World Swim Championships – NZ Wrap Day 2 heats
Commonwealth record-holder Hannah McLean became the first New Zealand swimmer to qualify for a night session on the second day of heats at the 12th FINA World Championships in Melbourne today.
The 25-year-old is comfortably through to tonight’s semi-finals in the women’s 100m backstroke. McLean swam a controlled race, alongside world record-holder Natalie Coughlin (USA) who was the fastest qualifier in 1:00.38. The North Shore swimmer clocked a comfortable 1:01.94 to be fifth in her heat and 12th overall for tonight’s semi-finals.
This follows an excellent start to the world championships for Mclean who broke team-mate Alison Fitch’s 100m freestyle national record as the lead-off swimmer in the freestyle relay heats yesterday. McLean was ranked fourth in the 100m backstroke going into the meet.
“There was a lot of pressure and a lot of nerves in this event this morning with some big names not getting through,” head coach Jan Cameron said.
“Hannah is capable of qualifying for the top eight and she knows what she will have to do tonight. We feel she will need to go 1:01 or less and close to her best to get through. It won’t matter that she is in an outside lane. The key will be swimming in the centre of the lane.”
Clubmate Liz Coster, the national titleholder who is specializing in the sprint events at the championships, did not progress, finishing outside her best in 33rd placing overall among more than 80 starters. “Liz did not quite handle the pressure this morning. She will be better for getting that swim out of the way because she is quite capable and has great potential in her sprint events,” Cameron said.
Both Andrew McMillan (Neptune, Dunedin) and Michael Jack (West Auckland Aquatics) were on the personal bests in the same heat of the 200m freestyle. Both improved their world rankings to 37th and 41st respectively although neither advanced.
Eighteen-year-old Cantabrian Annabelle Carey could not replicate her record form from the trials to miss out on advancing in the 100m breaststroke. Carey, who turned 18 at the Thredbo training camp, faded over the final 50 to clock 1:10.30, a second outside her national record. She finished 21st but was disappointed at not qualifying for the semi-finals, with 1:09.89 the final qualifying spot.
“That was Annabelle’s fastest morning swim ever. She is still very young and now needs to get her head around how to get up and swim your best in the morning.”
England-based Cameron Gibson, now training in Bath under Kim Swanwick, was also outside his best, clocking 57.40 in the 100m backstroke, to be 34th fastest. “Cameron has swum much faster when he was in New Zealand. He has a swim under his belt now and we need him to be swimming around 56 seconds for our medley relay to have a chance.”
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Results Day 2 heats (time and overall placing):
100m backstroke: Hannah McLean 1:01.94, 12; Liz Coster 1:03.58, 33.
200m freestyle: Andrew McMillan 1:51.10, 37; Michael Jack 1:51.45, 41.
100m breaststroke: Annabelle Carey 1:10.30, 21.
100m backstroke: Cameron Gibson 57.40, 34.
NOTE: Hannah McLean’s semi-final is the third last event – and expected to swim at approx 10.30pm NZ time.
For interviews contact:
Mark Saunders, Team Manager, Tel 0061 437 078533
For further information:
Ian Hepenstall, Sports Media NZ, Tel 0275 613181, E: ianhep@xtra.co.nz
