The 2024 Makos Zonal Secondary School Open Water Swimming Championships were held over the weekend in conjunction with the La Grande Swim event hosted in the Banana Boat NZ Ocean Swim Series. The weather was challenging in the middle of the swim, with near perfect for open water swimming at the start and finish line.

A total of 31 students took part in the Secondary School side of racing across two distances. The long swim (5km) had 10 students brave the longest swim in the series and 21 students take on the mid-distance (2km).

The first swimmer across the line was Marcell Kepess (Garin College - 1:14.28) to claim the 14-15 year boys long swim title ahead of Alex Gibson (Burnside High - 1:20.04) and Zac Bowie (Cashmere College - 1:21.47). Lachlan Crawford (Timaru Boys' High - 1:22.00) took home the gold in the 16-19 year boys event.

In the girls events, Sophie Pahl (Garin College - 1:23.29) was the first female and fourth female overall in the series to finish the long swim, taking out the 16-19 years age group ahead of Nevaeh Reddy (Cromwell College - 1:23.49) and Rory Gordon (Christchurch Girls' High - 1:25.57). Charlotte Taylor (Nelson College for Girls - 1:55.59) took home the 14-15 years title.

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Article added: Wednesday 28 February 2024