WELLINGTON, New Zealand, September 2. GLENN Snyders (North Shore) lit up the first day of the New Zealand Short Course Swimming Championships today, breaking his own national record and twice going under the qualifying time for the World Championships.
Snyders, 27 clocked 57.67s in this morning’s heats to better his own national record but he couldn’t quite match that time in the final at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre in Kilbirnie tonight.
This morning the Californian-based swimmer was nearly a full second under the qualifying time of 58.55s for the World Championships, with his time in winning the final tonight of 58.05s also under the qualifying time.
Commonwealth teammate Matthew Stanley also bettered the qualifying mark for the World Championships tonight in the 200m freestyle, winning the final in 1:43.99, which was 0.2s under the mark and only 23/100ths of a second off the New Zealand record.
Both Snyders and Stanley have had a busy schedule over the last couple of months, with Snyders picking up a bronze medal at the recent Pan Pacific Championships after strong performances at the Commonwealth Games.
“Confidence is high, but in all honestly I’m pretty tired and just mentally tired,” Snyders said. “So it’s hard right now although it hasn’t finished for me. I’ve still got another week of competitive swimming and it’s getting tough both mentally and physically.”
Snyders is heading to Singapore tomorrow night, having been invited among a select group for the lucrative Prudential Singapore All Stars meet on Friday and Saturday.
“It’s the top eight in the world so to be part of that is definitely an honour.
“The swim felt better tonight than this morning but it was a lot slower so I’m not exactly sure what happened there so I need to back and look at the race and figure it out.
“You know a New Zealand record this morning and I came back tonight and still went under the time and that’s all that counts.”
Stanley, the top qualifier, was the only swimmer under the 1m44s barrier, edging out Commonwealth Games teammates Steven Kent (Coast) and Ewan Jackson (Howick Pakuranga).
While Stanley went under the qualifying mark, Kent (1:44.40) was just 21/100th of a second off the world championship mark.
However Stanley, who broke his long course 200m record at the Pan Pacific Championships last week, was not satisfied with his performance.
“I’m pretty disappointed with the time; I probably would have liked to have been at least a second faster.” Stanley said. “I will have to assess and get stuck back in to training.”
Wellington swimmer Samantha Lee claimed victory in the women’s 200m freestyle in 1:58.25 ahead of Auckland 17 year old Georgia Marris (United) and her Capital clubmate Emma Robinson.
Kent had to settle for silver twice tonight after finishing behind West Auckland Aquatic’s Nielsen Varoy in the 50m butterfly. Varoy swam home in 23.75s, chased by Kent (23.95s) and former Olympian William Benson (Heretaunga Sundevils, 24.16s).
Nathan Capp (Greeton) was only one second off the qualifying time in the men’s 400m individual medley. He won in 4:08.39 ahead of Wilrich Coetzee (North Shore) and Max Polianksi (United).
In other finals tonight, Kendall Reidy (Central Hawkes Bay) took home the gold medal in the women’s 100m breaststroke in 1:09.54 while the women’s 50m butterfly title went to Helena Gasson of Fairfield in 27.30s.
In the Para-Swimming, Jesse Reynold (Fairfield) and Mary Fisher (Capital) took honours in the men’s and women’s 200m freestyle respectively.
Fisher, the multi Paralympic and IPC World Champion claimed a second victory in the 50m butterfly. The 100m breaststroke titles went to Daniel Gaualofa (Bay of Islands) for the men and Olivia Hay (Whakatane) for the women.
The championships continue until Saturday with heats from 9am and finals from 6pm each day.
Day 1 Results:
Men 200m freestyle: Matthew Stanley (Matamata) 1:43.99, 1 (World Short Course Qualifying Time); Steven Kent (Coast, Auckland) 1:44.40, 2; Ewan Jackson (Howick Pakuranga) 1:46.51, 3.
Women 200m freestyle: Samantha Lee (Capital) 1:58.25, Georgia Marris (United, Auckland) 1:59.26, 2; Emma Robinson (Capital) 1:59.47, 3.
Men 100m breaststroke: Glenn Snyders (North Shore) 58.05, 1 (Qualifying time World Short Course); Jeffrey Arona-Tuifana’e (Howick Pakuranga) 1:00.74, 2; Matt Phillips (Wharenui) 1:01.94, 3.
Women 100m breaststroke: Kendall Reidy (Central Hawkes Bay) 1:09.54, 1; Abbie Johnston (North Shore) 1:09.90, 2; Bronagh Ryan (Porirua) 1:10.26, 3.
Men 50m butterfly: Nielsen Varoy (West Auckland) 23.75, 1; Steven Kent (Coast, Auckland) 23.95, 2; William Benson (Heretaunga Sundevils, Hawkes Bay) 24.16, 3.
Women 50m butterfly: Helena Gasson (Fairfield) 27.30, 1; Georgia Marris (United, Auckland) 27.89, 2; Simone Cowling (Pukekohe) 27.99, 3.
Men 400m individual medley: Nathan Capp (Greerton, Bay of Plenty) 4:08.38, 1; Wilrich Coetzee (North Shore) 4:20.46, 2; Max Polianski (United, Auckland) 4:22.19, 3.
Para Swimmers:
Men 200m freestyle: Jesse Reynolds (Fairfield) 2:07.81, 1; Hamish McLean (Wanaka) 3:00,50, 2; George Adam (North Canterbury) 2:58.77, 3.
Women 200m freestyle: Mary Fisher (Capital) 2:33.90, 1; Rebecca Dubber (North Shore) 2:44.95, 2; Sarah Fuher (St Peters) 4:18.13, 3.
Men 100m breaststroke: Daniel Gaualofa (Bay of Islands), 1:17.67, 1; Christopher Arnuthnott (Ice Breaker Aquatics, Manawatu) 1:18.79, 2.
Women 100m breaststroke: Olivia Hay (Whakatane) 1:40.38, 1; Jacquelyn Ruth (QEII, Christchurch) 2:24.29, 2.
Men 50m butterfly: Christopher Arbuthnott (Ice Breaker Aquatics, Manawatu) 29.95, 1; Jesse Reynolds (Fairfield) 30.34, 2; Hamish McLean (Wanaka) 47.33, 3.
Women 50m butterfly: Mary Fisher (Capital) 33.51, 1; Nikita Howarth (Te Awamutu) 36.80, 2; Bryall McPherson (North Shore) 37.01, 3.
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