Kent and Lee shine at New Zealand Pool Championships

It has been another massive day at West Wave Aquatic Centre for the 2014 New Zealand Pool Championship with competitors breaking even more pool championship records.

Yesterday, the annual event was opened in style with a total of 22 New Zealand Pool Championship records broken. And today didn't disappoint.

Black Fin and Titahi Bay SLSC member Steven Kent followed up yesterday's winning performance (where he broke two records) to set another two. He won the 200m Open Men's Swim with Obstacles in a time of 1.55.16 as well as the 100m Open Men's Rescue Medley in a time of 1.01.06.

Fellow Black Fin Samantha Lee (Lyall Bay) also broke two records; one in the Open Women's 200m Swim with Obstacles in a time of 2.06.95 and another in the Open Women's 100m Rescue Medley in a time of 1.10.67.

Black Fins team captain Andrew McMillan edged out Steven Kent in the 50m Men's Manikin Carry Without Fins to set a new New Zealand record with a time of 29.34.

But the records didn't end there. New Zealand Youth Team member Jacob Hales (Papamoa) set a new record in the Under 19 Men's Rescue Medley with a time of 1.10.40.

His fellow Youth Team members Ben Johnston (Papamoa) and Brittany Tucker (Sumner) produced new New Zealand records in the 50m Manikin Carry, each shaving three seconds off the previous records.

Waikanae's Michael Pickett, who yesterday set a record in the Under 13 Men's 50m Swim with Fins, today set another two records; one in the Under 13 Men's 100m Obstacles in a time of 1.07.37 and another in the Under 13 Men's 50m Rescue Medley in a time of 1.07.37.

In the New Zealand Women's Line Throw, team mates Danielle McKenzie (Mairangi Bay) and Laura Quilter (Wainui) were an incredibly close .38 of a second off the World Record in a time of 10.78 seconds.

The 2014 New Zealand Pool Championships doubles as a send-off for New Zealand's surf lifesaving teams who depart for France on September 8 and at lunchtime today, members of the New Zealand Team were presented with a framed blazer pocket and the NZ Youth Team was presented with their team polo shirts.

During the weekend, the athletes are racing individually for their own clubs as well as teaming up for some national teams' races in the relay events to assist with their preparations for Rescue 2014.

On the club front, 2013 champions Papamoa SLSC are still sitting in the lead after Day Two with 698 points; 89 clear of Mount Maunganui's 609 points. Mairangi Bay is sitting in third place on 405 points.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand Sport Manager Mike Lord says it was another exciting day of fast, exhilarating racing with all of the competitors putting in outstanding efforts. "I'm looking forward to the final day of racing tomorrow," he says.

The action commences at 8.15am at West Wave Aquatic Centre in West Auckland.

Top 10 club points after day two:

Papamoa 698, Mt Maunganui 609, Mairangi Bay 405, Piha 348, Waikanae 304, Lyall Bay 231, Sumner, 199, Orewa 160, Red Beach 145, Whangamata 118.

NZ Individual Event Records Broken on day two:

200m Super Lifesaver
• U19 Women 02.45.39 Piha (2014) Hannah Williams
• U19 Men 02.23.47 Papamoa (2014) Ben Johnston

100m Swim with Obstacles
• U14 Women 01.06.83 Orewa (2014) Lucy Makaea
• U13 Men 01.07.37 Waikanae (2014) Michael Pickett

200m Swim With Obstacles
• U16 Women 02.22.50 Mt Maunganui (2014) Libby Bradley
• Open Women 02.06.95 Lyall Bay (2014) Samantha Lee
• Open Men 01.55.16 Titahi Bay (2014) Steven Kent

100m Swim With Obstacles
• Masters Women 01.15.36 Papamoa (2014) Naomi Davoren

50m Rescue Medley
• U13 Women 00.29.11 Mt. Maunganui (2014) Isabella Akroyd
• U13 Men 00.30.88 Waikanae (2014) Michael Pickett
• U14 Women 00.27.60 Lyall Bay (2014) Alaynah Bettany
• U14 Men 00.28.57 Papamoa (2014) Liam Moffat

100m Rescue Medley
• U19 Men 01.10.40 Papamoa (2014) Jacob Hales
• Open Women 01.10.67 Lyall Bay (2014) Samantha Lee
• Open Men 01.01.06 Titahi Bay (2014) Steven Kent

Line Throw
• U16 Men 15.53 Mt Maunganui (2014) Barron, Miller

50m Brick Carry without Fins
• U14 Men 34.93 Lyall Bay (2014) Alaynah Bettany

50m Manikin Carry without Fins
• U16 Men 36.81 Mt Maunganui Daniel Barron
• U19 Women 38.65 Sumner Brittany Tucker
• U19 Men 22.69 Papamoa Ben Johnston
• Open Women 35.70 Wainui Laura Quilter
• Open Men 29.34 St Clair Andrew McMillan

Full Results: Day Two, August 30, 2014:  Session Three and  Session Four.

Check out the photos from Day Two here on our Facebook page. 

For more information please contact: 

Lisa Honeybone, Media & Communications Specialist, SLSNZ
Phone 09 303 9335 or 0276 488 823
Email lisa.honeybone@surflifesaving.org.nz