PNG end Aust outing on a high

 THE last four days of competition at this year’s Hancock Prospecting Australian National Swimming Championships held in Adelaide saw Team PNG finish the competition on a high.

Sam Seghers competed in his last two events, the 50m freestyle and 100m butterfly, in the heat sessions.

Seghers’ time of 23.58 seconds was just shy of his personal best, while in the 100m butterfly, 55.17 saw Seghers make a personal best time. 

 Ryan Pini continued his great form with a 52.86 in his 100m butterfly event, just 0.50 off from the Olympic A qualifying time. 

This is Pini’s fastest time recorded since the 2012 London Olympics.

 In the 50m breaststroke, Ryan Maskelyne completed his last event for the meet with a solid 31.07. 

In the corresponding women’s event, Barbara Vali-Skelton swam a 34.83.

 Day seven and last day of competition for Pini saw him swim a personal best time of 25.62 in the 50m backstroke to qualify 6th fastest for the final. 

Pini went faster again in the final swimming 25.55 to break his own PNG National record.

 At the close of the competition, Pini said: “I’m very pleased with my results and feeling positive for the lead up towards Rio. This weekend will see the four swimmers who competed in Adelaide return to Port Moresby to compete at the Theodist PNG National Championships to be held at the Taurama Indoor and Aquatic Centre this weekend.

This annual event will bring together the country’s talented, enthusiastic and aspiring athletes and volunteers from to compete over the weekend.  The championships are a FINA-sanctioned qualifying meet for the Rio Olympic Games. The four sessions are:

Session 1 – Fri,  April 22, 5pm;

Session 2 – Sat, April 23, 8am; 

Session 3 – Sat, April 23, 5pm;

Session 4 – Sun, April 24, 8am.