7 Jul 2009

Francis stars in opening day of Trans Tasman swim series

7:46 am on 7 July 2009

New Zealand teenage swimmers have grabbed five wins and four national records at the opening trans-Tasman Test against Australia in Melbourne.

The 15-year-old North Shore swimmer Chloe Francis starred, taking out the 100 metre and 200 metre breaststroke titles as well as the 50 metre breaststroke skins, in which she clocked a new national age group record.

The 14-year-old Jeffery Arona-Tuifana'e from Howick Pakuranga won the men's skins competition in the 50 metre breaststroke, setting the new national age group record in the final. He also finished second in the 100 metre breaststroke final to claim his second record of the night.

Wellington's Samantha Lee, 16, from the Capital club won the 100 metre butterfly.

The other record went to Samantha Lucie-Smith from Karori, in her third place finish in the final of the 400 metres freestyle.

The second Test is at Wodonga in northern Victoria on Wednesday and Thursday with the final Test in Canberra on Friday and Saturday.