Pan Pacific Swimming Championships Day 3 Heats

Lauren Boyle heads eight New Zealand swimmers into finals after a wet and wild third morning of heats at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships on the Gold Coast.

The unseasonably wet and cold conditions worsened this morning to provide a tough test at the refurbished outdoor facility at Southport as southerly winds whipped through the Southport region.

Boyle was sixth fastest in heats of the 400m freestyle in a 4:08.64 to contest the A Final tonight, and renew the battle with 800m winner Katie Ledecky who led all qualifiers in 4:03.09.

Corey Main clocked 1:59.85 after going through the turn in a slick 57.23 grabbed the eighth and final spot in the A Final. He was 10^th fastest overall but each nation is allowed only two swimmers in a final.

Emma Robinson produced a strong 4:16.63 and together with fellow Wellingtonian Samantha Lucie-Smith (4:18.49) will contest the B Final tonight.

Samantha Lee (1:00.81) and Laura Quilter (1:01.00) qualified for the B Final of the 100m butterfly.

Matthew Stanley, who produced a New Zealand record in the lead-off of the 4x200m freestyle last night, could not replicate that form in the 400m freestyle heats this morning.

His 3:53.33 qualified him for the B Final along with compatriot Dylan Dunlop-Barratt (3:54.05).

The quadrennial Pan Pacific Championships is a five-day meet with full strength teams from USA, Japan, Canada, Australia, the rest of the Pacific and other non-European nations.

The heats begin at 10am local time and finals from 7pm from tonight until Sunday, with the 10km open water swim in the Southport Marina on Monday.