Swimming: Loophole likely to get McLean to Games

Hannah McLean

Hannah McLean is relieved a medical safety net will keep her on course for Commonwealth Games medals.

The Auckland backstroker will miss the Games trials, which start at Waitakere today, after damaging her right ankle at a World Cup meet in Sydney last month.

Ordinarily, swimmers must contest the trials and meet the selection criteria or miss out.

It is their only window of opportunity.

But McLean, who reached two finals at the world championships in Montreal in July, is able to sit this week out and still go to Melbourne in March due to an exceptions clause in the qualifying criteria.

Essentially it allows a swimmer to miss the trials if there are extenuating circumstances, backed up by solid medical evidence, and only if a swimmer is among the country's elite.

National director of coaching Clive Rushton said that in this situation, McLean's performances in Montreal - fifth in the 100m final, seventh in the 50m and a fingernail outside the 200m final - can be factored in.

"It would be folly to risk aggravating the injury at this stage," he said.

"Unless three girls beat her Montreal times this week, then Hannah will be nominated for the team. The chances of that are pretty remote."

Rushton stressed the clause was not handed out lightly and pointed out that if McLean had taken a punt and swum poorly in the trials, she would have missed Games selection.

McLean - ranked equal first in the Commonwealth with Australian Giaan Rooney over 100m, and fourth over 50m and 200m - had an MRI scan yesterday and hopes to have a clearer idea of the extent of the injury this week.

She has her fingers crossed surgery is not required.

The injury means she can't kick powerfully and it is painful if she pushes it.

The 24-year-old admitted the timing of the injury could have been far worse - "If I'd been stretching before the final of the 100m backstroke at the Commonwealth Games, it would be absolutely devastating" - and has her sights on the Australian trials next month as her next significant competition.

"I'm feeling really good, the fittest and strongest I've ever felt and I'm really keen to race.

"But I just have to be patient and make the right calls about the injury."

Rushton is optimistic that about 24 swimmers will qualify for Melbourne. That would exceed the previous biggest New Zealand squad sent overseas, 18 at Montreal.

He is confident lesser-known names will be in the party.

Two who might force their way into the team are a couple of 15-year-olds, Gisborne's Emily Thomas and Natalie Wiegersma from Southland, who turned in outstanding swims at the spring short course championships a couple of months ago.

"They both went 1m 01s for the 100m backstroke.

"Now if they turn that into long course then they're on the team. I do expect some of those young ones to say 'hey, we want a piece of this'."

Rushton reckons there is a greater sense of anticipation about the Games trials than when Olympic selection is on the line.

"People think this is more touchable and more swimmers have a chance of getting on this team, and that's got to be healthy."