Muchirahondo Sets Sights on Romania as More Records Tumble
- dale493
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Day Two Wrap - 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Age Group Swimming Championships
After an exciting first day of racing at the 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Age Group Swimming Championships at the Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre, day two was filled with more fast swimming and an excellent atmosphere. A total of 13 NZ records were broken over the course of the day, with Ariel Muchirahondo going under a qualifying time for the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships.
Ariel Muchirahondo (Swim Rotorua) was one of the shining stars on the second day of action. In the morning heat, Muchirahondo made his intentions clear from the outset by pushing from start in the 400m individual medley. The 16-year-old looked strong throughout each of the strokes as he comfortably achieved the qualifying time for the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships to be held in Romania this August (4:28.29). Having secured the time in the heat, Muchirahondo felt more relaxed for his age final and appeared to be on a mission. Splitting 57.99 over the opening butterfly leg, Muchirahondo had already established an unassailable lead, but it was the clock that had the crowd on the edge of their seats. At the end of the breaststroke leg, the crowd sensed a NZ age record was on the cards and the volume lifted, with swimmers and coaches joining the grandstand in cheering and waving Muchirahondo along the final freestyle leg. Aquablack Luan Grobbelaar’s 16 years NZ age record from 2018 was under attack and Muchirahondo (4:21.99) smashed the previous mark by nearly two seconds to a massive ovation from the crowd.
Muchirahondo was ecstatic with his performances on day two, having had the pressure taken off by securing the qualifying time in the morning.
“I just wanted to swim as fast as possible and make sure I was getting my skills, hitting my underwaters. I didn’t really have a focus tonight, I’d already gotten the time, I just wanted to do my best.”
Youngster Grayson Coulter (North Shore) also had the crowd in raptures by breaking the 13 years NZ age record in the 100m freestyle twice in one day. In the morning, Coulter (53.29) set off in the fastest heat flanked by swimmers older than him, however the younger swimmer thrived to lower his record by 0.21 seconds to be the second fastest from all age groups. In the age final, Coulter rose to another level to drop well under 53 seconds (52.62) and further smash his record. Within the space of one day, he nearly dropped a whole second off the national record in an impressive showing. Coulter, already the holder of six different 13 years NZ records, has another five events in which he will be one to watch.
Te Paki (Northwave) was another swimmer to have a standout performance on day two. The 14-year-old was powerful in the 200m backstroke in his age final, breaking the 14 years NZ age record by Ross Dunwoody that has stood since 1996. Te Paki (2:07.25) was the fastest of all the age groups to claim the national age title, whilst shaving 0.29 seconds off the national record.
Quinn Pike (Hamilton Aquatics) continued her form from day one, breaking an S19 NZ record three times on day two. Pike initially broke her record in the 100m freestyle multi-class final (1:04.83) to win the event. Shortly after, Pike broke the SB19 NZ record in the 50m breaststroke multi-class in the final (41.80), lowering the mark from the time she set in the morning heats (42.32). All three records are also 16 and under S19 records.
Rylee Sayer (Matamata) continued her excellent form by earning a minimum entry time in the 100m freestyle multi-class final (1:18.73), permitting her to race the event at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore later this year given she had already achieved a qualifying time last night in the 50m distance. Sayer also broke the 16 and under NZ age record in the heat and final of the 50m breaststroke multi-class, setting an impressive time in the morning (48.88) before dramatically improving again for the final (47.64) to claim the silver medal behind Pike.
Michael Yang (Phoenix Aquatics) was another of the record-breakers on day two. He exploded from the blocks in the 50m breaststroke age final. Yang (31.14) was commanding as he broke the 13 years NZ record, breaking the mark set in 2018 to now own all three breaststroke records in the 13 years age group.
Whilst we have celebrated some of the standout performances that re-wrote the history books or achieving qualifying standards for upcoming NZ team opportunities, there were many other races that elevated the electric crowd support in the grandstand. We have highlighted some of the close race results.
The 13 years final for the 100m freestyle came down to the wire, with Annalise Miller (Neptune – 1:01.89) getting her hand on the wall first ahead of Marli Coverdale (Club 37 – 1:02.16) and Sophia McClintock (Wanaka – 1:02.19). The next final was also close, with Mila Tongalea (United – 59.16) adding the 100m event to her 50m title from the previous day, holding off the fast-finishing Tandia Fisher (Wharenui – 59.49) and Octavia Mahoney (Hamilton Aquatics – 59.62). In the 14 years boys event, YiFan Zhang (Parnell – 55.14) claimed one of the closest races of the night, just beating Zandre Herbst (55.20) and Everett Williams (55.29). Frederick Mills (Tawa – 30.42) timed his touch perfectly in the 16 years 50m breaststroke final, edging out Danny Sun (United – 30.44), visitor Yaron Nodanche (30.47) and Roman Anderson (Tawa – 30.94).
The relays were responsible once again for bringing the crowd to their feet. The 4 x 50m freestyle relay is the ultimate splash and dash, with the girls 13 – 14 years final seeing Wharenui (1:51.38) claiming the win ahead of North Shore (1:52.65) and Wanaka (1:53.92). In the boys age group, Parnell (1:42.96) made it two from two by winning one of the closest races of the night, out-touching United (1:43.08) and Coast (1:43.22). In the 16 and under age group, United (1:47.99) won ahead of SwimZone Racing (1:50.06) and Hamilton Aquatics, before Coast (1:37.33) claimed the gold ahead of Phoenix Aquatics (1:38.26) and North Shore (1:39.53).
Congratulations to all the swimmers who won medals, made finals and achieved personal bests across the opening day in Hawke’s Bay. We look forward to the action on day three, with the heats coverage starting from 8.25am and finals coverage from 4.50pm.
Day Three Overview - Tuesday 15 April
Heats livestream coverage from 8.25am
Finals livestream coverage from 4.50pm
400m freestyle
200m breaststroke
100m backstroke
50m butterfly
4 x 50m medley relay
You can stay up-to-date across the championships across our social and digital channels of Facebook, Instagram, our website and via the livestream brought to you by Whakaata Maori. There are limited tickets still available for some sessions if you'd like to have the best seat in the house and watch from poolside. Please find the useful links to some of these digital platforms below:
Team Selection Opportunities
In addition to aspiring for the national age title, some swimmers will be setting their eyes on achieving qualifying times for New Zealand teams selected for upcoming international competition later in the year. The championships offer opportunities for swimmers to qualify for are:
2025 Tri Series (Ballarat, Australia, from 7 - 12 July)
2025 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships (Romania from 19 - 24 August)
2025 World Para Swimming Championships (Singapore from 21 - 27 September)
Day Four - Wednesday 16 April
Heats livestream coverage from 8.25am
Finals livestream coverage from 4.50pm
200m butterfly
100m breaststroke
200m freestyle
4 x 100m freestyle relay
Day Five - Thursday 17 April
Heats livestream coverage from 8.25am
Finals livestream coverage from 4.50pm
200m individual medley
50m backstroke
1500m freestyle (girls)
800m freestyle (boys
4 x 50m freestyle relay (mixed)
4 x 50m medley relay (mixed)
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