Swimming: Tough taskmaster earns a double date

By DAVID LEGGAT

Cameron Gibson ensured himself a second Olympic Games start at the national open championships last night - but he's a tough taskmaster.

The 1.98m North Shore backstroker, having pocketed the world governing body Fina's A standard in the 100m during the week, retained his national 200m title at the Waitakere pool in Henderson and beat the Swimming New Zealand standard for a trip to the Athens Games in August.

Gibson won in 2m 00.88s, just 0.68s outside the Fina A time, but he wanted to be under two minutes.

"I'm satisfied but not happy," the 21-year-old Auckland University student said. "I had it in my head I could go 1m 58s."

Gibson used the Australian Olympic trials as his yardstick, and that's the time star backstroker Matt Welsh clocked in booking his Games spot.

So Gibson knows he's hard on the tail of the best. He might have pushed that mark, but for a flat first 50m.

"I snuck a look at the board at the 50m and thought it was a bit slow and I'd better pick it up."

With daylight to second, Gibson had to keep his stroke going without being pushed and did a fine job.

Shortly after, his North Shore clubmates Hannah McLean and Dean Kent posted times for Athens, McLean in the 200m backstroke final, Kent in the 200m individual medley final.

McLean, pushed early by clubmate Melissa Ingram, won in 2m 13.71s to go under the SNZ time. That gives her two starts in Athens as she has already qualified for the 100m backstroke.

Kent, who missed qualifying in the 400m individual medley, will now get a second chance in that event at Athens by dint of last night's effort.

He flew down the opening butterfly leg and after turning for home was roared on by a vocal crowd, clocking 2m 02.25s, 0.01s outside his national record but 0.29s under the Fina A time.

Kent gets a second life in the longer medley event as no other swimmer qualified. His past record is strong enough to justify inclusion.

Helen Norfolk, already Athens-bound in the 400m individual medley, was on track to qualify in the 400m freestyle when she turned for home with 50m left, but fell off the pace slightly and won in 4m 16.37s, just 0.12s outside the SNZ standard.

Alison Fitch retained her national 100m freestyle final but did not post an Athens qualifying time. Her 56.92s was 0.86s short of the SNZ standard. She has another chance in the 200m freestyle on the final day tomorrow.

The Olympic flame is still flickering for Otago's Liz van Welie.

The Manchester Commonwealth Games 400m individual medley silver medallist had hoped to qualify in the 200m butterfly. Her time of 2m 13.65s was 1.70s outside the SNZ Games mark. Her final shot is likely to be the 200m individual medley.