State NZ Short Course Swimming Championships - Day 2 Wrap

World and national records tumbled on an outstanding second night of finals at the State New Zealand Short Course Championships in Wellington.

North Canterbury swimmer Natasha Lloyd broke the New Zealand Open record in the 200m breaststroke this morning, before backing up by lowering the record again in the final at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre tonight.

Paralympian sensation Sophie Pascoe showed her class with a world record in the 100m freestyle before fellow IPC swim star Mary Fisher added a second world record in the 50m butterfly in a superb night of swimming action.

Lloyd (North Canterbury) broke the national open record in a personal best time in the heats this morning in 2:27.08 before lowering this to 2:26.99 to win the final. After years of contending with injuries, the 17 year old was ecstatic to be injury free to produce an outstanding result.

“I’m really pleased with that. It’s such a relief. I’ve had a pretty rough two years with three surgeries and a couple of strained groins so I’m absolutely over the moon, I’m so happy,” said Lloyd.

The national mark had been on the teenager’s mind for months but two weeks ago another injury threatened her record- breaking form.

“Two months out the goal was to break the open record and then a couple of weeks ago I strained my groin so we had to go back to square one. But we kept up the positive thoughts and I’ve had a fantastic support team around me and they’ve really helped to bring me back up,” she said.

Pascoe (QEII) comfortably broke the world mark in the 100m freestyle by over two seconds this morning in a controlled swim before opening fire tonight to duck under the one minute mark for the first time, lowering the world record to 59.50s.

Meanwhile Wellington’s Fisher (Capital) broke the 33 second barrier for the first time to clip 0.2 secs off the old 50m butterfly world record, clocking 32.91 in her second race of the night.  

In other finals tonight, Laura Quilter (North Shore) picked up her first national title of the competition in the 100m freestyle. The 21 year old led from start to finish but was challenged on the final 25m by a fast finishing world short course 800m champion Lauren Boyle.

Quilter was back in the pool 40 minutes later to win the 50m butterfly in 26.64s, just 0.1 seconds outside the national open record.

Fairfield swimmer Bradlee Ashby upset world championship swimmer Nathan Capp (Greerton) in the men’s 400m individual medley. The 17 year old clocked, who competed in the world junior championships earlier this month, set  a personal best time and national age group record of 4:14.15.

World Championship 25m semifinalist Cameron Simpson (Templeton) ducked under the 22s barrier to win the 50m freestyle in a swift time of 21.99s ahead of Nielsen Varoy (Roskill) and Samuel Perry (St Peters).

World champion Boyle (North Shore) showed a glimpse of her remarkable talents with a dominant victory in the 800m freestyle, posting a solid time of 8:13.45. Tabitha Baumann (North Shore) used the opportunity to race the best in the world to set a personal best time and a national age group record in winning the silver medal in 8:26.20.

The championships continue until Thursday before the inaugural Swimming New Zealand Zonal Championship on Friday.

Results:
Women 100m freestyle: Laura Quilter (North Shore) 54.29, 1; Lauren Boyle (North Shore) 54.62, 2; Samantha Lee (Capital) 55.69, 3.
AWD Multiclass: Sophie Pascoe (QEII) 59.50, 1 (World Record); Mary Fisher (Capital) 1:11.17, 2; Tayla Clements (North Shore) 1:13.31, 3.
Men 400m medley: Bradlee Ashby (Fairfield) 4:14.15, 1; Nathan Capp (Greerton) 4:15.02, 2; Wilrich Coetzee (North Shore) 4:17.94, 3.
Women 50m butterfly: Laura Quilter (North Shore) 26.64, 1; Samantha Lee (Capital) 27.03, 2; Caroline Baddock (North Shore) 27.73, 3.
AWD Multiclass: Mary Fisher (Capital) 32.91, 1 (World Record); Emily Grace (St Pauls) 36.69, 2; Bryal McPherson (North Shore) 36.82, 3.
Men 50m freestyle: Cameron Simpson (Templeton) 21.99, 1; Nielsen Varoy (Roskill) 22.13, 2; Samuel Perry (St Peters) 22.39, 3.
AWD Multiclass: Daniel Holt (North Shore) 25.78, 1; Daniel Gaualofa (Bay of Islands) 27.78, 2; Jesse Reynolds (Fairfield) 28.77, 3.
Women 200m breaststroke: Natasha Lloyd (North Canterbury) 2:26.99, 1 (NZ Record); Jane Ip (West Auckland) 2:28.49, 2; Emily McGill (Capital) 2:32.69, 3.
Women 800m freestyle: Lauren Boyle (North Shore) 8:13.45, 1; Tabitha Baumann (North Shore) 8:26.20, 2; Emma Robinson (Capital) 8:41.65, 3.