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World Championship finalist Hannah McLean has earned a nomination for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games after being invalided out of the trials that start in Auckland tomorrow.

McLean, fifth in the 100m backstroke at Montreal world championships in July, was forced to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games Trials with an ankle tendon injury incurred during the FINA World Cup in Sydney two weeks ago.

However her times from Montreal will earn the North Shore swimmer a nomination for Melbourne, as long as three other competitors do not swim quicker this week.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee today confirmed to Swimming New Zealand that McLean’s performances in Montreal, where she bettered the top standard for the Commonwealth Games in all three backstroke events from 50m to 200m, would mean that she can be considered for an official nomination.

``Our selection criteria for the Commonwealth Games specifically covers this eventuality for a world class swimmer. Their times in the preceding 12 months up to the Trials can be considered if the swimmer is unable to compete due to extenuating circumstances,’’ Swimming New Zealand Director of Coaching, Clive Rushton said.

``In view of Hannah McLean’s injury and in accordance with the qualifying criteria, her performances from the recent World Championships in Montreal will be considered by the selectors when finalizing the team.

``As Hannah was under the Commonwealth Games selection standard in all three backstroke events in Montreal, she will be nominated for Melbourne 2006 unless three New Zealanders beat her times at this week’s trials.

``She is ranked sixth in the world so it would be reasonably unlikely for this to happen.’’

Rushton said that while McLean was very keen to compete, it was a prudent decision by her and her coaching team not to compete.

``It would have been a huge risk for Hannah at this stage. Fully fit she is a distinct medal prospect for Melbourne and therefore she is better off thinking of the bigger picture and taking the risk that three swimmers cannot better her world championship time

McLean said she was disappointed she could not compete this week.

``It is really disappointing. I was looking forward to it but I knew I was not right. I have a struggle pushing off from the wall or kicking hard.’’

She underwent a further scan today and was monitoring the progress with her medical team and hoped to compete in the Australian Trials at the end of January.

McLean clocked 28.90s in Montreal for the 50m backstroke with the top standard at 29.18s, 1:01.14 in the 100m (D Standard 1:02.23) and 2:12.57 in the 200m (D Standard 2:12.97).

The only other New Zealand backstroker to attain the top D Standard in Montreal was Liz Coster in the 50m.

The New Zealand championships begin tomorrow until Saturday with heats at 9am and finals from 6pm.