Gibson celebrates Commonwealth Games swim
It proved a night of triumph and pain with three further qualifying performances on the third day of the Commonwealth Games Swim Trials in Auckland tonight.
North Shore backstroker Cameron Gibson, who missed out by just 1/100th of a second in the 100m last night, booked his place for Melbourne with a gutsy display in the 200m tonight.
The lanky Gibson zoomed home in the final 50m to clock 2:01.65, just 1/10th of a second inside the qualifying mark.
He was joined by clubmate Dean Kent who secured his second qualifying performance with an emphatic display in the 200m individual medley.
The 27-year-old was more than a second inside the qualifying mark, despite swimming injured this week, and is looking forward to the build up to Melbourne.
``This event is a platform to build on. I am looking forward to getting back into full training and getting over there to kick some Aussie butt.’’
A third relay team qualified in the women’s 4x100m medley relay with a collection of individual times throughout the evening, cemented with Liz Coster’s butterfly effort in the regional medley relay.
The final make-up of the four swimmers for the medley relay in Melbourne will be decided at the end of the meet.
This bring the total to 12 individuals and three relay teams after three days of the trials that finish on Saturday.
The pain was felt by Corney Swanepoel, who was only 9/100th of a second from qualifying in the 50m butterfly but produced a strong performance to top the semifinalists and set-up a further opportunity in tomorrow’s final.
Christchurch teenager Annabelle Carey celebrated a New Zealand record in the 100m breaststroke, clocking 1:10.58, more than half a second inside her own record. But she was just 4/10ths of a second outside the qualifying time for Melbourne and like Swanepoel has the chance to better than in the final tomorrow.
Gibson knew he was probably behind the qualifying time at the 150m mark but made it hurt with an outstanding 30second final 50m to secure his place for Melbourne.
``I don’t really like this event as a race because it hurts so much but I’m good at it,’’ Gibson said. ``I was disappointed to miss by so little last night but not too despondent because I knew it was good for this race tonight.’’
He doubled up later in the night to win the 50m freestyle final by the narrowest of margins from Scott Cantley (Capital) and Callum Joll (Napier Aquahawks).
There were brave performances by Melissa Ingram (North Shore) who won the 200m backstroke just over a second outside the qualifying mark, while 17-year-old Lauren Boyle (West Auckland Aquatics) took out the 400m freestyle but was only a second outside the Melbourne mark. She has already qualified in the 100m yesterday.
Alison Fitch continued her domination of women’s freestyle claiming the 100m title for the eighth time.
Earlier Manchester Commonwealth Games silver medalist Liz Van Welie brought the curtain down on her long career.
The 26-year-old, formerly of Dunedin but now in Tauranga, won her ninth consecutive 200m butterfly title but was three seconds outside the Games qualifying time.
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