Carey signals her battle for Beijing Olympics

Christchurch swimmer Annabelle Carey pressed her claims as a candidate for next year’s Beijing Olympics with a record-breaking performance on the third night of finals at the Swimming New Zealand Spring Championships in Wellington tonight.



Carey, 18, broke a longstanding national short course record to win the 100m breaststroke in 1:08.56 at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre. This broke the previous mark set by the great Anna Wilson at the Paris World Cup back in 1995 by more than a second in a splendid performance.



The Aquagym swimmer, who holds the national 100m breaststroke long course record, produced her best performance since that performance in last year’s national trials.



With the likelihood of a women’s medley team qualifying for Beijing diminishing, the confident performance from Carey would give some confidence that she has the ability to reach the individual standards to claim a spot in the Olympics.



She also broke her national 18 years age group record. This was one of two age group marks to be broken tonight, with the other falling to talented 14 year old Whangaparaoa swimmer Mitchell Donaldson (Coast) who broke his own mark in the 200m individual medley in 2:08.37. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZv3dcoX2no

The championships finish on Wednesday.



Finals results from day three, Swimming NZ Spring Championships, Wellington Aquatic Centre:



Female:

100m breaststroke, 16 years plus: Annabelle Carey (Aquagym) 1:08.56, 1 (NZ Record); Katie Bone (North Shore) 1:10.80, 2; Kelly Bentley (Capital) 1:11.69, 3. Under 16: Ashley Rupapera (Stratford) 1:12.39, 1; Chloe Francis (North Shore) 1:12.68, 2; Ellen Quirke (Capital) 1:14.40, 3.

50m freestyle, 16 years plus: Hayley Palmer (North Shore) 25.82, 1; Isabella Franks (Jasi) 26.29, 2; Anita Roberts (Capital) 26.39, 3. Under 16: Caitlin Smith (Queensland) 26.14, 1; Clair Benson (Sundevils) 26.76, 2; Samantha Lee (Capital) 27.18, 3.

400m individual medley, 16 years plus: Natalie Wiegersma (Southland) 4:42.42, 1; Grace Francis (North Shore) 4:54.80, 2; Penny Hayes (Aquagym) 5:00.65, 3.

200m backstroke, 16 years plus: Penelope Marshall (North Shore) 2:10.99, 1; Wiegersma 2:13.34, 2; Jessie Blundell (North Shore) 2:13.95, 3.



Male: 50m backstroke, 16 years plus: Lewis Williams (Central City) 25.53, 1; John Zulch (North Shore) 25.80, 2; Bradley Byrne (Queensland) 25.91, 3; Under 16: Gareth Kean (Capital) 26.75, 1; Blake Bassett (Laser Mt Eden) 28.12, 2; Ben Stark (West Auckland) 28.23, 3.

400m freestyle, 16 years plus: Glenn Anderson (Enterprise) 3:53.01, 1; Andrew McMillan (North Shore) 3:54.34, 2; Robert Voss (North Shore) 3:55.41, 3. Under 16: Greg Sumner (North Shore) 4:07.21, 1; Matthew Wilson (Capital) 4:07.69, 2; Nathan Capp (Greerton) 4:08.69, 3.

200m breaststroke, 16 years plus: Alex Collins (Queensland) 2:20.97, 1; Carsten Corazza (Howick Pakuranga) 2:21.97, 2; Amini Fonua (West Auckland) 2:22.57, 3. Under 16: Eric Abba (North Shore) 2:26.78, 1; Stark 2:27.33, 2; Mitch Tronic (Queensland) 2:27.73, 3.

200m individual medley, 16 years plus: Daniel Bell (West Auckland) 2:02.66, 1; Steven Kent (Watties Swim City) 2:04.58, 2; John Gatfield (Watties Swim City) 2:06.12, 3. Under 16: Mitchell Donaldson (Coast) 2:08.37, 1 (NZ Age Record); Stark 2:12.39, 2; Alasdair Shilito (Wharenui) 2:12.65, 3.