Sophia Batchelor Takes Down Another New Zealand Age Group Standard

WELLINGTON, New Zealand, March 7. IT was the Sophia Batchelor Show again on the second night of finals at the Mayfair Pools New Zealand Age Group Swimming championships in Wellington tonight.

The 16 year old from Christchurch took out the finals of the 100m freestyle and the 50m butterfly at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre.

Batchelor, coached by Leanne Speechley at the AquaGym club, set a new national age group record in the 50m butterfly, clocking 27.17 to win the final, 0.6sec inside the old mark. It is the 19th current national age group record held by Batchelor, who also holds one national open record.

In a day of several relay finals, Auckland's Erik Kahr (United) impressed in his win in the 16 years 50m breaststroke in 28.74, the fastest time of the evening.

Howick-Pakuranga 13 year old Paige Schendelaar-Kemp enjoyed a triple treat in winning three straight finals tonight. She took out the 400m individual medley in 5:16.19 before stepping up to win the 50m butterfly in 28.98 and then went back on the blocks in the next final to claim the 100m freestyle in 1:00.18.

The championships, which have attracted a record 656 swimmers, continue until the weekend.

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