Olympic qualifying times amended

Press, 15 April 1980, Page 46

Olympic qualifying times amended

By

KEVIN TUTTY

;■ An amended list of qualifying times — some more difficult and some relaxed — has been released by the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association’s selectors for the Moscow Olympics. The times, approved by the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games selectors, were reviewed after -the Australian championships three weeks ago. Six- times have been tightened and four relaxed as a consequence of the Australian championships, and while in some cases it will help New Zealand competitors, in others it will make it more difficult for them to reach the Moscow team.

Melanie Jones, of Christchurch, who was within 0.4 s

of the 200 m backstroke time at the New Zealand championships in March now has to improve another 0.5 s in her specialist event to earn a nomination. That is a tremendous task to ask of her at the final trial at Queen Elizabeth II Park on May 18. Her Wharenui team-mate, Rickie Binning, who has been striving for the 100 m breaststroke incentive time, and slowly but surely making inroads into it, has seen it slip further away. The women’s 100 m breaststroke qualifying time has been tightened by 0.2 s from Imin 14.05. Miss Binning’s best time, recorded at the New Zealand championships last month.-is Imin 15.55. • J The 200 m time of 2miri 38.0 s remains the same and she will probably concen-

(rate on this, at the final trial .in May. - Her coach Clive Power believes it is Miss . Binning’s. strongest event,-. 1 In - spite of the tightening

of the times Mr Power believes that Misses Binning and Jones, and other swimmers on the borderline of nomination, can reach the qualifying times. “Everything at the national championships indicated that they had done the work to achieve the times', but they (the swim : mers) -? allowed too much pressure to be put' on themselves. ' .-

“Rebecca Perrot‘brdke the 100m.freestyle ;time in- Fiji two weeks ago.\after >cdmaiing children in a swimming pool all day.' It shows-that- if they can take the .pressure

off themselves they are capable of swimming the times,” said Mr Power. “Once the kids get into the May training camp I’m sure it will help them and have faith in the selectors that they will assess the swimmers on their known abilities.” . Gary Hurring, the Auckland backstroke”, is one to benefit from the: revised times. Both his specialist

events,',- the ~.I’oo-.and 200 m backstroke, have been .relaxed. The.lOOm target-;time is : how 58.55, ? -previously. 58;Os -.arid ,the. ; 20pm tune is 2mm 6.25: .previously'.,2 mm 6.05. - . 1 , . It' should,.help his , confidence enormously as he at-, tempts ? /to / .overcome < k the troublesome shoulder, injury which: -has? ..threatened -. . to keep him out of? Olympic selection. The men’s 200 m butterfly and the women’s 800 m freestyle times have been, relaxed, and in each case will help New Zealand swimmers. Paul Rowe (Canterbury) recorded 2rhin 5.0 s at the national championships for 200 m butterfly. The new target time has been let out 0.2 s to 2min 4.25. The new; incentive times

with old times, where there have, been alterations,. in parentheses, are: .'Men.— :. 100 - ‘freestyle, 5.23 (52.5);. 200 m. freestyle, 1:53.3 (1:53.5);. .’4oom freestyle;. 3158.0 ' (3:59.0); 1500 m ’ freestyle,- /.15:45.0; lOOrn-backstroke,"s§.s. (58.0); 200 - backstroke, . ,2:6.2 (2:6.0); • lOOjn t -breaststroke, 1:6.0; •• ;200m breaststroke, 2.23.0; 100 m butterfly,.- 56.5; 200 m butterfly, 2:4.2 (2:4.0): 400 m medley, 4:33.0. Women. — 100 m freestyle, 58.0; 200 m freestyle, 2:4.0; 400 m freestyle, 4:19.0; 800 m freestyle, 8:53:5 (8:52.0); 100 m backstroke. 1:5.2: 200 m backstroke, 2:19.0 (2:19.5); 100 m breaststroke, 1:13.8 (1:14.0), 200 m breaststroke, 2:38.0; 100 m butterfly, 1:3.0; 200 m butterfly, . 2:16.3 (2:16.5); 400 m medley, 4:58.0,