Two swimmers to semi-finals on day three of World Uni Games

Two New Zealand swimmers, Caroline Baddock and Shaun Burnett, have qualified for the semi-finals on day three of the World University Games in Korea.

Burnett (North Shore, Massey University) was 10^th fastest in heats of the 200m butterfly. The 24 year old set a personal best time of 1:58.58, nearly a second faster than his selection performance in April, to earn a place in the semifinals on the evening programme.

Baddock (North Shore, Auburn University) clocked a useful 1:02.06 to be 11^th fastest in heats of the 100m backstroke, and if she can go closer to her previous best in the mid-1:01 range, she could challenge for a place in the final.

Teammate Kate Godfrey (Neptune, Otago University) clocked 1:02.95 to be the 18^th fastest, missing out on a spot in the semi-finals by 6/100^th of a second.

There was disappointment for yesterday’s top performer Ewan Jackson (Howick Pakuranga, AUT) who did not advance from heats in the 400m freestyle. He clocked 3:56.57, well outside his previous best, to be 15^th fastest with the top eight progressing directly to the final.

In other heat swims both Godfrey (2:18.93) and Waikato’s Helena Gasson (2:18.94) were 21^st and 22^nd respectively in the 200m individual medley; Alex Peach (2:14.93) was 20^th in the 200m breaststroke and Michael Mincham (4:05.85) was 26^th fastest in the 400m freestyle.