Two of Kuranui’s longest-standing records were broken at the College’s annual swimming sports last Friday.

Year 11 student, Charlie O’Connell, smashed the U15 Boys 29-year-old one-length freestyle record with a time of 15.96s, beating the previous time of 16.46 set by G Taylor in 1991, and then went on to break a 27-year-old record in the one-length butterfly, beating the previous time of 17.86s held by B Adams since 1993, in a time of 17.61s.

He also broke his older brother Lachlan’s two-lengths breaststroke record held since 2016, with a time of 48.34s, beating the previous record of 49.50s. He was undefeated in all 10 of his races resulting in him winning the U15 Boys age-group title.

Older sister, Amelia O’Connell was also in record-breaking form, easily surpassing the 16-years-plus Girls two-lengths backstroke and two-lengths breaststroke times both set by T Gray in 2005, with the record times of 50.92s and 45.86s, respectively. In her final year of college, this brings the total number of Kuranui swimming records she holds to 14.

 

Amelia O’Connell in record-breaking form. Credit: Anita Lark

Ceejay Dennes had eight wins in his age group to comfortably taking home the 16-years-plus Boys title. Younger brother Koby won the Under-14 Boys title, in what was a closely contested age group. Year 11 student, Serenity Wilson, won all her races to gain her the Under-16 Girls title, whilst Zavier Whyte and Will Isaacs were joint winners of the Under-16 Boys age group. Freya Lewington won the Under-15 girls and Maralyse Whiteman the Under-14 girls.

Kuranui College Swimming Sport Champions 2020

Article added: Wednesday 26 February 2020