2015 New Zealand Short Course Championships – Day 1 Heats

Swimmers have had their first chance to splash out in the new Sir Owen G. Glenn National Aquatic Centre in Auckland this morning.

The first morning of heats at the 2015 New Zealand Short Course Championships saw World University Games swimmers Michael Mincham (Waterhole) and Ewan Jackson (Howick Pakuranga) clock the quickest times in heats of the 200m freestyle in 1:48.39 and 1:48.83 respectively.

In the women’s 200m freestyle it was Australian Ami Matsuo (Carlile) who posted the quickest time in 1:59.01 from North Shore’s Samantha Lucie-Smith (1:59.52) and Neptune’s Kate Godfrey (2:00.35).

Other University Games swimmers in action this morning included Helena Gasson (North Shore) who was fastest in the 50m butterfly in 26.94 and Natasha Lloyd who was quickest in the women’s 100m breaststroke in 1:09.32.

United swimmer Matt Shead had a solid morning in the pool qualifying fastest for the men’s 100m breaststroke (1:00.19) and second fastest in the 50m butterfly (24.32), the fastest time going to former Olympian William Benson (Heretaunga Sundevils) in 24.01.

In the men’s 400m individual medley Australian Donald Cameron (Carlile) was quickest in 4:18.08 from Neptune’s Andrew Trembath (4:22.32) and United’s Max Polianski (4:23.05).

The morning also saw Olympic brothers Dean and Steven Kent take to the water in the 100m breaststroke and 200m freestyle respectively.

Finals will take place tonight from 6pm.