New Zealand swimmers earn three medals on opening day

New Zealand swimmers grabbed three medals on the opening night of finals at the New South Wales championships in Sydney.

Glenn Snyders (International Training Centre), Melissa Ingram (North Shore) and Natalie Wiegersma (Southland) earned the medals as the kiwi contingent faced some of the world’s best as they build towards the Commonwealth Games trials in April.

Snyders finished second to Australian Brenton Richard in the final of the 50m breaststroke in a slick 28.59, beaten in a touch finish.

Ingram was third in the 200m backstroke final in 2:11.23, less than two seconds outside the New Zealand record.

Wiegersma was third in the final of the 400m individual medley won by world record holder Stephanie Rice in 4:40.37 with the Southland swimmer only a second behind and less than two seconds outside the national record.

Twelve New Zealanders swum their way into finals, including Ingram and fellow North Shore team-mates Jesse Blundell and Penny Marshall in the 200m backstroke, with Andrew McMillan fourth and Moss Burmester sixth in the men’s 200m butterfly finals.

The New Zealand squad, who are still in heavy training load, are using the meet for valuable hard racing in fatigue against .the Australians who are less than a month away from their Commonwealth Games trials.

The meet continues until tomorrow.

New Zealand results, day 1:

Men, 50m breaststroke: Brenton Rickard (AUS) 28.51, 1; Glenn Snyders (NZL) 28.59, 2; Brad Morrison (AUS) 28.76, 3.

Women 400m individual medley: Stephanie Rice (AUS) 4:40.37, 1; Samantha Hamill (AUS) 4:41.28, 2; Natalie Wiegersma (NZL) 4:41.37, 3.

Women 200m backstroke: Belinda Hocking (AUS) 2:08.36, 1; Meagen Nay (AUS) 2:10.31, 2; Melissa Ingram (NZL) 2:11.23, 3. Also Jessie Blundell (NZL) 2:12.88, 4; Penny Marshall (NZL) 2:15.36, 7.

Other New Zealand placings:

200m butterfly: Andrew McMillan 2:00.70, 4; Moss Burmester 2:01.43, 6.

100m freestyle: Natasha Hind 56.04, 7; Amaka Gessler 56.47, 10.

50m backstroke: Daniel Bell 26.15, 5; John Gatfield 26.71, 7.

800m freestyle: Phoebe Williams 8:57.90, 4.