Hazel Ouwehand in disbelief after hitting the Paris 2024 qualification time and breaking the New Zealand record in the 100m Butterfly at the 2024 NZ Swimming Champs. (credit BW Media) Photo: BW Media
Auckland's Hazel Ouwehand has continued her record breaking run at the NZ Swimming Championships in Hawkes Bay, going under an Olympic qualifying time in the process.
The 24-year-old has broken the New Zealand record for the women's 100-metre butterfly in her heat, finishing in a time of 57.43 seconds to qualify fastest for Thursday evening's final and go under the Paris Games qualifying time.
"I really wanted to do the time this morning and get that weight off my shoulders, I'd swum it last month so I knew I had it in me," Ouwehand said.
"I felt like jelly right before getting on the block, the last 15-20m hurt like hell and I'm so tired now but I'm so, so happy with that."
On Wednesday, Ouwehand broke the national record in the 50m butterfly (a non Olympic event).
Meanwhile, Christchurch's Lili-Fox Mason has swum under the Paralympic qualification time in her heat in the women's 400m Freestyle multi class, with the S10 swimmer touching the wall in 4:58.00s.
"I'm super stoked with that swim, yesterday didn't go to plan so to come back and do what I needed to do was a real relief," Mason said.
"After an injury last year, I've been putting in lots of training and I'm really happy with that time and where I'm at."
More than 180 athletes, including World Champions Lewis Clareburt and Erika Fairweather, are competing at the 2024 NZ Swimming Championships, which finish on Saturday.
The event is the final opportunity for New Zealand's top swimmers to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
