Swimming: NZ pair win medals at Australian Grand Prix

11.00am

North Shore's Hannah McLean and Dean Kent led the New Zealand swim team at the Australian Grand Prix meet in Brisbane last night.

They were the only Kiwis to figure on the podium on the first of the two-day meet featuring the full Australian and New Zealand Olympic squads as they prepare for the Athens Olympics.

McLean placed third in the women's 100m backstroke and Kent third in the men's 400m individual medley at the Chandler Aquatic Centre in Brisbane.

The New Zealand squad was jolted back to reality against one of the two world swimming superpowers with the likes of Leisel Jones, Petria Thomas and Grant Hackett all in strong form.

New Zealand director of coaching Clive Rushton said the meet was invaluable racing experience for the New Zealand team.

"They are still in high mileage training and as such we are not expecting world class times at this meet," Rushton said.

"But to get the chance to compete against Australia is so invaluable for us. It's given them an idea of the hard racing that they are going to receive at Athens.

"We are reasonably happy with the progress. This is exactly what they need as they prepare ahead for Athens."

Others with strong performances included Liz Coster who was fourth in the women's 100m butterfly final and Helen Norfolk who was fourth in the women's 200m individual medley.

New Zealand results of finals:

Women:

100m breaststroke: Annabelle Carey (Wharenui, Chch) 1:15.93, 8; 100m butterfly: Liz Coster (North Shore) 1:00.52, 4; 200m individual medley: Helen Norfolk (North Shore) 2:18.70, 4; 100m backstroke: Hannah McLean (North Shore) 1:03.10, 3; 800m freestyle: Rebecca Linton (Howick Pakuranga, Counties Manukau) 9:07.51, 9.

Men:

400m individual medley: Dean Kent (North Shore) 4:20.68, 3; 200m backstroke: Cameron Gibson (North Shore) 2:05.83, 6; 400m freestyle: Michael Jack (North Shore) 4:06.46, 8.

- NZPA