Steen Bech | @pihasteve
Otago Athletes Were On Fire At The 2025 NZ Division II Competition
Event Recap
Over the weekend, nine Otago athletes competed at the NZ Division II Competition, held at the National Aquatic Centre on Auckland’s North Shore. Across two and a half days of racing, our swimmers took on 48 individual events, achieving 17 top-three finishes and an impressive 37 personal bests — a 77% PB rate! Several athletes also secured qualifying times for the upcoming NZ Age Group Championships. Congratulations to all!
Following the Swimming NZ competition review in 2024, this year’s event was restructured. While the format was shortened, it didn’t dampen our athletes’ enthusiasm or determination. Across the five sessions, Milly Lietze (South Otago Sharks) swam an incredible 3100 metres, earned seven top-10 finishes — including three podium placings — and achieved two qualifying times for National Age Group Championships.
James Soal (Oamaru) wasn’t far behind, covering 1200 metres across his events, achieving a perfect 100% PB rate, a third-place finish, and also securing two national qualifying times. Three other Otago swimmers also achieved the coveted 100% PB rate: Lara Bradford (Wanaka), Elli Kiuru (Alexandra), and Benjamin Winter (Alexandra) — a fantastic accomplishment.
Lara Bradford – F14 – WSCOT |
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50m Freestyle | 29.03 | 8 | PB |
100m Individual Medley | 1:11.15 | Third | PB |
50m Breaststroke | 36.85 | First | PB and QT |
Rian Gerling – M14 - CRMOT |
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50m Freestyle | 28.02 | 15 |
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50m Butterfly | 30.39 | 9 |
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Finn Henderson – M16+ - QTNOT |
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100m Butterfly | 1:04.91 | 15 |
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50m Freestyle | 26.66 | 24 |
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400m Individual Medley | 5:31.59 | 7 |
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100m Freestyle | 58.66 | 28 | PB |
400m Freestyle | 4:38.00 | 10 | PB |
100m Backstroke | 1:08.15 | 12 |
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50m Butterfly | 28.55 | 18 | PB |
Elli Kiuru – F13 - ALXOT |
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50m Breaststroke | 37.54 | Second | PB and QT |
200m Breaststroke | 2:59.99 | Second | PB and QT |
100m Breaststroke | 1:23.33 | Third | PB and QT |
Mark Lauko – M13 - QTNOT |
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400m Individual Medley | 5:58.15 | First |
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50m Breaststroke | 37.79 | 7 | PB |
200m Breaststroke | 2:55.99 | Third | PB |
100m Breaststroke | 1:22.31 | 8 | PB |
200m Individual Medley | 2:37.51 | 5 | PB |
Milly Lietze – F14 - SOSOT |
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50m Freestyle | 28.60 | Third | PB |
800m Freestyle | 10:07.39 | First | PB and QT |
100m Freestyle | 1:04.49 | 8 |
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400m Freestyle | 4:56.77 | 4 | PB |
50m Butterfly | 32.14 | 10 |
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200m Freestyle | 2:20.33 | 5 | PB |
1500m Freestyle | 19:26.07 | Third | PB and QT |
James Soal – M15 - OAMOT |
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100m Butterfly | 1:08.71 | 16 | PB |
100m Individual Medley | 1:08.46 | 11 | PB |
400m Individual Medley | 5:34.57 | 10 | PB |
50m Breaststroke | 33.48 | 4 | PB |
200m Breaststroke | 2:42.58 | 4 | PB and QT |
50m Butterfly | 28.95 | 16 | PB |
100m Breaststroke | 1:13.54 | Third | PB and QT |
200m Individual Medley | 2:28.58 | 12 | PB |
50m Backstroke | 31.62 | 18 | PB |
Taka Sugiyama – M16+ - KIWOT |
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50m Freestyle | 25.89 | 12= |
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100m Individual Medley | 1:02.10 | First |
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100m Freestyle | 56.02 | 8 | PB |
100m Backstroke | 1:02.39 | Second | PB |
50m Butterfly | 28.12 | 13 | PB |
200m Freestyle | 1:59.81 | First | PB |
50m Backstroke | 29.02 | Second | PB |
Benjamin Winter – M13 - ALXOT |
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50m Freestyle | 27.76 | 5 | PB |
100m Individual Medley | 1:10.45 | 5 | PB |
100m Freestyle | 1:02.32 | 8 | PB |
50m Butterfly | 30.31 | Third | PB |
200m Butterfly | 2:37.60 | First | PB and QT |
Don't miss the next swimming event, the Wanaka Interclub Meet on 26-27 April. Entries close on Thursday 17 April, at 11:59pm. Get your entries in now!
Interested in becoming a Technical Official? Visit our web page, or for more information, email us at admin@swimotago.org.
Article added: Thursday 27 March 2025
