Alexandra Swimming Club (ASC) swimmers are diving into nationals this month: the New Zealand Championships in Auckland and the National Age Group Championships in Hawkes Bay. 

Alexandra teenagers Liam Rees and Caleb Ludlow (16) will be swimming amongst New Zealand’s elite swimmers in Auckland from today (Saturday April 1).

The teens said they are looking forward to the opportunity.

“We’ve been training a lot and are excited and nervous, but ready to give our all,” Caleb said.  

Both will compete in their specialist strokes (backstroke for Liam and breaststroke for Caleb) in three events each: 50m, 100m, and 200m.

Liam broke an Otago age group record (for 15 year olds) in the 100m backstroke long course (LC) with a time of 1.00.96 in December. The previous record was 1:01.02, by Stephen Borkin set in 1998.

The NZ Champs are held at the Sir Owen G Glenn National Aquatic Centre (April 1- 5) and stars including Dame Sophie Pascoe, Lewis Clareburt, Cameron Leslie and Erika Fairweather will be in the pool.

Heats start each day at 7.50am and finals at 3.20pm. This event will be streamed live and free on the Swimming NZ YouTube channel. 

View the schedule online here.

Two other Dunstan High School pupils and ASC swimmers Sophie (16) and Heidi Winter (14) will join Caleb and Liam in Hastings for the National Age Group Championships (NAGC) on April 12 -16.

All smiles at a final training in Alexandra Pool on March 30

In NAGC Heidi is competing in seven events, Sophie and Caleb in six, and Liam in four. 

The ‘pinnacle event’ for LC competition for swimmers aged 13 -19 (as at April 30) will be held at Hawkes Bay Regional Aquatic Centre (HBRAC).

Find more information on NAGC here.

To send a message of support to our local swimmers and ASC head coach Shane Allan follow ASC on Facebook.  

The Central App will catch up with ASC swimmers when they return to hear how the racing went.