Three more swimmers and relay team qualify for Melbourne
Freestylers Alison Fitch and Lauren Boyle, Paralympian Daniel Sharp along with a further relay team beat the qualifying mark for the Commonwealth Games in the second night of finals at the New Zealand Swimming Championships in Auckland tonight.
Eleven individuals and two relay teams have now qualified for Melbourne on the opening two days of the championships at the West Wave Aquatic Centre in Waitakere City.
It proved a case of nearly but not quite for a number of other swimmers including Cameron Gibson and Corney Swanepoel, who missed the qualifying mark by a fingertip.
Fitch, a veteran from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, was delighted with her performance and pleased to drag up-and-coming star, Boyle through with her.
The North Shore 25-year-old was always in command, clocking 56.29s to win her semifinal of the 100m freestyle with the 17-year-old Boyle home in 56.54, both under the qualifying standard.
``It was not my fastest start but I tried to work on something different than this morning’s heats. I wanted to bring it home stronger and it felt good,’’ Fitch said. ``I have not tapered for this meet so I know there’s more left.
``It was great to see Lauren through as well. She is an enormous talent.’’
North Shore swimmers Nichola Chellingworth and Helen Norfolk finished first and second in the first semifinal, and their times, along with that of Fitch and Boyle has qualified the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team for Melbourne.
Later in the night the Auckland combination of Fitch, Norfolk, Te Rina Taite and Rebecca Linton also went under the qualifying mark clocking 3:49.24 to win the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay.
Sharp, 17, swimming in his home pool, qualified for the Commonwealth Games in the 50m freestyle for swimmers with a disability. The bronze medalist from Athens clocked 25.94, nearly two seconds inside the qualifying mark in a solo display.
``There were some exciting swims tonight. It was particularly pleasing to see the women’s freestyle relay team to qualify, which is further proof of their burgeoning talent,’’ Swimming New Zealand Director of Coaching Clive Rushton said.
``It was a top effort from Alison Fitch who is swimming so well, and a major breakthrough for Lauren Boyle tonight.
``It was tough on those who went close like Swanepoel and Gibson but they all swam well and I believe they are all capable of reaching the qualifying standard this week.’’
The heartening performances from the female freestylers were measured against the heart-wrenching effort from Gibson, who was just 1/100th of a second outside the qualifying mark in the 100m backstroke. His clubmate Scott Talbot-Cameron cleared out from the start but had to withstand a storming finish from Gibson, holding on to win in 56.02, quicker than his qualifying effort yesterday. But Gibson clocked 56.33, 1/100th of a second outside the mark. He has further chances to qualify in the 200m backstroke and the relay.
Swanepoel also produced a strong performance finishing second to clubmate Moss Burmester in the final of the 100m butterfly and while the winner went faster than his qualifying performance yesterday, Swanepoel was only 2/10th of a second outside the Melbourne mark.
He has further chances to qualify in the 50m butterfly and as part of the medley relay team.
Sweden’s three-time Olympic medalist Therese Alshammar produced the world’s seventh fastest time of the year to win the 50m butterfly final ahead of Christchurch’s Georgina Toomey.
Former world record-holder Zoe Baker produced another world-class performance to win the final of the 50m breaststroke in 31.62s, also well inside the qualifying standard. She nearly dragged Christchurch 16-year-old Annabelle Carey through to the mark for Melbourne, finishing in 32.33, 3/10ths outside the qualifying time.
World championship finalist Liz Coster (North Shore) won the 100m backstroke final from clubmate Melissa Ingram while 15-year-old Cara Baker (Kiwi Swim Manawatu) won the 800m freestyle final in 8:56.97.
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