Swimming: Capp rising star at champs

New Zealand swimmer Nathan Capp smashed his own record in the 1500m freestyle by more than seven seconds. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Swimmer who missed out on Commonwealth Games has record-breaking week.

It has been a coming of age week for Tauranga swimmer Nathan Capp at the New Zealand Open Swimming Championships in Henderson.

Capp, who just missed selection to last year's Commonwealth Games team, has emerged as one of the star performers at the championships at the West Wave Aquatic Centre.

Last night he smashed his own record in the 1500m freestyle by more than seven seconds, after qualifying for the world championships earlier in the week in the 400m individual medley and breaking the New Zealand record in the 800m freestyle.

His victory was tinged with some regret as he just missed out on a second world championship qualifying mark, after being on schedule for much of the 1500m journey.

"It's been a stellar week for me," Capp said. "The time for the 1500m is good but I am a little gutted because I wanted to make two A qualifying times but I can't really complain because I've had an awesome week.

"The swim felt pretty good. It didn't start to hurt until the 1000m mark and I had to push just as hard as I could for the rest of the way.

"I've really stepped up a lot since the end of last year. I felt it was time to make that jump and I am happy I was able to do it."

There were no more additions to the world championships qualifying on the final night, with the team to be named at the end of the programme expected to be 10-strong in 15 events.

Fifteen-year-old rising star, Bobbi Gichard, already qualified for the world championships in the 100m backstroke, showed her stamina to grab victory in the 200m backstroke.

Fourth at the final turn, the Greendale club swimmer from Hawkes Bay got up in the final 10m to win in a personal best 2:14.08, edging top qualifier Sophia Batchelor (Aquagym) 2:14.67 and Kate

Godfrey (Neptune) 2:14.99.

Howick Pakuranga 20-year-old Daniel Hunter converted his 50m freestyle win to victory in the 100m final. He turned first in 23.78 and held on strongly to win in 49.89s, his first time under the 50-second barrier, to edge out top qualifier Corey Main (Howick Pakuranga) 50.13 and Sam Perry (St Peters) 50.67.

Waikato's Helena Gasson (Fairfield) completed an outstanding meet with her fourth title when she dominated the women's 400m individual medley.

The 20-year-old led from the start to win in 4:51.70, finishing clear of 16 year old Yeonsu Lee 4:59.71 and Rachel Smith in 5:02.27, both from North Shore.

After wins in the 100m and 200m butterfly and 200m individual medley earlier in the week, Gasson shares top billing with Lauren Boyle, both with four national titles. While her time was outside the qualifying mark for the world championships, it was under the time for the World University Games in Korea later this year.

The world class Para-Swimmer Sophie Pascoe continued her winning ways, setting her fifth qualifying mark for the IPC Swimming World Championships. Pascoe was timed at 28.22 to be well under the qualifying time, and close to the world record.

She has finished with two world records this week.