Swimming: Two more qualify for Montreal worlds

Athens Olympians Corney Swanepoel and Dean Kent last night booked their places in the New Zealand team for July's world championships in Montreal, powering to fast times at the national championships in Wellington.

Kent and Swanepoel waited until the final races of the second night at the Kilbirnie Aquatic Centre to qualify, joining their North Shore clubmates Moss Burmester and Helen Norfolk, who qualified for Montreal on Tuesday.

Swanepoel also added a national record, nipping 0.01s from his own mark in topping qualifiers in the 100m butterfly. His time was the fastest in the world this year.

In the semifinals of the 200m individual medley, Kent swam the year's second fastest time.

The powerful North Shore squad flexed their muscles to win seven of the eight finals on offer last night, with diminutive Wellington teenager Kelly Bentley grabbing the other title.

Kent clocked 2m 1.51s to top the qualifiers in the 200m individual medley, more than 1.5s inside the mark for the world championships.

That was just 0.2s outside his national record set at the Athens Olympics.

"It was a really encouraging performance. The crowd really helped me along," Kent said.

"I knew when I went close in the heats this morning that I had plenty left.

"It was a good swim, although I want to go faster again tomorrow in the final and see if I can put some pressure on the other leading Commonwealth swimmers who I will meet next year [at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne]."

Swanepoel powered home in 52.49s to take out the semifinals of the 100m butterfly.

"It was a good swim and a really good boost for me," he said. "That will give me more confidence for the final."

Bentley, who smashed the New Zealand open record in the 16-year age grade final, could not go under that time last night, but was easily good enough to claim the title.

It marked a busy night for the young Capital club swimmer, who finished second in the 200m individual medley final and was second to Athens Olympian Annabelle Carey in the final of the 16-years 100m breaststroke. Earlier, the North Shore juggernaut rolled on, with Cameron Gibson, Norfolk and Burmester retaining their national titles in the 200m backstroke, 200m medley and 200m butterfly respectively.

All three swam outside their best times, although Burmester again went under the qualifying time for the world championships.

Gibson also won the 100m freestyle.

Australian-based Nichola Chellingworth (North Shore) took out the 50m freestyle, while talented teenager Glenn Snyders won his first national open long-course title in the 50m breaststroke.

The North Shore victories were completed by Athens Olympian Liz Coster, who took out the 100m butterfly final.

The championships continue until Saturday.

- NZPA