2015 New Zealand Short Course Championships – Day 2 Heats

North Shore’s Helena Gasson will look to defend her second national title of the week on the second day of the New Zealand Short Course Championships in Auckland today.

Gasson already successfully defended her 50m butterfly title in last night’s finals and has topped qualifiers today in the 200m individual medley with a time of 2:14.58.

Jeffrey Arona-Tuifana’e (Howick Pakuranga) will also be up to defend his title in the 50m breaststroke clocking 28.70 this morning but will face a challenge from an inform Matt Shead (United) who was the top qualifier in 26.98.

With World Championship swimmers Lauren Boyle (United) and Emma Robinson (Capital) missing from the 400m freestyle teenage talent Yeonsu Lee (North Shore) headed qualifiers in 4:14.19 from Australian Sophie Taylor (4:15.44) and Neptune’s Caitlin Deans (4:15.88).

Other top qualifiers from this morning included Wilrich Coetzee (North Shore) in the 200m individual medley (2:00.46).

Coetzee was also second fastest in heats of the 100m backstroke (54.51) with Andrew Trembath (Neptune) quickest in 54.09.

In the women’s 100m backstroke Caroline Baddock (North Shore) was fastest in 59.57.