Medley man breaks freestyle swim record in Australia

Medley specialist Nathan Capp led the way with a New Zealand record effort on the third night of finals at the Queensland Swimming championships in Brisbane.

Capp, from Tauranga finished second behind outstanding Australian prospect Matthew Levings in the 1500m freestyle in 15:22.83 which was nearly five seconds under the New Zealand record.

This record was set by national open water champion Kane Radford of 15:27.13 at the 2012 Olympic trials.

The only victory yesterday went to Lauren Boyle who took out the 800m freestyle in 8:28.77 from Australian Jessica Attwood, after opening up a big lead midway and easing up at the finish.

There were four other podium placings with Auckland Shaun Burnett second in the 200m butterfly, going under the two minute barrier in 1:59.56 with Wellington’s Isaac Foote third in 2:00.85.

Matamata’s Matthew Stanley, who won his specialist 400m freestyle on Tuesday, finished third in the 200m backstroke in 2:02.24, just ahead of Dunedin’s Kurt Crosland in 2:02.35.

Australian-based Auckland swimmer, Michael Mincham was third in the 1500m freestyle behind Capp in 15:56.89 with Cameron Blair fourth in 16:02.53.

Other finalists included Samantha Lee fifth in the 200m butterfly (2:14.80), Tash Hind (2:19.49) and Samantha Lucie Smith (2:20.12) were eighth and 10^th respectively in the 200m individual medley, with Auckland’s Mitchell Donaldson fourth in the men’s 200m individual medley in 2:04.09.

Wellington’s Emma Robinson was fifth behind Boyle in the 800m freestyle (8:40.50).

The squad compete again today before returning to New Zealand tomorrow following their three-week training camp on the Gold Coast.