Mixed bag for Taranaki Olympians

It’s been a mixed bag for Taranaki Olympians competing in Tokyo.

Swimming Zac Reid was on show in the 400m freestyle heats on Saturday night, before Black Sticks players Hope Ralph and Holly Pearson were involved in the first pool match against Argentina.

In the pool, Reid finished sixth and missed qualification for the final.

He finished with a time of 3:49.85 in heat three, more than 2 seconds outside his entry time.

The eighth fastest time of the 400m freestyle final qualifiers was 3:45.68.  

Reid will compete in the 800m freestyle event starting on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Taranaki strikers Hope Ralph and Holly Pearson scored a goal each in their 3-0 win against Argentina.

Up against the second ranked team, Ralph deflected a Megan Hull drag flick off the Argentina goalie, which came from a New Zealand penalty corner.

Pearson’s goal came from a probing run into the circle by Tessa Jopp before passing to the striker to score powerfully. It was Pearson’s first goal for the Blacksticks and in her 25^th match.   

The Blacksticks play Japan tomorrow (Monday) in their second pool match.

The New Zealand women’s sevens team don’t start their campaign until Thursday afternoon (NZT) with Taranaki’s Gayle Broughton and Michaela Blyde in action.