Swimming: Swanepoel betters record

A rejuvenated Corney Swanepoel set the pool alight in a brilliant 100m butterfly battle on the first night of finals at the New Zealand Championships in Christchurch last night.

The 23-year-old went under his national record to beat fellow Beijing Olympians Moss Burmester and Daniel Bell.

The meet doubles as the official trial for July's world championships in Rome with swimmers having to meet the new tough FINA 900 point mark.

Swanepoel, Burmester and Bell all achieved the qualifying mark and set personal bests, but with a limit of two swimmers per event, Bell missed out on qualifying for Rome.

The 18-year-old later broke his own New Zealand record to retain his title in the 50m backstroke. As it is a non-Olympic event he had to meet a 1000-point qualifying target and was just short. But if he qualifies for the world championships later in the meet, he can swim the 50m backstroke as a second event.

Also through to the world championships is Beijing Olympic semifinalist Glenn Snyders, who broke his national record in the morning heats.

He was marginally slower last night winning in 1:00.57, but pleasingly has produced the second and fifth fastest times in the world this year.

Swanepoel was thrilled with his win after a superbly timed performance, turning in 24s and powering home impressively in 51.61 with Burmester an encouraging 51.99 in second with Bell third in 52.28.

- NZPA