A slightly smaller squad of Wānaka swimmers than usual attended the South Island Short Course (SC) Swim Championships recently but still did the Wānaka Swim Club (WSC) proud by achieving personal best times, winning medals and qualifying for the nationals.

The squad of five included experienced swimmers Catarina David and William Schurink, as well as Fleur Jansen, Luisa Palmer and Maddie Young. 

Backstroke specialist William Schurink “had an excellent meet”, WSC coach Cameron Stanley said, adding that his medals in the individual medley events were something of a surprise.

He won a silver in the 200m backstroke and bronze medals in the 100m backstroke, as well as 100m and 200m individual medley events.

He also gained a qualifying time for the New Zealand Short Course national championships in the 50m backstroke to add to the 100m and 200m backstroke events for which he had already previously qualified.

While William has competed at this level previously, fellow club members Luisa, Fleur, and Maddie were all competing in South Island Champs for the first time, Cameron said.

“Luisa had a great meet, picking up a bronze in the 100m freestyle, [while] also qualifying for the New Zealand Short Course [championship] in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly, and 100m individual medley,” he said. 

By achieving a couple of fourth placings, Maddie “also had an excellent meet”, he said, performing above expectations to qualify for the national short course champs in the 200m backstroke.

Catty David swam personal best (PB) times in the 200m individual medley, 200m breaststroke, and 50m and 100m backstroke. 

Fleur Jansen also achieved a PB in the 50m backstroke -  a good effort, Cameron said, as she was a late qualifier and this was her first South Island champs.

Senior WSC swimmers Ben Silipo, Kate Bennie and Coast Moreland also qualified for these South Island SC champs, held at the Jellie Park pool in Christchurch last weekend (July 22-24), but were unable to attend.

The next meet for the WSC swimmers will be the 2022 New Zealand SC champs, to be held in Auckland on August 23-27, when national titles for swimmers 13 years and older, who have made qualifying times within the calendar year, will be up for grabs. 

Cameron said WSC plans to send its largest team of swimmers to these national champs. 

Qualified to attend are William, Maddie and Luisa, as well as Ben Silipo and Kate Bennie, who both won national titles and medals in their age group at the previous (2020) nationals, and Coast Moreland. Last year’s nationals were cancelled due to Covid-19.

“We have more swimmers qualified this year than I can remember at my time with the club. I can't confirm if they are all attending at this stage but I imagine most will,” he said. 

PHOTO: Swimming Otago