New Zealand World Aquatics team named
- Dave Worsley
- May 26
- 3 min read
Three Backstroke swimmers qualified for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships on the final day of racing at the 2025 New Zealand Swimming Championships in Auckland.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist Andrew Jeffcoat led the way for the backstrokers. The 25-year-old had taken a step back from the sport but returned to the pool this year.
LATEST HEADLINES:
He wasted no time in showing he’s still got what it takes, winning the 50m Backstroke national title in 24.89s, to again go under the qualification time for the World Aquatics Championships which he had achieved in the heats this morning.
The women’s 50m Backstroke saw another two swimmers hit the World Champs qualification time. Amber George swam a 27.92s to win the national title and again go under the Worlds qualification mark. Savannah-Eve Martin posted the time required in her morning heat, clocking 28.50s in the final to place third. Laura Quilter placed second in 28.43s.
The multi class events produced some of the standout moments of the night. In the men’s 200m Individual Medley multi class final Asher Smith-Franklin (SM14) emptied the tank as he desperately tried to swim under the time required for the World Para Swimming Champs.
The 19-year-old powered home in the last 50m, slapping the water and yelling in delight as he made the time required, touching the wall in 2:16.06s to also break his SM14 New Zealand record.
Daniel Smith placed first in the event to set an SM19 New Zealand record in 2:21.91s. Ian Chen took second while Smith-Franklin placed third.
The 200m women’s Individual Medley multi class saw Gaby Smith (SM10) again swim under the qualification time for the World Para Swimming Championships. Smith powered across the pool to take the win in 2:43.21s, Charlotte Murphy was also impressive, placing second to set an SM6 New Zealand record in 4:12.53s. McKenzie Drage (SM8) placed third.
The women’s 1500m Freestyle saw Olympian Caitlin Deans pace hersel well, finishing strong to go comfortably under the World Championships qualification time in 16:12.18s. Eve Thomas placed second and Sophie Hay third.
Georgina McCarthy delivered a fantastic swim in the women’s 200m Individual Medley. The Hamilton Aquatics swimmer was particularly strong in the backstroke and built her lead throughout the race to clock a time of 2:15.38s. Zyleika Pratt-Smith was second and Monique Wieruszowski third.
The men’s 200m Individual Medley was a tight race. Sam Brown from Coast Swimming Club was leading at the 100m mark. Kevin Zhang put in a gutsy effort attempting to reel him in but had to settle for second as Brown touched the wall in 2:03.47s. Blair Helms placed third.
The final races of the evening saw the 4x100m medley relays. North Shore Swimming Club A won the women’s event in 4:07.82s, while Coast Swimming Club A won the men’s in 3:44.03s.
The Aquablacks teams for the World Aquatics Championships and the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships were named, however one of he stars of the meet Hazel Ouwehand who broke her own 50m Butterfly New Zealand record decided not to put her name forward for selection.
The team for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, to be held in Singapore in July and August, is:
Lewis Clareburt
Louis Clark (debutant)
Caitlin Deans
Erika Fairweather
Amber George (debutant)
Finn Harland (debutant)
Andrew Jeffcoat
Savannah-Eve Martin (debutant)
Zoe Pedersen (debutant)
Laura Quilter
Milana Tapper (debutant)
Eve Thomas
The team for the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships, to be held in Romania in August, is:
Milan Glintmeyer
Daniel Kregting
Alyssa Lawson
James Leigh
Ariel Muchirahondo
Zoe Pederson
Igor Russanov
Alyssa Tapper
Monique Wieruszowski
