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World championship swimmers Lauren Boyle and Robert Voss, just hours after arriving back from Shanghai, claimed the opening titles on the first night of finals at the New Zealand Youth and Open Championships in Christchurch.

Boyle, 18 from West Auckland Aquatics and Voss, 23, from North Shore won their first open senior titles in the 400m freestyle at the QE2 Pool tonight.

The pair were part of the New Zealand team to compete in the World Short Course Championships that finished in Shanghai on Monday (NZ time) and arrived in Christchurch yesterday afternoon.

The remainder of the Shanghai squad, including medal winners Moss Burmester and Hannah McLean, arrived this afternoon and will compete tomorrow.

It was particularly impressive from Boyle, who was also a member of the Commonwealth Games team in Melbourne.

She took out the women’s title in 4:19.50 ahead of Verity Hicks (Howick Pakuranga) and Joyce Wiegersma (Southland) in the final.

“It was an impressive effort from Lauren who was one of the real standouts at the Commonwealth Games,’’ Swimming New Zealand high performance director Clive Rushton said. “She was arguably the most improved swimmer in the squad who produced some superb performances in both individual events and relays.

“Lauren is a real find and a swimmer who could lead our aspirations in both freestyle and in our relays going forward to Beijing and beyond.”

Voss took out the men’s 400m freestyle after a dogfight with Dunedin ‘s Bryn Murphy (Waves). The North Shore swimmer prevailed in 3:59.79 with Murphy only 1/10^th of a second behind and Karl Poole (Hamilton) third.

“Robert did well in Shanghai and definitely bolstered the relay teams. He is one of the swimmers we will be hoping will take the next step and become a key part of our elite programme going forward.”

Two 16-year-olds earned a place in the team to compete in the World Youth Championships to be staged in Rio in August. Kurt Bassett (Mt Eden, Auckland) clocked 2:05.27 to top qualifiers in the 200m backstroke while Penelope Marshall (Greerton, Bay of Plenty) was fastest in the women’s 200m backstroke in 2:15.95.

July’s Oceania Championships in Cairns is already shaping up as one of the biggest national teams to leave the shores with 27 already qualified after the Commonwealth Games and the opening day of action in Christchurch today.

The championship concludes on Sunday.

Finals results, day 1:

400m freestyle, men: Robert Voss (North Shore) 3:59.79, 1; Bryn Murphy (Waves) 3:59.91, 2; Karl Poole (Hamilton) 4:03.24, 3.

Women: Lauren Boyle (West Auckland Aquatics) 4:19.50, 1; Verity Hicks (Howick Pakuranga) 4:22.51, 2; Joyce Wiegersma (Southland) 4:22.61, 3.