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A New Zealand record was small consolation for Kiwi swimmer Dean Kent who was pipped for a medal in the 400m individual medley at the Commonwealth Games pool in Melbourne tonight.

Kent clocked 4:18.20 to break his own national record at the Melbourne Aquatic Centre but was edged into fourth place by the Scottish pair of David Carry and Euan Dale with Australian Travis Nederpelt third.

Six New Zealand swimmers won through to tomorrow night’s finals with a triple double for the Kiwi team. Hannah McLean and Liz Coster qualified in the semifinals of the 50m backstroke, Nichola Chellingworth and Alison Fitch in the 50m freestyle along with Moss Burmester and Corney Swanepoel in the 100m butterfly.

Kent said a New Zealand record was an achievement and he gave the sport’s most grueling event everything he had.

``I am bitterly disappointed of course. I would rather have swum slower and got a medal. But I gave it everything I had . I could barely get out of the pool after the race,’’ Kent said. ``My plan was to go out fast, and get a lead in the backstroke and breaststroke because the other three were superior in the freestyle.

``I couldn’t get that buffer than I needed, although it looks like I have come home in my best freestyle time ever.’’

Kent said he faces a big challenge to recover sufficiently for the 200m individual medley tomorrow.

McLean and Coster both impressed in the 50m backstroke with McLean fourth fastest in 28.98s, only 8/100^th of a second outside her New Zealand record.

``I wanted to go under 29 seconds so I am really pleased with that. There’s more left yet but that is two good swims today,’’ said McLean, adding she was pleased to put yesterday’s disappointment in missing out on the 100m backstroke behind her.

``I am looking forward to the final tomorrow night and on to the 200m backstroke as well as the relay.’’

Coster clocked 29.29s, just 2/10ths outside her personal best, to be fifth fastest with three Australians in Giann Rooney, Sophie Edington and Tayliah Zimmer with the Kiwi pair keen to stop an Australian clean sweep.

``I spoke with Hannah today and said it would be great if we both made the final,’’ Coster said. ``Personally I am stoked to make the final especially after missing out in the butterfly.’’

Chellingworth clocked 26.00s to be fifth fastest in the semifinals of the 50m freestyle with Fitch seventh in 26.09s, her second personal best of the day.

``it is really great. After Moss set led the way, the girls are now starting to get into the swing of things,’’ Fitch said.

Chellingworth said it was a bonus to have two swimmers through to the final.

``We found in the semifinal it was good because we could sit and chat and have a laugh together which definitely took the stress out of things.’’

The Brisbane-based swimmer said she was looking forward to the final.

``This is what we do all the hard work for. And there’s a huge sense of pride to be part of this New Zealand team.’’

Burmester was just outside his personal best to be fourth fastest qualifier in the 100m butterfly in 53.15s with Swanepoel seventh fastest in 53.77.

``I am stoked to get through to the final. I am starting to feed good in the pool again and very happy to be in the final,’’ Swanepoel said.

Earlier Glenn Snyders missed out on a place in the final of the 50m breaststroke, finishing 10^th fastest in 29.27s, just outside his personal best while Annabelle Carey was 11^th in the semifinals of the 100m breaststroke, with Scott Talbot-Cameron 11^th fastest in the semifinals of the 100m backstroke. His teammate and 200m bronze medalist Cameron Gibson withdrew with illness.

New Zealand times (overall placing in brackets):

Semifinals:

50m breaststroke: Glenn Snyders 29.27s (10^th )  

50m backstroke: Hannah McLean 28.98 (4^th), Liz Coster 29.29 (5^th).

100 m breaststroke: Annabelle Carey 1:11.99 (11^th)

100m backstroke: Scott Talbot-Cameron 56.58 (11^th)

50m freestyle: Nichola Chellingworth 26.00 (5^th), Alison Fitch 26.09 (7^th).

100m butterfly: Moss Burmester 53.15 (4^th), Corney Swanepoel 53.77 (7^th).

Final:

400m individual medley: Dean Kent 4:18.20 (4^th) NZ Record.