Boyle best in Santa Clara 1500m

Lauren Boyle began her competitive season in style with victory in the 1500m freestyle at the Arena Pro Series event at Santa Clara in California yesterday.

Boyle, who has been training at altitude in Mexico, clocked the fourth fastest time in the world this year in winning the 1500m freestyle comfortably.

The Kiwi star, in preparation for July’s world championships in Russia, was untroubled in distancing the rest of her opposition, pushing out 50m laps of 31 to 32 seconds but leaving plenty in the tank with a 30.79s final stint.

Also at the meet is Glenn Snyders, who qualified fourth fastest in heats of the 100m breaststroke in 1:02.36 headed by American Cody Miller.

Meanwhile a number of New Zealand swimmers, preparing for the world championships and world university games, are competing at the Swimming Australia Grand Prix 2 in Townsville.

Matt Stanley led the way with second place in a barn-storming 400m freestyle. Stanley bridged up to share the lead with Mac Horton with 50m remaining before the Australian out-touched him in a great finish from Grant Hackett. Stanley clocked 3:52.72, with fellow Kiwis Ewan Jackson fourth (3:54.19) and Nathan Capp fifth (3:54.43).

George Schroder was second in the 200m breaststroke (2:16.46) with Emma Robinson third behind Jessica Ashwood in the 1500m freestyle (16:53.05). Other third placings went to Shaun Burnett in the 200m butterfly (2:01.55) and Capp in the 400m individual medley (4:26.04).

Other finalists were:

Bobbi Gichard 6^th in the 200m backstroke (2:18.86), Helen Gasson 5^th 200m IM (2:18.82), Andrew Trembath 5^th 100m backstroke (57.56), Samantha Lee 7^th 100m butterfly (1:00.82), Gasson 8^th 100m butterfly (1:01.50), Bradlee Ashby 7^th 200m butterfly (2:05.33) and 6^th in the 400m IM (4:32.70); Liam Albery 6^th 200m butterfly (2:05.17); Daniel Hunter 8^th 100m frestyle (51.09).