New Zealand World Championships Trials Reaches Third Day of Competition

By Jason Marsteller

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, December 14. DURING the third day of swimming at the New Zealand World Championships Long Course Trials held in Auckland, 16-year-old Kurt Bassett set a national age group record by winning the 200 back in 2:02.93.

Men's 50 Breaststroke Finals
North Shore's Glenn Snyders dominated the sprint breast event with a 29.05, while his teammate Oliver Young finished second on 29.90. 16-year-old Amini Fonua of Roskill Swimming nabbed bronze in 30.53.

"I'm pleased to win and I was quite happy with my form. But my aim is to qualify for the world championships as an individual," said Snyders.

Women's 100 Freestyle Finals
North Shore swept the podium in the women's 100 free. Atlanta Olympian Alison Fitch claimed her 10th national title in the event by touching in 57.21. That effort just edged teammate Helen Norfolk's second-place time of 57.35. Meanwhile, Calle Durham of North Shore finished third in 58.21, touching out 17-year-old Tash Hind of Capital Swim Club (58.22) by .01 seconds.

Men's 50 Freestyle Finals
National record holder Mark Herring and 16-year-old Orinoco Faamausili-Banse tied for the title in the 50 free, although times were not reported by Swimming New Zealand.

Men's 400 Freestyle Finals
North Shore's Robert Voss won the 400 free title in 3:58.10 to defend his crown from last year. West Auckland Aquatics' Michael Jack finished second in 3:59.53, while Waves Swimming Club's Bryn Murphy took third in 4:01.24.

"I was aiming at a world championships qualifying time which I felt I had in me but I didn't go hard enough through the first half," Voss said.

Women's 200 Butterfly Finals
North Shore's Megan Allan pocketed her second 200 fly title with a time of 2:20.70 to beat out Capital Swim Club's Chantelle Cowlrick (2:20.78) for the crown. 16-year-old Abby Shaw of AquaGym took third in 2:20.87.

Men's 200 Backstroke Finals
Youngster Kurt Bassett, a 16-year-old calling Laser Mt. Eden Swimming home, blitzed the field with a title-winning 2:02.93. That effort also set a national age group record in the event. A pair of 19-year-olds from North Shore Swimming closed out the top three as John Zulch touched in 2:04.64 for second and Cameron Stanley placed third in 2:05.04.

"I went out really hard and just tried to hold on for all I could. I am absolutely rapt. I've really trained hard for this," Bassett said.

Women's 200 Backstroke Finals
North Shore teammates Melissa Ingram and Hannah McLean battled in the 200 back with Ingram hitting the wall first in 2:13.93. McLean settled for silver in 2:14.48. Meanwhile, 17-year-old Penelope Marshall finished third in 2:16.50.

Men's 200 IM Finals
The Brothers Kent duked it out for the 200 IM as the elder 28-year-old Dean claimed the title in 2:04.11. The junior 18-year-old Steven eked out a silver medal in 2:10.76, holding off Primo Sundevils' Blair Jacobs, who finished third in 2:10.96.

Women's 400 Freestyle Finals
North Shore's Helen Norfolk grabbed the women's 400 free title in 4:18.97, while 16-year-old Cara Baker came in second in 4:21.30. Spirit of the Southland's Joyce Wiegersma snared third in 4:23.46.

Women's 100 Breaststroke Semi-Finals
17-year-old Annabelle Carey of AquaGym posted the fastest qualifying time of 1:11.20, while North Shore's Katie Bone touched second in 1:12.94. Just behind her, West Auckland Aquatics' Sarah Vettoretti placed third in 1:12.99.

Men's 50 Butterfly Semi-Finals
North Shore's Corney Swanepoel notched the top semi time with a 24.16 clocking, while Primo Sundevils' Matt Thomas posted a second-place 24.95. North Shore's Moss Burmester placed third in 25.05.

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