Oceania Championships: Australians Finish 1-2 in Four Events to Open Meet

NOUMEA, New Caledonia, May 29. THE pool swimming portion of the 2012 Oceania Championships, which includes open water, swimming and synchronized swimming, got underway today with championship finals in six events. The meet runs through Sunday and includes athletes from countries across the South Pacific, including Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and Tahiti, among other countries.

Papua New Guinea's Ryan Pini got the meet rolling with a win in the men's 100 fly in 54.41, ahead of Australia's Daniel Lester (24.45) and Tonga's Amini Fonua (24.93). Nicole Mee of Australia took home the women's 50 fly title in 27.67, the only time under 27.00. Fellow countrywoman Loma Tonks (28.23) took silver while France's Armelle Hidrio earned the bronze in 28.67.

Australia's Kenneth To dominated the men's 200 free, winning by more than four seconds in 1:52.32. France's Thomas Dahlia took second in 1:54.76 and New Zealand's Ewan Jackson finished third in 1:55.70. On the women's side, Australian Ami Matsuo touched nearly nine seconds ahead of the field in 2:02.67. Maeva Parayre of France grabbed silver in 2:10.57, followed by Fiji's Matelita Buadromo (2:10.82).

Kurt Crosland of New Zealand brought home his first medal of the meet after winning the men's 100 back in 56.52, in front of Australia's Ben Edmonds (57.15) and Papua New Guinea's Ryan Pini (58.43). The women's race came down to two Australians, with Mikkayla Sheridan and Grace Loh going stroke for stroke into the wall. Sheridan touched first in 1:03.45 with Loh in second at 1:03.63. Emma Terebo of France picked up third in 1:05.70.

Australia's Declan Potts stroked his way to victory in the men's 200 fly, breaking the 2-minute mark with a 1:59.06. Teammate Daniel Lester took silver in 2:02.32, followed by France's Alan Botrel (2:14.29). The Aussies went 1-2 again in the women's race with Jordan White (2:13.83) and Nicole Mee (2:13.85) taking the top two spots. Lena Hayakawa of the United States earned a bronze medal with a 2:31.96.

In the longest event of the night, Australians Jarrod Poort and Trent Grimsey went 1-2 in the men's 1500 free with times of 15:30.68 and 15:32.39, respectively. New Zealand's Isaac Foote finished well back in third at 16:01.21.

The final event of the day, the mixed 4×100 medley relay, went to Australia's Grace Loh (1:04.86), Nikolas Pregelj (1:03.68), Daniel Lester (55.55) and Ami Matsuo (57.70) for a final time of 4:01.79.

The meet continues through Sunday, June 3.

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