Swimming: NZ name strong world champs squad

Glenn Snyders of North Shore has been named in the 15 person squad. Photo / Getty Images

A 15-strong New Zealand team was today named to contest the world swimming championships in Shanghai in July.

The team comprises 13 swimmers and two open water competitors. Seven swimmers qualified as individuals and three for the relay at the national swimming championships that finished in Auckland yesterday.

They are led by Lauren Boyle and Daniel Bell, both from the High Performance Centre North Shore club, who achieved the highest FINA points at the championships.

Others to beat the qualifying standard were Natalie Wiegersma (Waverley), Glenn Snyders (HPC North Shore), Gareth Kean (Capital), Melissa Ingram (HPC North Shore) and Sophia Batchelor (AquaGym).

New Zealand will contest the women's 4x200m freestyle relay with Tash Hind, Amaka Gessler and Penny Marshall qualifying with Boyle - the same combination that won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Swimming New Zealand has selected three swimmers who qualify under the Sparc-funded 2016 Olympic Podium Pathways initiative. This is for swimmers born after 1988 who reached the B standard at the championships and rank in the top 50 in the world.

The swimmers are Matt Stanley (HPC Matamata), Hayley Palmer (North Shore) and Dylan Dunlop-Barrett (Taranaki).

The open water competitors are Cara Baker (Howick Pakuranga), who qualified for the Olympic 10km event, and Kane Radford (HPC Rotorua) who will compete over 5km.

The team is:

Swimming: Sophia Batchelor (AquaGym), Daniel Bell (HPC North Shore), Lauren Boyle (HPC North Shore), Dylan Dunlop-Barrett (AquaBladz Taranaki), Amaka Gessler (HPC Motueka), Tash Hind (HPC Capital), Melissa Ingram (HPC North Shore), Gareth Kean (Capital), Penelope Marshall (HPC North Shore), Hayley Palmer (North Shore), Glenn Snyders (HPC North Shore), Matt Stanley (HPC Matamata), Natalie Wiegersma (Waverley).

Open Water: Cara Baker (Howick Pakuranga), Kane Radford (HPC Rotorua).

- NZPA