Stanley sixth at swimming world champs

Matthew Stanley. Photo / File

New Zealand swimmer Matthew Stanley has finished sixth in his first world championship final in Turkey today.

The 20-year-old clocked 1:44.55 in the 200m freestyle final on the opening night of the short course world championships at the Sinan Grdem Dome in Istanbul.

Stanley, coached by Scott Talbot at the Swimming New Zealand High Performance Centre, was fourth fastest in a personal best of 1:44.13 in the morning heat.

The London Olympian was the only New Zealand swimmer to qualify for the finals on the first day when he twice went under the 1:45 barrier for the first time. His previous best was 1:45.02 set at the recent World Cup event in Singapore.

The final was won by double Olympic gold medallist and world champion Ryan Lochte of the US, who clocked a championship record 1:41.92 after topping the morning heats.

Earlier Ewan Jackson was off his best to be 31st fastest in the 200m freestyle heats and his Howick Pakuranga clubmate Corey Main was also outside his entry time to be 26th fastest in heats of the 100m backstroke.

North Shore's Melissa Ingram was 21st fastest in the heats of the 100m backstroke in 59.36, with a solid second half of the race as she prepares for her favoured 200m backstroke.

Two New Zealanders are in action tonight (NZT) led by Lauren Boyle in the 800m freestyle and Christchurch's Cameron Simpson in the 50m freestyle.
The meet continues until Monday (NZ time).

Day 1 finals results:
Men 200m freestyle: Ryan Lochte (USA) 1:41.92, 1; Paul Biedermann (GER) 1:42.07, 2; Conor Dwyer (USA) 1:43.78, 3. Also: Matthew Stanley (NZL) 1:44.45, 6.