Snyders into semis, Capp breaks NZ Record

New Zealand swimmer Glenn Snyders bounced back emphatically to qualify for the semifinals on the third day of heats at the FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia.

The 28-year-old North Shore swimmer clocked an excellent 27.23s to finish seventh fastest in the 50m breaststroke, in the same heat that South African Cameron van der Burgh broke his own world record in 26.62s.

Snyders set his fastest time of the last 18 months and close to his New Zealand record of 27.06s, moving into tonight’s semifinals.

The double Olympian impressed after missing out on the semifinals of the 100m breaststroke on the opening day.

Tauranga’s Nathan Capp set a New Zealand record in heats of the men’s 800m freestyle. The 22 year old, from Swimming New Zealand’s High Performance Centre, was fifth in his heat in 7:57.61 to break his own national record.

His time was the 20th fastest and while he has missed out on qualifying, Capp has improved his world ranking by more than 30 places.

Earlier Waikato teenager Bradlee Ashby made his world championship debut to clock 2:04.31 to be 33^rd ranked in heats of the 200m butterfly. The 19 year old, now based at Swimming New Zealand’s High Performance Centre at AUT Millennium, has improved his world ranking after coming into the championships outside the world’s top 50.

On the evening programme Lauren Boyle competes in the final of the 1500m freestyle and Snyders in the semifinals of the 50m breaststroke.

CAPTION: Glenn Snyders in action. (The image is free for editorial use only. Credit: Ian MacNicol).