Swimming: Two national titles for Aucklander

Aucklander Helen Norfolk battled the pain of marathon training sessions to claim two New Zealand swimming titles on the opening day of the national winter championships in Christchurch yesterday.

The North Shore swimmer won the women's open 400m individual medley and was part of the Auckland team to break the New Zealand record in the women's open 800m freestyle relay event at the QE2 pool.

Norfolk, 22, has been involved in a heavy training programme since returning from the world championships in Barcelona last month and was unsure of her form heading into the winter competition.

"We haven't rested for this meet at all," she said.

"It's been a really tough few weeks because training has been so full on. Last week I was stinging, I was so sore.

"To be honest I was actually a bit scared before the 400m [individual medley] because it's such a long race ... there were definitely a few nerves."

But Norfolk powered away from her nearest rival, Queensland's Lisa Normandeau, to finish 3s clear for the gold medal.

Norfolk also joined Auckland team-mates Hannah McLean, Alison Fitch, and Melissa Ingram for the relay title, carving 9s off the national record for the gold medal.

The quartet clocked 8m 07.20s.

Seven national records were broken last night, including one by Ben Pickersgill-Brown, of Christchurch, who picked up the New Zealand 16-years title in the 200m freestyle final in 1m 52.42s.

The four finals were won by Liz van Welie in the women's open 200m butterfly, Auckland's Michael Jack in the men's open 200m freestyle, Norfolk in the individual medley and the Auckland team in the relay.

- NZPA