New Zealand Spring Competition: Andrew McMillan, Melissa Ingram Shine

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, September 27. NORTH Shore swimmer Andrew McMillan continued his rebirth in the sport, producing the eye-catching display on the opening night of finals at the New Zealand Spring Competition in Christchurch tonight.

McMillan, originally from Central Otago and later moved under the late Duncan Laing in Dunedin, took out the 200m freestyle final at the QEII Leisure Centre.

The 24 year old had thought about giving up the sport after missing out on the Beijing Olympics, but fought back to qualify and perform with distinction at the recent world championships in Rome and Australian short course championships.

He held off the challenge from world championship team-mate Michael Jack (West Auckland) to claim the 200m freestyle in 1:44.98, a tick outside his New Zealand record set at the Australian championships.

"That was a terrific swim from Andrew," said Swimming New Zealand General Manager Performance and Pathways, Jan Cameron. "Remember he set his record in peak but is currently competing here while in full training load, so it was very impressive."

He bagged 922 FINA points, for the swim of the night.

Another "veteran" also impressed tonight with the triumphant return of Melissa Ingram (International Training Centre). Ingram, 24, took out the 400m freestyle final in 4:05.25, less than two seconds outside her own national record.

Her last time in the QEII pool was her failure to qualify for the world championships, but she showed she was back in force with 917 FINA points, holding off fellow ITC training partner Tash Hind impressively.

A new name emerged with victory to Auckland's Tim Dawson in the final of the men's 100m butterfly.

In the absence of champion Corney Swanepoel, who is swimming off strokes at this event, Dawson held off swim stars Daniel Bell and Moss Burmester to win the final in 51.40s, less than a second outside the national record. Originally from Hawkes Bay, Dawson has recently moved back under his old coach and former Olympian Jon Winter, now coaching at Auckland's United club.

The closest battle came in the men's 100m backstroke with half a second separating the first five swimmers, won by Wellington's Gareth Kean in a slick 52.89s

Other wins in the open grades went to North Shore's Emily Thomas in the 100m backstroke, Samantha Lee (Capital) in the 200m butterfly, Katie Kenneally (Neptune, Otago) in the 50m breaststroke, and Starn Simpson (West Auckland) in the 100m breaststroke.

The championships continue until Wednesday.

Open finals results:
Female, 100m backstroke: Emily Thomas (North Shore) 59.07, 1; Jessie Blundell (North Shore) 1:00.39, 2; Natalie Wiegersma (Waverley, Southland) 1:00.94, 3.
200m butterfly: Samantha Lee (Capital) 2:11.49, 1; Charlotte Webby (Bell Block) 2:13.08, 2; Emma Lowther (Howick Pakuranga) 2:13.32, 3.
50 breaststroke: Katie Kenneally (Neptune, Otago) 32.04, 1; Kelly Briden (QEII, Chch) 32.18, 2; Beckie Dooley (Jasi, Chch) 33.35, 3.
400m freestyle: Melissa Ingram (ITC North Shore) 4:05.25, 1; Tash Hind (ITC Capital) 4:10.84, 2; Samantha Lucie-Smith (Karori, Wgtn) 4:13.95, 3.
Men, 200m freestyle: Andrew McMillan (North Shore) 1:44.98, 1; Michael Jack (West Auckland) 1:45.26, 2; Cameron Stanley (North Shore) 1:47.15, 3.
100m backstroke: Gareth Kean (Capital) 52.89, 1; Cameron Stanley (North Shore) 53.05, 2; John Gatfield (SwimZone, Wgtn) 53.17, 3.
100m breaststroke: Starn Simpson (West Auckland) 1:02.01, 1; Nicholas Schafer (Queensland) 1:02.62, 2; Brett Newall (West Auckland) 1:03.79, 3.
100m butterfly: Tim Dawson (United, Auckland) 51.40, 1; Daniel Bell (North Shore) 52.20, 2; Moss Burmester (ITC North Shore) 52.38, 3.

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