bassett (Laser Mt Eden), younger brother of national representative Kurt Bassett, took out the 18 years final.

The championships conclude tomorrow.

Full results and live streaming: www.swimmingnz.org.nz

For further information contact:

IAN HEPENSTALL