Swimming: Kean into Games 200m backstroke final

Gareth Kean reacts after qualifying in the Men's 200m Backstroke. Photo / AP

Still in search of their first medal at the Commonwealth Games, the swimming squad produced another finalist at the pool this morning.

Wellington backstroker Gareth Kean overcame a slow start to ease into tonight's men's 200m final, just making the cut with the eighth-fastest qualifying time.

Kean, 19, swam two minutes 00.86 seconds for fourth in his heat, then had to watch the scoreboard to see whether that was fast enough to see further action in his strongest event.

Kean is ranked third in the Commonwealth over 200m coming into the Games, based on current times.

Daniel Bell swam 2min 02.34sec in an earlier heat of the event to be eliminated.

New Zealand will contest four other finals in the evening session - Hayley Palmer in the women's 100m freestyle, Melissa Ingram the women's 100m backstroke, Glenn Snyders a medal chance in the men's 100m breaststroke, and the women's 4 x 200m relay.

Lauren Boyle, Penelope Marshall, Amaka Gessler and Natasha Hind are the likely relay starters.

Southland medley ace Natalie Wiegersma was today 13th fastest in the women's 100m butterfly heats, with her 1min 01.17sec good enough to slot her into tonight's semifinals.

- NZPA