New Zealand Olympian Helena Gasson has helped Harlequins to victory at the Zonal Swimming Championships in Auckland.
Helena Gasson competes in the breast stroke at the zonal swimming championships, 2017. Photo: SW Media
Gasson won all three of her individual events, while fellow Olympian Bradlee Ashby won two individual swims for his Aquaknights team.
The championships involved 160 swimmers split into four zones around the country in relays and individual events over two non-stop 90 minute sessions.
"What we have done here as a squad has been really encouraging," said Gasson of her Swimming New Zealand high performance team mates.
"I was incredibly surprised by my times in all my swims tonight. I wasn't expecting those times so it is pleasing."
The Harlequins team, which comprised clubs from Northland, Auckland and Counties Manukau, successfully defended their titles in both senior and junior ranks.
The meet was enhanced by the appearance of four Australians headed by former Olympic champion Emily Seebohm, plus Minna Atherton, Nicholas Brown and Grayson Bell with one visitor drafted into each of the four teams.
Seebohm, only just back into swimming after the removal of her wisdom teeth, showed her class to be only a second outside the New Zealand record in winning the 200m individual medley and a blink off the 100m backstroke mark.
She was competing for the AquaKnights team.
