Swimming: Scott swims closer to his Olympic dream

Scott Talbot-Cameron wears his double-barrelled name proudly, and even more so if he makes the Sydney Olympics next year.

The 17-year-old Aucklander just might dream about the guy in the green-and-gold tracksuit - head coach marked on his back - coming across the Homebush Olympic pool to congratulate him on a stunning swim.

That would be dad - Australia's famous and sometimes controversial Olympic swim coach Don Talbot.

And mum? Well, she might be one of New Zealand's assistant coaches. Jan Cameron came to Auckland with son Scott when he was nine years old after a marriage split.

The possibility of the Sydney meeting came closer in Wellington when Talbot-Cameron continued snipping away at his 200m backstroke time and became the fourth fastest swimmer in New Zealand history over the distance in taking the national title.

Talbot-Cameron then collected the backstroke double by winning the 100m, and he also broke the 17-year-old national 100m record when leading off the Auckland medley relay win.

After his flying start to the championships, Talbot-Cameron can look forward to good efforts at the world short-course championships in Hong Kong next week.

He's also a certainty for the Pan Pacifics, a try-out for the Homebush pool in August.

Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Toni Jeffs (Wellington) was pushed hard by two talented teenagers before winning her eighth 50m freestyle title.

Jeffs' winning time was 26.69s, just ahead of Monique Robins (North Shore) 26.86s and Lara McCambridge (Otago) 27.17s.

But Aucklanders had another successful night in the pool yesterday, winning six titles - including Nicholas Sheeran (North Shore) in the 50m butterfly with 25.87s, Nikki Tanner (Parnell) the 200m backstroke, and Steven Ferguson (North Shore) retaining his 200m breastroke in 2m 21.79s.
- NZPA