OBHS swimmers excel at the 2024 South Island Long Course Championships

By Annika Bokor | Posted: Wednesday March 6, 2024

Moana Pool played host to the highly anticipated 2024 South Island Long Course Championships from March 1 to 3, showcasing exceptional talent and fierce competition.

Among the contenders were three outstanding representatives from OBHS: Oliver Isles, Aleks Kivilev, and Neo Salomonsson.

Oliver Isles, making his debut on the higher-level competitive scene, delivered a commendable performance in the 12-14 age group. Despite the pressure of his first major event, Oliver showcased his talent in the pool by securing spots in the finals of three out of his six events. His expertise in breaststroke shone brightly as he clinched 5th place in the 50m and an impressive 4th place in the 100m, achieving several second personal bests in both events. Additionally, Oliver's versatility was evident as he claimed a spot in the 50m backstroke final, and eventually placed 8th.

Aleks Kivilev demonstrated exceptional skill and determination throughout the championships, qualifying for the finals in all six of his events. With a primary focus on breaststroke, Aleks soared to success, earning a coveted silver medal in the demanding 200m breaststroke event. His strong performances extended across multiple disciplines, securing impressive finishes of 4th place in the 200m Individual Medley and 5th place in both the 50m and 100m breaststroke, as well as the 200m freestyle. Despite his performance, Aleks opted out of the 400m Individual Medley final at the end of the last day.

Neo Salomonsson, showcased his exceptional talent and determination throughout the championships. Despite entering a staggering eight events, Neo strategically selected his final races, capitalising on his strengths to maximize his performance. Opting out of the 200 Individual Medley, 200 free and 50 free finals paid dividends as he clinched a remarkable hat-trick of gold medals in all three butterfly distances. Furthermore, Neo's prowess extended beyond butterfly, as he secured gold in the 100m freestyle and silver in the 50m backstroke. Notably, Neo's achievements are particularly impressive given his recent transition to the 15-16 age group, demonstrating his ability to excel against tough competition. Moreover, Neo shattered the Otago record for 50m butterfly in the 15-year-old category, surpassing expectations with a time of 26.49 seconds, breaking the record from 2007 by 0.33 seconds and improving his personal best by 0.43 seconds.

These boys, together with Taka Sugiyama who unfortunately was unwell and had to withdraw, are heading to the National Age Group Championships during the upcoming school holidays.

Photo Credit: Tanisha Keach, Swimming Otago

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