Swimming New Zealand has announced a 16-swimmer roster for the 2014 Pan Pac Championships that will race in less than two weeks on the Gold Coast, Australia from August 21st-25th.
Included among the roster is the newest World Record holder, once ratified, distance swimmer Lauren Boyle. Last week, she unexpectedly broke the 1500 short course meter freestyle World Record at a tune-up meet in Wellington.
While it’s hard to see anybody challenging Katie Ledecky in a freestyle race 400 meters or longer in the next few years, Boyle will at least give the American team something to think about on the confidence of that swim. Especially so given how much Boyle broke the record by: roughly four seconds.
Other stars on the team include breaststroker Glenn Snyders, who was 5th at the Commonwealth Games in July in the 50 and 100 breaststrokes. Along with improving University of Florida swimmer Corey Main, the Kiwis will have an impressive front-half to a medley relay that could provide some excitement early in that race. Matthew Stanley, the 2012 World Short Course bronze medalist in the 400 free, can come down to the 100 to anchor that relay as well.
New Zealand earned a single medal at the 2010 Pan Pac Championships as part of a three-way tie for bronze in the 50 breaststroke from Emily Thomas. Thomas isn’t on this year’s roster, but with Boyle swimming well, New Zealand could see their medal total improve anyway in 2014 – especially with more familiar waters just across the Tasman Sea.
The full roster, along with coaching and support staffs, is below.
Pool Swimmers
Lauren Boyle | United | Auckland |
Mitchell Donaldson | North Shore | Auckland |
Dylan Dunlop-Barrett | Coast | Auckland |
Natasha Hind | Captial | Wellington |
Ewan Jackson | Howick | Counties Manukau |
Steven Kent | Coast | Auckland |
Samantha Lee | Capital | Wellington |
Samantha Lucie- Smith | Capital | Wellington |
Corey Main | Howick | Counties Manukau |
Laura Quilter | North Shore | Auckland |
Ellen Quirke | Capital | Wellington |
Emma Robinson | Capital | Wellington |
Glenn Snyders | North Shore | Auckland |
Matthew Stanley | Matamata | Waikato |
Open Water Swimmers
Kane Radford | Rotorua | Bay of Plenty |
Charlotte Webby | Aquabladz | Taranaki |
Coaching Team
David Lyles | Mens Head Coach |
Gary Hurring | Womens Head Coach |
Thomas Ansorg | Team Coach |
Support Staff
Tom Vandenbogaerde | Team Physiologist |
Jodi Cossor | Team Biomechanist |
Luis Villanueva | Team Leader |