Swimming: Norfolk into second medley final

New Zealand swimmer Helen Norfolk has qualified fourth fastest for tonight's Commonwealth Games 400m individual medley final.

Norfolk was second to Englishwoman Rebecca Cooke in her heat at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre today, swimming four minutes 51.46 seconds.

Norfolk, fourth in the 200m individual medley final, swam 4min 51.46sec.

She and Games 800m freestyle gold medallist Cooke turned for the final 100m freestyle together.

Her chances of a medal soared when unwell Australian world championship finalist Lara Carroll failed to qualify, swimming 13th fastest.

New Zealand qualified third-fastest in the men's 4 x 100m medley relay, behind a dominant Australia and Canada.

Games 100m fourth placegetter Corney Swanepoel swam the coveted butterfly leg, ahead of dual Games medallist Moss Burmester.

Should Burmester be part of a medal-winning effort in the final tonight, both he and Swanepoel will get medals.

Scott Talbot-Cameron swam the backstroke, Glenn Snyders the breaststroke, and Cameron Gibson the freestyle.

- NZPA