Swimmers win double titles over distance | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

Several doubles were recorded during the weekend's Swimming Bay of Plenty long course 800m and 1500m Freestyle Championships in Rotorua.

Russell Athletic Eagles swimmers Carla van Bommel and Kane Radford were among several swimmers who won their respective age group titles in both the 800m and 1500m events at the Rotorua Aquatic Centre.

Radford clocked 8m58.52s to set a new Bay of Plenty 800m record in the 14 year old boys age-group - the only record set all weekend - before clocking a respectable 17m49.66s in the 1500m, which was under his personal best.

Van Bommel recorded her first trophy win after recording 10m23.18s and 20m0.69s in the 800m and 1500m events respectively.

Russell Athletic Coaching Director John Pike was excited by the pair's effort, which has been achieved by Tauranga swimmers in the past.

Other swimmers to record doubles in their respective age groups were: 11-year-old Shannon Eldridge (Russell), 12-year-old Cameron Todd (Taupo), 13-year-old Ashley Ellis (Greeton), 16-year-old Jarrod Evans (Otumoetai), 11-year-old Laura Greeton (Taupo), 12-year-old Sarah Fraser (Taupo), 13-year-old Tiffany Ward (Otumoetai), 15-year-old Kate Lee (Arawai), 16-year-old Carey Prebble (Arawai) and 17-year-old Jodi Smyth (Arawai).

Another highlight during the weekend was in the women's 15-year-old 1500m where Arawai Swimming Club took the trifector with Lee, Elyse Mansel and Nicole Loper finishing in the top three.

Russell Athletic swimmers Kiri Coromandel and Rene Ngatai achieved national qualifying times for the New Zealand Junior Championships, with Ngatai only beginning training in the Russell programme six weeks ago.

Zoe Sherwood added another two events to her Division Two meet schedule, but now looks to be on track to qualify for the more prestigious New Zealand Age Group Championships.

Pike said the only new swimmer to qualify for New Zealand Age Groups was Cai Edge in the 50m and 200m Backstroke events.

For full results see today's Daily Post