KEY POINTS:
Sixths in the semifinals for North Shore pair Melissa Ingram and Corney Swanepoel yesterday ended New Zealand's individual involvement in the Olympic swim programme.
Ingram, in the 200m backstroke, was a shade slower than her heat win on Thursday when she bettered her national record, this time clocking 2min 09.70s. American Elizabeth Beisel won in 2:07.90.
She was .73s slower than the eighth and final qualifier, Russian Anastasia Zueva. Her effort left her 11th overall and pretty content.
"I'm a little disappointed I didn't make the top eight," she said. "Still I went into the meet ranked 14th, got my PB (personal best), a New Zealand record and improved my ranking in my first Olympics. So I'm definitely happy."
She reflected that 2:09 won the gold in Athens four years ago.
"That shows how much the world's improved over the last four years."
Ingram said a "really bad start" cost her by putting her into catch-up mode. Still, having got another PB in the 100m backstroke earlier in the week, Ingram will leave satisfied.
Swanepoel was 12th overall in the 100m butterfly, after recording 52.01s in his semifinal, won by Serbian Milorad Cavic in 50.92s.
It was slower than his 51.78s national record-setting heat time on Thursday, although he had felt good in his preparation yesterday. His heat time would not have got him into the final.
