Swimming: Gibson pips Swanepoel in 50m freestyle

While national open short-course records remained intact, the final session of the national spring swimming championships served up several close contests in Wellington last night.

The men's 50m freestyle was a classic splash and dash, with North Shore's Cameron Gibson just edging out teammate Corney Swanepoel in a time of 22.72 seconds.

Wellington's Kelly Bentley was unlucky not to collect her third individual gold after a false start in the 200m individual medley.

Tauranga's Liz Van Welie won the race in two minutes 17.36 seconds.

Dean Kent edged out Swanepoel in 55.64sec in the men's 100m individual medley.

Hutt Valley's John Gatfield broke the under-15 100m individual medley record with a time of 59.54sec, while Southlander Natalie Wiesgersma recorded her third under-15 record after winning the junior 200m individual medley in 2min 16.14sec.

Gisborne's Emily Thomas set a new under-15 record in the 50m backstroke with a time of 28.87sec.

- NZPA