Swimming: World class time for Boyle

Lauren Boyle. Photo / Paul Estcourt

New Zealander Lauren Boyle has claimed two national records in world class times in her build-up for this month's world swimming championships.

Boyle, recently returned home after completing her scholarship and academic degree in the United States, broke the short course records in the 800m and 400m freestyle at the Auckland winter championships at the West Wave Aquatic Centre in Henderson.

The 23-year-old smashed the second oldest short course record in winning the 800m freestyle in eight minutes 16.91 seconds. It was nearly eight seconds under the record established by Phillippa Langrell at the World Cup in Paris in 1992.

It leaves just two records remaining that were set in the 1990s, both over 1500m freestyle by Langrell and Danyon Loader.

Boyle went through the 400m in 4min 07sec and powered home in a superb result, then followed up with a second record in clocking 4min 02.13sec to win the 400m freestyle. She broke the previous mark of 4min 03.31sec set by Melissa Ingram at the World Cup in Sydney three years ago.

Boyle finished eight seconds clear of fellow world championship-bound Penny Marshall.

Both Boyle's swims were the 12th fastest in the world this year, and only a fraction of a second outside the winning times set in both events this weekend at the Australian championships by Kylie Palmer, a multi gold medallist at world short course, Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

- NZPA