WELLINGTON, New Zealand, October 3. LAUREN Boyle and Sophia Batchelor, who each already qualified for the World Short Course Championships in Turkey this December, added more qualifying times to their schedule at the New Zealand Short Course Championships in Wellington.
Boyle raced to victory in the women's 400 free with a 4:02.43, just off her season-best of 4:02.13 from last season, after already qualifying for Worlds in the 800 free. Tabitha Baumann took second in 4:07.03, while Emma Robinson touched third in 4:11.32.
“I was really happy with that swim because it was well under the qualifying time and I did my best time today,” Boyle said. “I didn't really stop training after the Olympics because I really wanted to qualify for the world champs at this meet. I only swam every second day for three weeks and only short swims after London. It hasn't been that hard to stay motivated because I had this goal in mind. It would have been nice and healthy to have had a break and I probably should have but I needed to go to this meet in December. Going to the world championships in short course so soon after the Olympics will be another intense competition and beneficial looking ahead to the world champs long course next year. I think one of the things I need to work on is the exposure to this level of competition and the intensity that I need to swim fast in the morning and again at night.”
Batchelor popped a New Zealand record in the women's 100 fly with a swift 58.24, while Samantha Lee took second in 58.99. Laura Quilter clinched third in 1:00.13. Batchelor added this event to her schedule, which already included a women's 200 back qualification last night. Batchelor then doubled up with a 28.38 to win the women's 50 back. Caroline Baddock took second in 28.45, while Grace Marriner-Duncan earned third in 28.73.
Corey Main, who already earned a spot on the Worlds roster on night one, topped the men's 100 free in 48.97. Nielsen Varoy placed second in 49.43, while Matthew Stanley picked up third-place honors in 49.47.
Kurt Crosland doubled up on the penultimate night with wins in the men's 50 back and 100 IM. He won the sprint back in 24.20, while Main took second in 25.22. John Gatfield rounded out the top three in 25.68. Crosland also won the 100 IM in 54.68, with Steven Kent taking second in 55.57. Mitchell Donaldson picked up third in 56.96.
Kate Godfrey won the women's 200 IM title in 2:14.32, while Chloe Francis placed second in 2:14.62. Tash Hind wound up third in 2:15.09. Jeffrey Arona-Tuifana'e and George Schroder tied for the men's 50 breast title with matching 29.18s, while Ben Walsh finished third in 29.45.