Swimming: Records tumble in final flurry

Zoe Baker qualified seventh fastest for the women's 50m breaststroke final today. Picture / Reuters

World record-holder Zoe Baker became the sixth New Zealand finalist as national swimming records continued to fall on the penultimate day of the world championships in Montreal.

Baker, at her first international meet in New Zealand colours, qualified seventh fastest in the women's 50m breaststroke for today's last session of finals.

North Shore backstroker Scott Talbot-Cameron equalled the New Zealand record in the semifinals of the 50m backstroke and clubmate Liz Coster finished eighth in the final of the 50m butterfly, under the previous national record.

New Zealand last qualified a finalist at the world championships seven years ago. With a day to go, the team in Montreal have claimed six finalists and broken eight New Zealand records.

Baker, who swims for the Jasi club in Christchurch, finished second in the final heat with an impressive 31.30s, just outside her New Zealand record of 31.21s.

The heats qualification had an unusual look at these championships with four Commonwealth swimmers in the top five, comprising two Australians, one Great Briton and one New Zealander.

The 29-year-old, who set the world record of 30.57s three years ago while racing for Great Britain, was not as quick in the semifinal but her 31.58s effort was enough to see her through to this morning's final.

Coster has been the find for the New Zealanders in Montreal.

The 23-year-old broke the NZ record in the 50m backstroke earlier in the meet and then claimed the 50m butterfly record with a 27.10s in qualifying eighth for the final.

While she went under that old record again in the final, her 27.23s placed her eighth overall, further pleasing head coach Jan Cameron.

"I'm thrilled for Liz. She came to this meet with the 44th best time in the world over the 50m butterfly this year and she has come away as one of the eight best swimmers in the world," Cameron said.

Talbot Cameron, son of the head coach, set a personal best 26.30s to qualify 14th, finishing fifth in the fastest heat.

The 24-year-old lowered that to 26.23s in the semifinal, equalling the New Zealand record of clubmate Cameron Gibson and finishing seventh in his semifinal and 14th overall.

Earlier the women's 4x100m medley relay team could not advance to the finals despite recording a New Zealand record.

They were 11th overall in 4min 08.01s which was well inside the previous best from a New Zealand representative team of 4min 16.97sec, set at the 2002 Pan Pacific championships in Japan, and also nearly two seconds inside their qualifying time.

Other New Zealanders racing today are Helen Norfolk and Dean Kent in the 400m individual medley and the men's team in the heats of the 4x100m medley relay.

New Zealand finalists

Hannah McLean

Liz Coster

Dean Kent

Women's 4x100m relay team

Women's 4x200m relay team

Zoe Baker

- NZPA