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The start of something extraordinary

Para-Swimmers continue world record form, teens lead the way

Para-Swimming stars Mary Fisher and Nikita Howarth have continued the world record blitz on the penultimate morning of heats at the New Zealand Short Course Swimming Championships in Wellington today.

Fisher, who broke three world records yesterday, this morning broke the world mark in heats of the 100m butterfly at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre in Kilbirnie.

The 21 year old from the Capital club clocked 1:15.82 which was 4.5 seconds inside the previous record.

The 15 year old Howarth, who recently competed at the Commonwealth Games, broke the world mark in her disability for the same event, timed at 1:23.15 which was more than three seconds inside the previous record.

Waikato swimmer Helena Gasson continued on her excellent form this week to be fastest in heats of the 400m individual medley (4:48.28) from 15 year old prospect Yeonsu Lee (North Shore, 4:52.21). Gasson has won the 50m butterfly, 100m and 200m individual medley so far this week.

North Shore’s Jackson Cropp was the only swimmer under the two minute mark in heats of the 200m backstroke ahead of fellow 18 year old Bradlee Ashby (Fairfield), who is back after success at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships.

Lurking behind are senior freestyle stars Dylan Dunlop-Barrett and Matthew Stanley.

Hawkes Bay super teen Bobbi Gichard (Greendale) was fastest in heats of the 200m backstroke in 2:12.29 ahead of North Shore’s Sophie Wotherspoon (2:12.67) and Gichard’s Youth Olympic teammate Gabrielle Fa’amausili (Roskill) 2:14.43.

Ashby was back in action to top qualifiers in the 100m butterfly in 54.11 ahead of fellow 18 year old Max Polianski (United, 54.23) while Commonwealth Games swimmer Laura Quilter dominated heats of in the women’s heats in 1.00.84.

The finals begin at 6pm tonight with the championships concluding tomorrow.

NZ Short Course Championships