New Zealand Spring Competition: Andrew McMillan, Melissa Ingram Top Third Night

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, September 30. NORTH Shore swimmer Andrew McMillan came from behind to upset his New Zealand team-mates to win the 400m freestyle on the third night of finals at the New Zealand Spring Competition in Christchurch tonight.

The 24-year-old McMillan followed his win in the 200m to emerge in the final 35m to edge out Michael Jack (West Auckland) and top qualifier Moss Burmester (International Training Centre) at the QEII Leisure Centre.

Another 24-year-old stamped her class on the night when Melissa Ingram laid the ghosts to rest with an emphatic win in the 200m backstroke.

In the men's 400m freestyle, Jack led through the first 200m before Burmester worked his way to the front until the 350m mark when McMillan made his move. By the final turn he had edged ahead and held off the challenges from Jack and Burmester.

McMillan was unsure of his fitness to last in a 400m after a long break following his outstanding 2008 season.

"I was a little bit nervous coming to the pool tonight. I've only been back in the pool four weeks. Coming off a really good season, I have had some time out of the pool," McMillan said.

"I'm pretty happy. That was not far off my best. I am still in full training. My coach Scott Talbot has me doing 4km every morning and he stepped it up to 5km this morning.

"I am pretty stoked with that result. I put it out on the line which was good.

"I was thinking about the 200m and throwing it out there real hard at the start and making them catch me. But I felt quite comfortable staying with them over that first 200 and then to bring in the legs over the last 100. I feel pretty good after that race to be perfectly honest.

"I had my eye on them the whole way. It's good to knock them both off again. We are all in the same boat and we are all coming back after a long break."

Ingram (International Training Centre) returned to the QEII pool where she missed out at the world championship trials back in April, leading from the start to win in a slick 2:06.27. She finished less than two seconds outside her national record producing the only swim of the day over the magical 900 FINA points.

"I was really happy with that. I am still in a lot of work and it's been a really base-building winter for me," Ingram said.

"I was trying to get out as fast as I could because speed is not something that comes naturally to me.

"When I walked in on the first day I was a little bit haunted after the world champs trials here. But I knew I had to get out there and get some good swims under my belt and overcome the ghosts.

"The whole winter has been about technique and building my base. In a way I am going to work missing out on the world champs to my advantage and have had that time to put in a solid base."

World championship semifinalist Hayley Palmer continued on her winning ways, adding the 50m freestyle to the three titles she won last night.

Palmer clocked 24.83s, only 4/10ths off her own New Zealand record to hold out North Shore Clubmate Samantha Richter and Taranaki's Ayla Dunlop-Barrett.

Tash Hind, a member of the International Training Centre at Millennium Institute, was all class in dominating the women's 400m individual medley. The 20-year-old cleared out to win by nearly six seconds in a dominant display.

North Shore's Daniel Bell, who has competed in a huge load during the meet, was untroubled to win the 200m individual medley in a slick 1:58.04, just over one second outside Dean Kent's national record.

In other finals Dunedin teenager Katie Kenneally again impressed, winning the 100m breaststroke from Southland's Natalie Wiegersma in 1:08.99, while John Gatfield (SwimZone, Wellington) again showed his sprinting prowess to take out the 50m backstroke from two Australian rivals including Olympic finalist Ryan Pini. Queensland's Nicholas Schafter won the 200m breaststroke.

There were nine national age group records established including Corey Main (Howick Pakuranga) and Blake Bassett (Laser Mt Eden) in the 50m backstroke, Natasha Lloyd (Kaiapoi) and Chloe Francis (North Shore) in the 100m breaststroke, Jayne Clarke (West Auckland) and Francis in the 50m freestyle, the outstanding Sophia Batchelor (Aquagym, Chch) in the 200m backstroke, Brydie Whitehead (New Plymouth) in the 200m backstroke and George Schroder (Hokitika) in the 200m breaststroke.

The championships conclude tomorrow.

Open results:
Men, 50m backstroke: John Gatfield (SwimZone, Wgtn) 24.43, 1; Ryan Pini (Queensland) 24.59, 2; Bobby Jovanovich (Queensland) 24.76, 3.
400m freestyle: Andrew McMillan (North Shore) 3:46.92, 1; Michael Jack (West Auckland) 3:47.46, 2; Moss Burmester (ITC) 3:48.19, 3.
200m breaststroke: Nicholas Schafter (Queensland) 2:13.89, 1; Matthew Glassford (Neptune, Otago) 2:5.15, 2; Starn Simpson (West Auckland) 2:15.41, 3.
200m individual medley: Daniel Bell (North Shore) 1:58.04, 1; Daniel Lester (Queensland) 1:59.59, 2; John Gatfield (SwimZone, Wgtn) 2:02.39, 3.
Women, 100m breaststroke: Katie Kenneally (Neptune, Otago) 1:08.99, 1; Natalie Wiegersma (Waverley, Southland) 1:09.32, 2; Lisa Pankhurst (Collegiate, Southland) 1:12.20, 3.
50m freestyle: Hayley Palmer (North Shore) 24.83, 1; Samantha Richter (North Shore) 25.25, 2; Ayla Dunlop-Barrett (Bell Block) 25.68, 3.
400m individual medley: Tash Hind (ITC – Capital) 4:45.61, 1; Rachel Palmer (Howick Pakuranga) 4:51.21, 2; Samantha Lucie-Smith (Karori Pirates) 4:51.24, 3.
200m backstroke: Melissa Ingram (ITC North Shore) 2:06.27, 1; Jessie Blundell (North Shore) 2:08.67, 2; Emily Thomas (North Shore) 2:09.30, 3.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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