Burmester first to make final
Commonwealth Games gold medalist Moss Burmester became the first New Zealand to qualify for a final at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Melbourne tonight.
Burmester (North Shore) broke his own New Zealand record to qualify fifth fastest in the semi-finals on a remarkable third night at the Susie O’Neill Pool. The former Tauranga swimmer produced a superbly controlled race in the first semi-final, going through the 100m in first place, holding on well for second place behind China’s Peng Wu. He clocked 1:56.27 to break his own New Zealand record by nearly half a second.
“I’m really happy for him. It’s been a fabulous night with great atmosphere and Moss produced a very controlled race,†head coach Jan Cameron said. “To be really honest, Moss has a sub-1:56 in him. We know where that is and so does he. Moss came home in 30.4 and he needs to come home in 30.
“He has a chance to do that tomorrow and step himself up to another level.â€Â
Cameron said it was important that the 25-year-old concentrates on his own job tomorrow. “There’s Michael Phelps there who is in a class above the rest and a couple of others in the 1:54 category. Moss can’t get caught up in that. He has the presence to get the job done.â€Â
Cameron said his performance will act as a catalyst for the squad to fire up for the rest of the meet. Top qualifier for the final is the amazing Phelps who earlier in the night set the Rod Laver Arena on fire with a world record in the 200m freestyle. He eclipsed the previous mark held by Australia’s favourite son Ian Thorpe clocking 1:43.86.
It marked an electric and emphatic evening for the Americans with Natalie Coughlin breaking her own world record to retain her title in the 100m backstroke clocking 59.44s.
The Stars and Stripes played again when Aaron Peirsol broke his own world record to win the 100m backstroke title while Americans also qualified top for the final of the men’s 50m breaststroke and won the women’s 1500m gold less than a second outside Janet Evans’ 19-year-old world mark.
Hosts Australia fought back with the outstanding Leisel Jones winning the 100m breaststroke title in a championship record.
Five New Zealanders will be in the pool tomorrow with the best opportunity to advance with veteran North Shore swimmer Dean Kent in his favoured 200m individual medley. The 28 year old, second in this event in the Commonwealth Games, was ranked 14th in the world last year over the distance.
Backstrokers Liz Coster and Hannah McLean are back in the pool in an attempt to put their disappoints in the 100m behind them in the 50m sprint heats, while Cameron Gibson and Mark Herring compete in the 100m freestyle.
Results, semi-final 200m butterfly:
Semi-final 1: Yin Chen (CHN) 1:56.04, 1; Moss Burmester (NZL) 1:56.27, 2 (NZ Record); P Korzeniowski (POL) 1:56.30, 3.
Semi-final 2: Michael Phelps (USA) 1:55.13, 1; Peng Wu (CHN) 1:55.17, 2; R Shibata (JPN) 1:55.96, 3.
For interviews contact: Mark Saunders, Team Manager, Tel 0061 437 078533
For further information: Ian Hepenstall, Sports Media NZ, Tel 0275 613181, E: ianhep@xtra.co.nz
Burmester (North Shore) broke his own New Zealand record to qualify fifth fastest in the semi-finals on a remarkable third night at the Susie O’Neill Pool. The former Tauranga swimmer produced a superbly controlled race in the first semi-final, going through the 100m in first place, holding on well for second place behind China’s Peng Wu. He clocked 1:56.27 to break his own New Zealand record by nearly half a second.
“I’m really happy for him. It’s been a fabulous night with great atmosphere and Moss produced a very controlled race,†head coach Jan Cameron said. “To be really honest, Moss has a sub-1:56 in him. We know where that is and so does he. Moss came home in 30.4 and he needs to come home in 30.
“He has a chance to do that tomorrow and step himself up to another level.â€Â
Cameron said it was important that the 25-year-old concentrates on his own job tomorrow. “There’s Michael Phelps there who is in a class above the rest and a couple of others in the 1:54 category. Moss can’t get caught up in that. He has the presence to get the job done.â€Â
Cameron said his performance will act as a catalyst for the squad to fire up for the rest of the meet. Top qualifier for the final is the amazing Phelps who earlier in the night set the Rod Laver Arena on fire with a world record in the 200m freestyle. He eclipsed the previous mark held by Australia’s favourite son Ian Thorpe clocking 1:43.86.
It marked an electric and emphatic evening for the Americans with Natalie Coughlin breaking her own world record to retain her title in the 100m backstroke clocking 59.44s.
The Stars and Stripes played again when Aaron Peirsol broke his own world record to win the 100m backstroke title while Americans also qualified top for the final of the men’s 50m breaststroke and won the women’s 1500m gold less than a second outside Janet Evans’ 19-year-old world mark.
Hosts Australia fought back with the outstanding Leisel Jones winning the 100m breaststroke title in a championship record.
Five New Zealanders will be in the pool tomorrow with the best opportunity to advance with veteran North Shore swimmer Dean Kent in his favoured 200m individual medley. The 28 year old, second in this event in the Commonwealth Games, was ranked 14th in the world last year over the distance.
Backstrokers Liz Coster and Hannah McLean are back in the pool in an attempt to put their disappoints in the 100m behind them in the 50m sprint heats, while Cameron Gibson and Mark Herring compete in the 100m freestyle.
Results, semi-final 200m butterfly:
Semi-final 1: Yin Chen (CHN) 1:56.04, 1; Moss Burmester (NZL) 1:56.27, 2 (NZ Record); P Korzeniowski (POL) 1:56.30, 3.
Semi-final 2: Michael Phelps (USA) 1:55.13, 1; Peng Wu (CHN) 1:55.17, 2; R Shibata (JPN) 1:55.96, 3.
For interviews contact: Mark Saunders, Team Manager, Tel 0061 437 078533
For further information: Ian Hepenstall, Sports Media NZ, Tel 0275 613181, E: ianhep@xtra.co.nz