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Commonwealth Games medalist Hannah McLean topped the qualifiers on the opening day of the world short course swim championships in China today.

McLean set a New Zealand record to be top qualifier for tonight’s semifinals for the 100m backstroke on the first morning of heats in Shanghai. The 24-year-old led a strong opening session for the Kiwis with five individuals through to tonight’s semifinals while Helen Norfolk and the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay team will contest finals.

The New Zealanders broke three national records this morning (China time). McLean clocked 59.11s to better her own New Zealand record by nearly half a second in the 100m backstroke, with the previous mark set in Berlin three years ago. She headed Australians Tayliah Zimmer and Sophie Edington in the heats, to reverse the efforts at Melbourne two weeks ago.

Zoe Baker broke her own New Zealand record to be fifth fastest qualifier in the 50m breaststroke, timed at 30.69s to take 1/10^th of a second off the previous mark.

The Auckland quartet of Lauren Boyle, Alison Fitch, Melissa Ingram and Helen Norfolk slashed eight seconds off the old record in the heats of the 4x200m freestyle relay. The Melbourne bronze medalists were the sixth fastest in 7:59.39 just behind the Australians. Veteran Fitch was the fastest of the Kiwis in 1:58.47s.

Christchurch teenager Annabelle Carey joined Baker as a semifinalist in the 50m breaststroke, breaking a national age group record to clock 32.18s while Liz Coster qualified for the semifinals of the 100m backstroke with McLean. She was fifth fastest in 1:00.23s, setting a personal best.

Commonwealth Games star Moss Burmester made it through to the semifinals of the 100m butterfly as the 13^th fastest in 52.76s.

Corney Swanepoel, Andrew McMillan and Scott Talbot-Cameron did not advance in their events, all suffering from a stomach virus this week.

Robert Voss impressed with a personal best in the 200m freestyle while medley specialist Dean Kent grabbed the medley relay spot after edging clubmate Glenn Snyders in the 100m breaststroke heats.

“I was delighted with the opening morning,” coach Jan Cameron said. “Hannah McLean was extremely impressive as was the women’s relay to go under eight minutes for the first time. I think there’s more left in both of these swims tonight.

“Both Zoe and Annabelle looked very good and there were some strong performances by some of the younger swimmers. This meet is a wonderful opportunity for them.

“There were strong personal best efforts from a number of swimmers also like Robert Voss and Liz Coster.

“The team has settled in well in China and looking forward to the meet. The only unfortunate thing is the illness to the three guys that they picked up in Melbourne.”

Note: Coverage of tonight’s finals is live on Sky starting at 11pm.

Results, day 1 heats:

• 200m freestyle: Robert Voss 1:47.38, 13^th; Andrew McMillan 1:49.77, 31.
• 50m breaststroke: Zoe Baker 30.69, 5^th (NZ Record), Annabelle Carey 32.18, 13^th (NZ Age Record).
• 100m backstroke: Scott Talbot-Cameron 55.11, 25; Lewis Williams 56.71, 26.
• 100m breaststroke: Dean Kent 1:00.90. 26; Glenn Snyders 1:00.99, 28.
• 100m backstroke: Hannah McLean 59.54, 1^st (NZ Record); Liz Coster 1:00.23, 5.
• 100m butterfly: Moss Burmester 52.76, 13; Corney Swanepoel 54.22, 33.
• 400m individual medley: Helen Norfolk 4:39.48, 8; Kelly Bentley 3:53.44, 19.
• Men’s 4x100m freestyle relay: NZ (Burmester, Cameron Gibson, Voss, McMillan) 3:20.03, 12.
• Women’s 4x200m freestyle relay: NZ (Boyle, Fitch, Ingram, Norfolk) 7:59.39, 6 (NZ record).