Three qualify for semi-finals on day six of World Uni Games

Three New Zealand swimmers have won through to the semifinals on the sixth day of the World University Games in Korea.

Counties Manukau swimmer Daniel Hunter followed up his strong form in the 100m freestyle from yesterday by qualifying for the semifinals in the 50m freestyle.

He was the eighth fastest in the heats in 22.85s, which was 0.25s outside his previous best and within half a second of the New Zealand record.

Both Helena Gasson (Waikato) and Samantha Lee (Wellington) have progressed to the semifinals in the women’s 200m butterfly.

Gasson, from the Fairfield club and attending Waikato University, was the 12^th fastest in 2:13.34, which took more than half a second off her previous best.

Lee, from the Capital club and studying at Massey University, claimed the 16^th and final spot in the semifinals in 2:15.55, which is well below her best.

North Canterbury’s Natasha Lloyd took half a second off her previous best to clock 32.32 in heats of the 50m breaststroke to be 18^th fastest, missing out on a place in the semifinals by just 7/100ths of a second.

In other swims Laura Quilter (North Shore) went 26.54s to be 25^th fastest in the heats of the 50m freestyle while Monique King just missed out on advancing in the women’s 800m freestyle, 10^th fastest in 8:51/11, taking a significant 3.5 seconds off her previous best.