Bassett leads way for swimmers in US Open

Auckland backstroker Kurt Bassett has led the way to finish seventh in the 100m backstroke at the US Open Swimming Championships in Indianapolis.

Bassett (Laser Mt Eden) clocked 55.31s in the final after qualifying sixth fastest in 55.46s.

Fellow Aucklander Nielsen Varoy (Roskill) also made the A final, finishing seventh in the 50m freestyle in 22.84s, narrowly missing out on his PB of 22.77.

North Shore’s Samantha Richter clocked 25.89s to finish second in the B final in a time that would have placed her seventh in the A final.

Richter also narrowly missed her national record in a 50m butterfly time trial, in 26.96s, her second ever fastest time.

North Shore’s Mitchell Donaldson bravely competed in the 200m individual medley but was clearly affected by a stomach upset he contracted while overseas.