Swimming: Youth record set

Auckland swimmer Kurt Bassett set a New Zealand record as he won through to his second final at the Fina World Youth Championships in Brazil yesterday.

Bassett, 16, was the second fastest qualifier in the 200m backstroke heats on the penultimate night of competition at Rio de Janeiro.

The Mt Eden club swimmer also established a national age-group record, clocking 2m 03.61s in his heat to take more than a second off his own 16 years record.

World champion backstroker Natalie Wiegersma (Southland) took more than seven seconds off her best in the 200m freestyle with Penelope Marshall (BoP) also setting a new best time, but neither made the finals.