Swimming: McLean first to qualify for Olympics

Hannah McLean became the first New Zealand swimmer to post an Olympic qualifying time on the opening morning of heats at the national championships in Auckland today.

McLean clocked a qualifying time and personal best of one minute 01.55 seconds in the 100m backstroke, nearly 1sec under the world swimming body Fina A mark of 1min 02.42sec.

The time, which would have ranked the 22-year-old about 12th in the world in 2003, could be improved on in tonight's final.

"It was definitely my goal to make sure I got the Fina A time," a delighted McLean said.

"I've had really solid preparation and I'm growing in confidence.

"I've got a lot more events to go in this meet."

Other top Olympic contenders produced steady times in the heats, with Bay of Plenty's Moss Burmester finishing his 100m butterfly in 54.71sec. The second qualifier was North Shore's Corney Swanepoel at 55.37sec.

In the 400m individual medley, Anthony Van Der Kraay finished his heat in 4min 33.02sec with the world-ranked Dean Kent second in 4min 37.19sec.

Kent currently holds the New Zealand record of 4.19.04, which would be enough to go under the Fina A time of 4min 20.17sec.

The women's 400m individual medley final tonight will have Helen Norfolk from the North Shore club up against Liz Van Welie from Otago.

Norfolk had a time of 4min 49.89sec in her heat while Van Welie finished with 4min 51.42sec.

- NZPA