35 Swimmers to Represent New Zealand at Oceania Championships

120706-F-MQ656-228 JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM (July 6, 2012) Sailors from the Royal New Zealand navy and U.S. Navy dive into the pool to start a 200-meter freestyle relay during a Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) international swim meet. Over one hundred Sailors from multiple nations gathered at Scott Pool to compete in a friendly swim meet and get to know each other prior to the start of the operational portion of RIMPAC 2012. Twenty-two nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC exercise from Jun. 29 to Aug. 3, in and around the Hawaiian Islands. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the worlds oceans. RIMPAC 2012 is the 23rd exercise in the series that began in 1971. (Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael R. Holzworth/Released)

Photo Courtesy: Michael R. Holzworth, TSgt, USAF

Swimming New Zealand named 35 swimmers to the nation’s roster for the 2016 Oceania Championships.

Eighteen women will represent New Zealand. Bobbi Gichard, a Junior World Championships medalist, is on the roster. Fellow Junior Worlds teammate Annabelle Paterson will also compete in Fiji.

Stefannie Gillespie finished third in both races at the 2016 Open Water Nationals, and will compete Open Water again in June.

Other members of the roster include Claudia Ashby, Jacey Cropp, Carina Doyle, Ellie Eastwood, Hayley Edmond, Gabrielle Fa’amausili, Chloe Francis, Monique King, Yeonsu Lee, Millie MacDonald, Georgia Marris, Emily Rennell, Bronagh Ryan, Mary Tate and Sammy Winward.

The men will have 17 representatives. Rio qualifier Corey Main‘s brother Bayley Main is on the team. Wilrich Coetzee, the 2016 New Zealand Swimming Trust Emerging Swimmer of the Year, is also on the roster.

Troy Balvert, Corneille Coetzee, Jackson Cropp, Jackson Dawson, Isaac Foote, Jacob Garrod, Daniel Hunter, Matt Hyde, Mario Koenigsperger, Jonathon Rutter, George Schroder, Matthew Scott, Andrew Trembath, David Van Der Star and Julian Weir also make up that team.

The meet takes place June 21 to 24 in the pool in Fiji. Open water competitions bookend the meet. The 5K is on the 20th and the 10K will be held on the 25th.

At the last Oceania Championships in 2014, New Zealand won 21 events while Australia won 19.

Swimming New Zealand contributed to this report.

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