Swimming: NZ relay team qualify for final

New Zealand swimmers were to fight out a final on the opening day of the world swimming championships in Montreal later today NZ time.

New Zealand qualified for the final of the 4x100m freestyle relay, slashing the New Zealand record in the process in the opening session of the heats.

The team of Nichola Chellingworth, Alison Fitch, Hannah McLean and Georgina Toomey grabbed the last spot in the final after clocking three minutes 45.36sec.

The previous best mark by a representative relay team was 3min 47.77sec set at the Pan Pacific championships in 2002.

New Zealand have not qualified for a final at the world championships since Danyon Loader in 1998 made the 400m freestyle final at Perth.

North Shore's Helen Norfolk also advanced to the semifinals of the 200m individual medley.

Coach Jan Cameron said it was a good start for the New Zealanders.

"We've come here to improve our world rankings and our Commonwealth rankings, and make finals," she said.

"So it was pleasing to get through on the opening session.

"It's a tough environment on the opening session to cope with this highly charged atmosphere.

"Helen swam well but I was particularly pleased with the relay. It was a terrific effort and they have an opportunity to go faster tonight."

"Norfolk clocked 2min 17.04sec to be the 13th fastest in heats of the 200m medley and will chase a spot in the final later today.

She will need to get closer to her own New Zealand record of 2min 15.71sec to become the first individual secure a spot in the finals at these championships.

The relay team were more than two seconds quicker than qualifying mark they set at the national championships.

Chellingworth gave the New Zealanders a strong start with a 56.58sec leg before Fitch added a superb 55.66 followed by 56.06 from backstroke specialist McLean and Toomey brought the team home with a 57.12.

They beat the strong teams from Japan, Denmark and Taiwan for a spot in the final and were the second ranked team in the Commonwealth behind the crack Australian combination who were the top qualifiers.

The major disappointment was teenage butterfly swimmer Corney Swanepoel, who did not advance in the 50m butterfly.

His 24.56sec, well outside his national record, was only the 25th fastest and he missed out on a spot in the semifinals.

He swims his favoured 100m butterfly on Saturday.

North Shore's Liz Coster narrowly missed qualifying in the women's 100m butterfly, clocking 1min 00.79sec, just outside her national record, to be the 18th fastest in the heats.

The opening night of finals starts at 11am (NZ time).

- NZPA