Swimming: NZ women trail in relay final

The New Zealand women's 4x100m swimming relay team broke the national record for a second time today but still found the competition too tough in the final at the World Championships in Montreal today.

The quartet of Nichola Chellingworth, Alison Fitch, Hannah McLean and Georgina Toomey clocked a new New Zealand record of three minutes 44.84 seconds, but they finished eighth and last in the final.

They were well adrift of Australia, who were comfortable winners in 3min 37.32sec. Germany finished second at 3min 38.24, and the United States were a close third.

Earlier, the New Zealand team beat the previous New Zealand record by more than two seconds with their 3min 45.36sec swim in qualifying for the final.

- NZPA