Seven Bay of Plenty youngsters have earned places in a coveted national junior swim squad.

Brin Watson, 12, Talitha McEwan, 11, Renee Carey, 10, Henry Scholes, 9, Ryan Teixeira, 9, Dane Wooster, 8, and Dulcie Copeland, 8, won their respective age groups at the Legend of the Lake swim held in Rotorua last weekend.

Their wins in the 200m OceanKids event have secured them places in the Jetstar Super Swim Squad. They will travel to Auckland with a caregiver for a weekend camp with some top name elite swimmers and coaches in May. Throughout the season, each qualifying event will allow children the opportunity to earn a place in the 36 member squad.

Their success brings the total number of Bay of Plenty squad members to nine out of the current 18 qualifying places. They join Liam Shanahan and Te Manewha Rikihana, who won their places in the national squad at the Capital Classic swim.

Dane Wooster says, "It's going to be fun and I can't wait to meet some of New Zealand's swimming superstars!"

'I am looking forward to learning from some top swimmers and mixing with other swimmers who want to improve,” says Brin Watson.

For previous squad members Talitha McEwan, Renee Carey and Henry Scholes, they were ecstatic to be able to attend the camp again.

Veronika McEwan, Talitha McEwan's mother, says Talitha ‘jumped up screaming' when she found out she had made it into the squad again.

'The camp is a great way for her to have fun and meet with all the friends she has made over the years. As a parent it is really nice to see those friendships grow.”

New Zealand Ocean Swim Series event director Scott Rice says Jetstar's support over the past five years has benefitted over 150 children and their families throughout New Zealand.

'It's not just the development of their technical skills but also the confidence they have gained from being exposed to positive, Olympic role models as well as training alongside their national swimming peers. Many of them have gone on to compete at national level.”

The NZ Ocean Swim Series runs from November 2016 to April 2017. The 2017 Jetstar Super Swim Squad Camp will take place in Auckland on May 6-7.

The next opportunity for young swimmers to win a place in the squad will be at the upcoming Christchurch Crown swim March 4.

For more information or to register for the 200m OceanKids event or other distances in this popular series, visit www.oceanswim.co.nz