Swimming: Kent finds world record pace too hot to handle

A world record pace was too much for New Zealand veteran Dean Kent in the men's 200m individual pursuit final at the Pan Pacific swimming championships in Canada yesterday.

Kent, 27, finished seventh in a time of 2m 02.29s, well behind American star Michael Phelps, who secured his fifth gold medal of the meet in Victoria.

Phelps' time of 1m 55.84s eclipsed his own world record set three years ago.

Kent was the only individual New Zealander to appear in an A final yesterday, with the medley relay teams finishing fifth in the women's race and sixth in the men's final.

Backstroker Hannah McLean showed her prowess in the freestyle to finish third in the 50m B final in a personal best time of 26.04s. Liz Coster was seventh in the same race a fraction outside her best.

Head coach Jan Cameron said she was not unduly concerned that her swimmer did not earn any medals at the meet.

"We did not come here for medals. We knew that most of the squad had limited preparation because they needed a real break after the Commonwealth Games and the world championships," she said.

"We will not have a significant break now right through to the Olympics in Beijing, so it was very important they had some serious time off.

"We knew that would affect results at this meet."

- NZPA