Swimming: Kent on track for world champs

By JULIE ASH

North Shore's Dean Kent is on target for next month's world championships in Japan.

Kent picked up two wins in the first meeting of the Mare Nostrum series in Barcelona.

He won the 400m individual medley in 4m 24.20s and the 200m individual medley in 2m 04.59s.

Kent is one of seven New Zealand swimmers competing in the European series which is being held in Barcelona, Canet (France), Rome and Monaco over the next two weeks.

Vivienne Rignall, Jonathon Duncan, Karen Tait, Cameron Gibson and Nick Sheeran all picked up top-eight placings in Barcelona.

The team are coached by North Shore's Jan Cameron.

National team coach Brett Naylor said it was good to see the New Zealanders come through strongly in the first meet.

"It is a pretty good result but this will be the weakest of the events so I hope their performances will improve," he said.

The New Zealanders to compete at the world championships have already been selected.

Kent and Rignall are part of that team along with Helen Norfolk and Liz Van Welie.

"We have selected the team and there won't be any changes," Naylor said.

The Mare Nostrum series has attracted some of the world's best swimmers, including Russia's Alexander Popov.

Australia's Michael Klim and Ian Thorpe are expected to compete in the last two meets.

The second meet, in Canet, starts today.