Swimming: Backstroke record for Coster

North Shore swimmer Liz Coster broke an Oceania championship record with her 50m backstroke effort in Cairns yesterday evening.

On the penultimate night of competition, the 23-year-old world champion finalist won her race in 29.57 seconds, just 5/10ths of a second outside her personal best set in Montreal last year.

Swimming New Zealand coaching director Clive Rushton said it was a good performance given the time of year and with Coster in full training during the event.

"Liz and her coaches have been concentrating more on her backstroke recently and it is showing dividends. It is very encouraging looking ahead to the Pan Pacific Championships next month and on to the World Championships in Melbourne next March," Rushton said.

Her clubmate Glenn Snyders gained the other victory for the New Zealanders with a win in the final of the 50m breaststroke.

Auckland's Lauren Boyle won bronze in the 400m freestyle while North Shore's Jessie Blundell won bronze in the 50m backstroke behind Coster.

The New Zealand quartet of Boyle, Joyce Wiegersma, Penelope Marshall and Isabella Franks took silver in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay.

New Zealand placegetters:-

Women 400m freestyle: Lauren Boyle 4min 19.20sec, 3.

Women 50m backstroke: Liz Coster 29.57sec, 1 (championship record); Jessie Blundell 30.39sec, 3.

Men 50m breaststroke: Glenn Snyders 28.99sec, 1.

Women 4x100m freestyle relay: L Boyle, J Wiegersma, P Marshall, I Franks 3min 57.61sec, 2.

- NZPA