Swimming: Kiwis miss out on semifinals

Samantha Lucie-Smith in action at the FINA World Swimming Championships. Photo / Ian MacNicol

New Zealand swimmers have missed out on an evening appearance for the first time at the FINA World Championships in Barcelona.

All three swimmers in today's heats missed out on qualifying to the evening semifinals.

Leading the way was Wellington 21-year-old Samantha Lucie-Smith who set a personal best 55.84 in the heat of the women's 100m freestyle, going under the qualifying time she set at the national championships.

However she was 29th fastest and did not progress, with Australian Cate Campbell leading qualifiers with a time of 53.24s.

Fellow Wellingtonian Gareth Kean, a finalist in his specialist 100m backstroke, was off the mark in the heats of the 200m where his time of 2:02.81 was well outside his best and only 24th fastest.

US-based Glenn Snyders, who was sixth in the final of the 50m breaststroke as he specialises on the shorter distances, was 22nd in the 200m in 2:13.70 and also did not progress.

Tomorrow evening (NZ time) Lauren Boyle is back in the pool for heats of the 800m freestyle, where she will be aiming at a middle lane for Sunday's final after collecting bronze medals in the 400m and 1500m freestyle.

Also in action will be Christchurch teenager Sophia Batchelor in the heats of the 50m butterfly and 200m backstroke.

Results:
Heats:
Women 100m freestyle overall: Cate Campbell (AUS) 53.24, 1; Missy Franklin (USA) 53.36, 2; Sarah Sjostrum (SWE) 53.61, 3. Also: Samantha Lucie-Smith (NZL) 55.84, 29.
Men 200m backstroke: Tyler Clary (USA) 1:56.76, 1; Craig McNally (GBR) 1:57.18, 2; Ryan Lochte (USA) 1:57.19, 3. Also: Gareth Kean (NZL) 2:02.81, 24.
Men 200m breaststroke: Marco Koch GER) 2:09.39, 1; Andrew Willis (GBR) 2:09.91, 2; Daniel Gyurta (HUN) 2:09.94, 3. Also: Glenn Snyders (NZL) 2:13.70, 22.