Though they hesitated to declare it their official roster for the 2012 World Short Course Championships that are upcoming in Istanbul in December, Swimming New Zealand acknowledged 8 swimmers today who were under the FINA A qualifying times at either their Short Course World Championships or the Dubai World Cup this past week.
Swimming New Zealand has given their athletes through this weekend’s World Cup in Doha to hit their qualifying standards.
Lauren Boyle – North Shore – 400/800 Free
Sophia Batchelor – Aquagym – 100 Fly, 200 Back
Melissa Ingram – North Shore – 200 Back
Matthew Stanley – Matamata – 200 Free
Ewan Jackson – Howick Pakuranga – 200 Free
Corey Main – Howick Pakuranga – 100 Back
Glenn Snyders – North Shore – 50/100/200 Breast
Cameron Simpson – Templeton – 100 Free
Among the highlights of this week’s New Zealand Championships was a 4:02.43 in the 400 free from former Cal standous Lauren Boyle. That’s the best time in the world this year by precisely two seconds ahead of Katinka Hosszu’s swim from Dubai, and great early form.
Also impressive was Sophia Batchelor. She had a rough summer, missing a FINA Olympic A-time by .01 seconds and by decree of her federation went uninvited to London. There were no ill-effects of that in Wellington over the weekend though, as she swam a 58.24 to win the 100 fly. That cut four-tenths off of her own National Record, and that at only 17 years old. Expect to see her dip well under 58-seconds in Istanbul to rocket up the all-time rankings (she’s now snuck just inside the top 100).
On the men’s side, Corey Main had one heck-of-a-meet, winning the 100 back in 52.45 and also the 100 free in 48.97. If allowed, it would seem as though he, along with Matthew Stanley (1:45.23), Ewan Jackson (1:46.29), and Matthew Hutchins (1:46.47) could easily assemble a finals-worthy 800 free relay at Worlds.