Burmester out of medals in World University Games
Top ranked Moss Burmester finished out of the medals on the opening night of swim finals at the World University Games in Bangkok last night.
Burmester, who qualified fifth, finished in fifth place in the finals after fading over the final 50m on the 200m butterfly, which is normally his strength.
He took the lead on the second 50m, turning in a super-fast 55.08s and was still leading at the 150m mark in 1:25.57. However he hit the wall with a 32.56s final 50m to slip back to fifth in the race won by Japan’s Ryusake Sakata in 1:55.92.
The Melbourne Commonwealth Games gold medalist was the only New Zealand individual to qualify for an A final on the first day of the swim meet.
The women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team finished eighth in the final. After qualifying fifth fastest in a slick 3:46.64 the quartet of Helen Norfolk, Liz Coster, Melissa Ingram and Te Rina Taite couldn't replicate that form to be nearly two seconds slower in the final won by USA.
In other action Glenn Snyders (pictured) finished second in the B final of the 200m breaststroke to break the New Zealand record. He clocked 2:15.60 to nip under the previous record held by his North Shore clubmate Dean Kent of 2:15.98.
John Zulch (North Shore) was seventh in the B final of the 200m backstroke in 2:03.44 and Andrew McMillan (North Shore) was eighth in the B final of the 200m butterfly.
In the morning heats Sarah Vettoretti and Te Rina Taite were 35th and 36th fastest in the 50m breaststroke and Cameron Stanley was eighth in his heat of the 200m backstroke.
The New Zealand team comprises 73 athletes from nine different sports. With over 10,000 competitors and officials from 170 nations competing in 17 sports, the World University Games are the second largest global multi-sports event after the Summer Olympics.
Day 1 finals results:
200m butterfly: Ryusake Sakata (JPN) 1:55.92, 1; Yin Chen (CHN) 1:56.59, 2; Daniel Madwed (USA) 1:57.16, 3. Moss Burmester (NZL) 1:58.13, 5.
4x100m freestyle relay: USA 3:40.85, 1; China 3:41.38, 2; Germany 3:42.68, 3; New Zealand (Helen Norfolk, Liz Coster, Melissa Ingram, Te Rina Taite) 3:48.27, 8.
For further swim information:
Ian Hepenstall, Sports Media NZ Ltd, Tel 0275 613181, E: ian@sportsmedianz.com
