No new meet records were set on day three of the 2016 Oceania Championships, but New Zealand and Australia did emerge in a tie for gold medal count of the day.
Bronagh Ryan of New Zealand stopped the clock in 33.52 to open the evening with a win in the women’s 50 breaststroke. Fourteen year old Moana Wind of Fiji was second in 33.78. Third went to Australia’s Bec Cross in 33.92.
The top six men cracked the 30 second mark in the 50 breaststroke. Benji Schulte of Guam turned in a 29.26 to take the title, just ahead of New Zealand’s Jacob Garrod in 29.32. A tenth behind for third was Fiji’s Meli Malani (29.42).
There was a close battle in the women’s 400 freestyle. Australian Acacia Wildin-Snedden maintained a lead of between six tenths and three hundredths throughout the race to beat New Zealand’s Monique King 4:17.00 to 4:17.99. In third was New Zealand’s Carina Doyle with a 4:21.07.
Wesley Roberts of the Cook Islands stopped the clock in 3:57.91 for the men’s 400 freestyle crown. Also under four minutes was Matt Hyde of New Zealand in 3:58.29. Hawaii’s Michael Petrides completed the podium in 4:06.05.
Helena Gasson of New Zealand was the only woman under a minute in the 100 butterfly, touching in 59.91. Australians Alice Stuart and Mikaela Cornelissen finished in 1:00.68 and 1:01.28.
Cameron Jones of Australia was victorious in the men’s 100 butterfly with a 53.69. Championship record holder Ryan Pini of Papau New Guinea earned silver with a 54.13. New Zealand’s Wilrich Coetzee won bronze with his 55.08.
Annabelle Paterson of New Zealand dominated the women’s 200 backstroke with a 2:16.68. Somoa’s Lushavel Stickland posted a second place 2:23.99 and Hawaii’s Nohea Lileikis swam a 2:24.98 for third.
New Zealand teammates Corneille Coetzee and Jackson Cropp topped the men’s 200 back podium in 2:03.62 and 2:05.10. Hawaii’s Michael Petrides was third with a 2:15.62.
Australia claimed both 400 freestyle relays. Natasha Ramsden, Abby Duncan, Wildin-Snedden, and Hadley Lyndsay posted a 3:48.73 to win the women’s. Jake Kersten, Zac Incerti, Caiden Gill, and Cameron Jones combined for a 3:20.25 for the men’s title.
Full results here: 2016 Oceania Championships: Day 3 – Results
