Eight championship records dashed on opening night
Eight championship records were dashed in an impressive opening night of finals at the 2008 Oceania Swim Championships in Christchurch tonight:
New Zealand and Australian swimmers achieved four records each, with all the kiwi marks achieved by members of the Beijing Olympic team.
The Swimming New Zealand high performance group of Corney Swanepoel, Helen Norfolk, Liz Coster and Moss Burmester established Oceania championship records, while the Australians in the record books went to Amy Smith, Theodore Pasialis and the outstanding Robert Hurley, who grabbed two new marks.
Norfolk had to dig deep into her renowned bag of fighting qualities to come from behind to edge out Beijing Olympic teammate Lauren Boyle in the 200m freestyle.
Boyle, currently on scholarship at the University of California in Berkley, led through the 150m mark in 1min 29sec.
Norfolk turned superbly to grab the lead with 15m remaining, going on to win in 2:00.31, which broke the championship record. It was only 1/10th of a second outside her own New Zealand record.
“That was so good to be pushed so hard by Lauren,” Norfolk said. “It’s really encouraging to be able to swim such a good time given our training load. And it is such good news for our freestyle relay team for Beijing to have both of us in good form.
“Actually neither of us realised we were swimming so fast. I wouldn’t mind having it over again if I knew because I came so close to finally going under that two minute mark.”
It was also an encouraging return to form for Boyle, who was a key part of New Zealand’s medal winning relay success in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Coster cleared out from team-mate Melissa Ingram to claim the 100m backstroke in a solid 1.01.10, which was well inside her own championship record.
“That was really pleasing. I was just outside my own personal best and that’s pleasing given the big block of work that we did in Australia and our fatigued state,” Coster said.
“I actually was hoping to go a fraction faster but overall I am really pleased.”
Burmester, the World Short Course Champion, claimed his record with an impressive second half for his 200m butterfly victory.
After the tough Australian camp and still feeling the effects of a virus, Burmester said his effort was a pass mark.
“I actually felt pretty heavy in the water but I guess that was to be expected given I am still unwell,” Burmester said.
“I saw the championship record and knew I was capable of going under that so it’s always good to get records.”
Swanepoel impressed with a strong performance in the 50m butterfly, comfortably home in 23.98s which broke his own championship record set in 2004. He was only 3/10ths off his New Zealand record.
Hurley took out the 200m freestyle in a classy 1:48.64, which broke the mark he set in the morning heats.
The lanky Australian, who just missed out on a place in the Australian team for the Beijing Olympics, was even more impressive in winning the 100m backstroke in 55.04. This broke the championship record by nearly two seconds and was only fractionally outside his personal best set in the Australian Olympic trials.
Smith was well clear in winning the 200m butterfly in 2:09.63, while Theodore Pasialis took out the 1500m freestyle in 15:27.31, which broke the 15 year old mark set by the great Daniel Kowalski.
The championship continues until Sunday.
