Swimmers set for world championship shakedown
New Zealand’s world championship-bound swim team will have a final hit out at Waitakere on Saturday.
The nine-strong pool team will take part in special time trials before they head to the world championships in Rome next weekend.
The time trials replace the Grand Prix meet in Melbourne that was cancelled because of the swine flu outbreak with the team looking for competitive performances.
They will compete against arranged matchups with the session included in Swimming Auckland’s level two meet at West Wave Aquatic Centre.
“It’s an important hit out for the team and we are pleased to be able to do this as part of a swim meet,” said head coach Jan Cameron. “The swimmers will be fully suited and while they are still in full work, their coaches will be expecting some very competitive times.
“I would not be surprised to see some national records and the team coaches Thomas Ansorg and Scott Talbot will be looking for the swimmers to produce close to their best which will be a real confidence boost going into their taper and speed work at the pre-championship camp in Italy.”
The team will compete in key events led by the trio from the International Training Centre who are all ranked in the world’s top eight this year. Corney Swanepoel will swim a paced 100m butterfly and Glenn Snyders similarly in the 100m breaststroke. Moss Burmester will swim the 200 freestyle with Michael Jack (West Auckland Aquatics) – Jack will swim this race in Rome while Burmester will use it as preparation towards his 400m freestyle and 200m butterfly at the world championships.
Kurt Bassett (ITC) will swim the 100m backstroke with Daniel Bell (North Shore) with Bell also chasing a top time in the 50m butterfly at the start of the session.
Relay swimmer Cameron Gibson (United) will race over 50m freestyle while North Shore’s Hayley Palmer will swim the 100m freestyle.
The time trials start at 10am on Saturday and will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. The swimmers will sign autographs for the young swimmers at the level two meet after the session.
The team has a further final week of training before flying out to Italy on 13 July for a training camp at Teramo near the Adriatic coast before moving into their base in Rome ahead of the pool competition that begins on 26 July.
NOTE: Media are welcome to attend and interview the swimmers and coaches after the session. Please contact if you wish to attend for directions and information.
For further information contact:
Ian Hepenstall
Media liaison, Swimming New Zealand
Sports Media NZ Ltd
Tel 09 2327822
Mob 0275 613181
E: ian@sportsmedianz.com
