Swimming: Short coursers

Wellington teenager Shannon Clayton was far from overawed by the big names on display at the start of the second night of finals at the FINA World Cup meet in Melbourne last night.

The 18-year-old recorded a big personal best to finish fourth in the womens 400m freestyle, and lead home fellow Kiwi Olympians Helen Norfolk and Alison Fitch.

Clayton, from Gary Hurring's Capital club, began conservatively in sixth place through 150 metres, moving up to fifth and then out-finishing Great Britain's Stephanie Proud over the final 100m to record 4:10.22. This was seven seconds inside her qualifying time which she reduced to 4:14.01 in qualifying sixth in the morning heats.

Norfolk, who recorded a superb win on the opening night, finished seventh with Fitch eighth outside of their personal bests.

Their form continued the good form shown by New Zealanders at the Melbourne meeting although last night was a relatively quiet period for the Kiwis, with only six swimmers in action. Three of those were in the opening final. Norfolk and Fitch are joined by fellow North Shore swimmers with Hannah McLean qualifying second for the final of the 100m backstroke, Nichola Chellingworth third for the final of the 50m freestyle and Dean Kent fifth for the 200m individual medley. The second World Cup meet finishes tomorrow evening.

On the first night of finals, New Zealand swimmers Helen Norfolk and Hannah McLean picked up gold and silver respectively.