Teens take spotlight on final night
Two months shy of Commonwealth Games trials, a 16-year-old upset a former world junior backstroke champion on the final night of the national short course championships in Auckland.
In a fascinating 50m final, Kyla Alexander won her first national open title, upsetting her United Swimming clubmate Gabrielle Fa’amausili, 17. Both broke respective national age group records, with Alexander clocking 27.71, 0.02 ahead.
‘‘It’s the icing on the cake to go with winning my first open title,’’ Alexander said. ‘‘It feels good to know that I can compete with her.’’
While both times were top three in the Commonwealth this year, the pair know they`ll have to do as well at the Commonwealth Games trials in the 50m pool in December to be selected, let alone be competitive. Fa’amausili also added the open 100m freestyle title and age-group record at the championships. At 54.96, it was well outside Commonwealth Games qualifying standards.
‘‘I’m not satisfied with my performances. There’s a lot that needs working on especially heading into trials,’’ Fa’amausili said.
Bradlee Ashby and Corey Main are the sole New Zealand swimmers to have qualified for the Games - the rest need to qualify at trials in 12-month personal best times to match time standards. Ashby won his key events in personal best times last week.
‘‘This was a massive week of racing, but I’m feeling ready for the next stage of training leading up to the Commonwealth Games,’’ Ashby said.
While Bronagh Ryan and Helena Gasson both lowered each other’s 100m breaststroke national records last week, they`ll need a further drop to meet Commonwealth Games individual qualifying standards. Daniel Hunter, who missed most of last week’s champs through illness, will have to lower his freestyle records, as will Emma Robinson in the 800m, but Lewis Clareburt is just 0.10 seconds outside the 400m individual mark.
The New Zealand Olympic Committee will select up to 12 nominated swimmers. However, Alexander is not on the published long list provided to the NZOC, and some will look to qualify through selection in relay events.
There’s just 12 events on the paraswimming Commonwealth Games programme, but no S11 events for Mary Fisher. Sophie Pascoe will be swimming the S10 200m individual medley, one of seven events she got a world record in last week.