Star Performers Keep the Records Tumbling on Final Night

Day Five Wrap - 2025 Apollo Projects NZ Age Group Swimming Championships

The cream again rose to the top with some outstanding swims on the final day of competition at the Apollo Projects NZ Age Group Swimming Championships in Hawke’s Bay.

A lively attendance provided plenty of support for some outstanding swims with a mix of sprints and long distance, along with mixed relays at the Hawkes Bay Regional Aquatics Centre.

Results

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The leading figure was again the brilliant Rotorua 16-year-old, Ariel Muchirahondo (Swim Rotorua). Muchirahondo added a fifth qualifying swim for the World Junior Swimming Championships with a 2.04.08 swim in the finals of 200m individual medley, which broke the national age record.

It gives the Aidan Withington-coached swimmer five qualifying events for the championships in the 200m and 400m individual medley, 100m backstroke, 200m butterfly and 400m freestyle.

Muchirahondo reflected on the challenge of his final event, saying:

“The individual medley tonight was the hardest race of the competition both mentally and physically, especially on the last day,” said Muchirahondo. “I can say I gave it all. I knew if I really wanted a PB that I had to go our hard and not be afraid. I am happy after that.”

The 200m individual medley was a tough task on the final day of an exhausting meet, with the women's racing highlighted with a win to Hope Wang (Phoenix) who came over early leader Hana Carnie (Wanaka) to win the 13 years final in 2:27.12.

Club mate Jade Lyles pushed to the lead early to win the 14 years in 2:27.12, with the 15 years going to Hannah Sampson (SwimZone Racing) who lead from the get-go and held off challenges to win in 2:26.45.

Sampson reflected on her win in the 200m individual medley and the long week of racing:

“I am proud of myself for that swim and my earlier win and that is the end of my competition – it’s been hard.”

The 16-year-old title went to Bridie Quayle (Wharenui), who also won the 100m backstroke and medalled in all three breaststroke finals. In a tight battle she took over on the breaststroke leg to win in 2:22.90 from Ariella Riley (Hamilton Aquatics).

Quinn Pike won the multi-class event in a personal best 2:48.25, while PBs were also achieved by Londyn Dillinger (Murihiku) in 3:15.31 and the remarkable Rylee Sayer (Matamata) achieved a minimum entry time for the World Para Swimming Championships, clocking 3:33.43. Charlotte Murphy (Aquagym) impressed by bettering the SM6 New Zealand record twice over the course of the day.

The men's 200m individual medley began with another record to Coulter in the 13 years division, bettering his national age record set earlier in the day with a time of 2:14.96.

Catching his breath post-race, Coulter admitted:

“To be honest I was hoping for faster, but it is a record. I am really tired but excited.”

Northwave’s Te Paki topped the podium in the 14 years winning in 2:12.95, while Luojingxi Chen (Nga Tai Tuatea a Taraika) claimed his first national title in the 15 years final in 2:11.44.

The 50m backstroke provided close racing, as Hana Carnie (Wanaka) completed the backstroke treble by winning the 13 years in 31.13; the 50m free winner Mila Tongalea (United) won the 14 years in 30.40; Arissa Liu (Phoenix Aquatics) claimed the 15 years in 30.20, while Bridie Quayle (Wharenui) edged home in the 16 years in 30.84.

The multi-class honours went to Quinn Pike (Hamilton Aquatics), while Charlotte Murphy (Aquagym) reset the S6 NZ record in 54.15.

In the men's events, Coulter clocked 28.49 for gold in the 13 years; Jayden Lee (Wharenui) took the win in 28.15 in the 14 years final; Lucas Bell (Tasman) scorched to 27.54 win in 15 years, while Bruce Shen (Phoenix Aquatics) impressed with a national age record 26.14 in the 16 years, 0.2s under the old mark.

Shen expressed his satisfaction after the race, saying:

“I worked a long time for the record and finally got it. It was not helped that I ripped my togs but I got the job done.”

In the 1500m freestyle for women, there were impressive swims for Whanganui’s Paige Conely winning the 15 years in 17:43.68 ahead of 13-year-old Hope Wang (Phoenix) in 18:07.67. The 14 years winner, Maeve McDonnell (Howick Pakuranga), was third to the wall in the fastest timed final, claiming age group gold, while Tegan Stewart (Nelson South) won gold in the 16 years age group.

Leo English (Swim Rotorua), 15, was fastest overall in the male 800m in 8:39.41. While Charlie Dickison (Nga Tai Tuatea a Taraika) took home gold in the 14 years, William McFarlane (Kiwi) won the the 16 years, and Fletcher Cummings (Liz van Welie) was the fastest of the New Zealanders in the 13 years age group.

United took out the title in the 13-14 years mixed 4x50m freestyle, while 16 years and under honours went to Phoenix Aquatics; the 4x50m mixed medley for 13-14 years was won by United from Parnell and North Shore while Phoenix backed up their win by taking the title in the 16 years & under event.

Awards

The Hansell's Trophy was awarded to Thomas Magill (Papamoa) for breaking the NZ Age Record by the biggest percentage margin during the championships in men's 400m freestyle multi-class (S19).

Ariel Muchirahondo (Swim Rotorua) and Rylee Sayer (Matamata) were awarded the Life Members Trophy for the most outstanding performance of the championships, with the awards panel unable to separate Muchirahondo's exceptional performance in the 400m individual medley and Sayer's world leading swim in the S7 50m freestyle.

North Shore took out the Top Age Club award, while Aquagym won the Top Multi-Class Age Club award.