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Kiwi swimmers hoping to make a big splash

New Zealand will be hoping for to take their biggest ever overseas team to the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne as a result of performances at next week’s trials in Auckland.

Swimming New Zealand national coaching director Clive Rushton is hoping up to 12 swimmers and three relay teams will earn a spot on the team to Melbourne from the New Zealand Championships which double as the official trial at the West Wave Aquatic Centre in Waitakere City.

Most hopes centre on the proven performers from the high performance centre at North Shore’s Millennium Institute, who produced outstanding results at this year’s world championship in Montreal.

In fact with the high standards achieved at Montreal, some of the stars have not fully rested and tapered for these championships, expecting to qualify and therefore maximize their training on the bigger picture of Melbourne in March.

``There’s palpable excitement throughout the whole sport at the thought of these particular trials because of the significant breakthrough made by our swimmers internationally at the World Championships and World University Games this year,’’ Rushton said.

``I am expecting some thrilling races and certainly I would not be surprised if we end up with our biggest ever team.

``And while a number of the top performers won’t be fully tapered for this meet, I still expect many personal bests. I’m also expecting some of the youngsters to put their hands up and possibly even knock off some of the established performers.’’

New Zealand currently boasts 20 performances ranked in the top eight in the Commonwealth this year, and therefore potential finalists in Melbourne. This includes 10 performances in the top three this year.

Teenager Corney Swanepoel is currently ranked No 1 in the Commonwealth in the 100m butterfly and is keen to erase the memories of the Montreal world championships.

Experience will play a real key with 27-year-old Dean Kent ranked second in the 200m individual medley, and 25-year-old Helen Norfolk third in the same event.

There will be considerable expectation of Moss Burmester in both the 100m and 200m butterfly, while Liz Coster, a finalist at the worlds in Montreal, will be looking to improve further in the 50m butterfly.

Star of Montreal was backstroker Hannah McLean, a podium possibility in all three backstroke events, who may miss the trials after suffering a foot injury. She has damaged the tendons around the Achilles and is unable to push off the wall with any vigour. McLean has already reached the qualifying standard and her coaching staff may well put her in cotton wool until Melbourne.

Christchurch-based former world record holder Zoe Baker has been in excellent form throughout 2005, culminating in a fifth placing at the world championships in her first outing in New Zealand colours. The veteran went on to set a New Zealand record without taper at the Spring Short Course Championships in her specialist 50m breaststroke.

Melbourne Commonwealth Games Head coach Jan Cameron has worked hard on developing the depth of talent in relays, under the belief that a strong and competitive relay squad will result in depth of talent in individual strokes.

That was borne out with both women’s freestyle and the men’s medley relay teams making the finals at the world championships. With the Great Britain team at the world championships splitting to their respective countries for Melbourne, this would suggest all three relay teams should qualify and rate as medal chances in March.

The championships will also boast two-time world champion Therese Alshammar from Sweden, competing on the first three days on her way to the European Championships and fellow sprinter Michelle Engelsman from Australia, the former Oceania champion.

The trials are also expected to showcase some of New Zealand’s burgeoning swim talent with the likes of Kelly Bentley (Capital, Wellington), Georgina Toomey (Jasi, Christchurch), Annabelle Carey (Aqua Gym, Christchurch), Laren Boyle (West Auckland Aquatics), Glenn Snyders (North Shore) and Cara Baker (Kiwi West, Manawatu).

And at the other end of the spectrum will be hopeful veterans Toni Jeffs (Capital) and Liz Van Welie (Greerton, Bay of Plenty), both former Commonwealth Games medalists, chasing a Melbourne spot.

The championships start on Tuesday until Saturday with heats from 9am and finals from 6pm each day.

Coverage will be screened each evening on TV One with a one hour wrap on Sky TV following the meet.