Clareburt heads good swimming effort

Lewis Clareburt headed a strong New Zealand swimming effort in the morning qualifying session.

Lewis Clareburt made a promising start to the defence of his Commonwealth Games 200m butterfly crown when he was second fastest in the qualifying session.

Clareburt, already a 200m individual medley

silver medallist in Glasgow, posted a time of 1min 57.35s. Only Australian Harrison Turner, with 1min 56.47, went faster than the New Zealander.

'We were in the marshalling room beforehand,' said Clareburt, 'and we were thinking about what we needed to do to be sure of getting through to the final while also using the minimum amount of energy. I was pretty happy to get through as second fastest qualifier. It's job done.'

The New Zealand women's 50m backstroke swimmers had a good time of it, too.

Savannah-Eve Martin's 28.19s effort qualified her fifth for the semi-finals. She'll be joined in the semis by Amber George, who qualified 10th with 28.79s.

Martin said she was pleased with her swim and that it was helpful being in the final heat, knowing what was required.

George said her time cut things a little closer than she'd have liked but 'I'm through, so I'm happy'.

Carter Swift turned in a powerful qualifying effort in the men's 100m freestyle. His 49.40s effort placed him ninth among the semi-finalists. Fellow New Zealander Cameron Gray's 50.19s time was only good enough for 17th, with the first 16 moving through to the semi-finals. He thus becomes first reserve.

Swift said he was happy with his swim and felt good having locked up a semi-final spot. 'I can't complain. You never know what’s going to happen in the heats; it just take one fast one and you could be on the bubble, so I’m happy to be through.'

Josh Willmer looked impressive in his 100m breaststroke para SB9 heat. Willmer, the defending Commonwealth Games champion in this event, was never pressed. His time was an SB8 Games record - Willmer is swimming above his disability in this SB9 event.

The New Zealander will have his work cut out for him in the final becasuse he was only the second fastest qualifier. Canadian Fernando Lu went 0.37s fasteer in the other heat.

Willmer said part of the explanation for his improved times from the Birmingham Commonwealth Games was that these days he swims with an able-bodied squad, which was much better for his swimming. He said his coach asked him to go out hard in his heat and he did, 'but there's probably room for more improvement tonight'.