Seven swimmers have secured new or promoted squad placements following the successful completion of the FedEx National Short Course Swimming Championships in Lae, Morobe Province highlighting the continued development of swimming talent in Papua New Guinea.

The two-day championships, which began and concluded earlier this month, brought together athletes from the Lae Amateur Swimming Club (LASC) and Boroko Amateur Swimming Club (BASC) to compete, improve their performances and progress through Papua New Guinea Swimming Inc.’s (PNGSI) national athlete development pathway.

Among the standout performers was Helena Faunt of BASC, who broke the girls’ 14-year-old 50-metre short-course freestyle record with a time of 28.38 seconds.

Faunt surpassed the previous record of 28.55 seconds, held by Savannah Tkatchenko since 2014, and earned a place in the BSP Kundu Silver Target Squad.

Isaac Gure of LASC was promoted to the PNGAX Gold Intermediate Squad, while Kamaljith Ashok Kumar, N’Drewak Buis and Lahzi Iha of BASC, together with Elshadai Salum of LASC, secured places in the PNGAX Silver Intermediate Squad.

Nahla Nap Papol of BASC earned a place in the PNGAX Silver Junior Squad.

The seven placements bring the total number of swimmers across the BSP Kundu Target Squad and PNGAX Junior and Intermediate Squads to 42.

PNGSI president Ryan Pini said the results were encouraging and reflected the importance of providing swimmers with opportunities to compete, improve and progress through the national development pathway.

“Having seven swimmers achieve squad placements, alongside Helena Faunt’s outstanding record-breaking performance, demonstrates the potential emerging within our swimming community.”

He congratulated the swimmers on their achievements and acknowledged the commitment of their coaches, clubs and families in supporting their development.

Furthermore, he acknowledged the contribution of coaches, clubs and families in supporting the athletes’ progress.

PNGSI thanked FedEx, through PNG Air Freight, for its continued support of swimming in the country.