Swim records fall

Press, 18 February 1989, Page 9

Swim records fall

PA Rotorua The name of Rebecca Perrott — one of New Zealand’s golden swimmers of years gone by — is fast being erased from the record book, at the National Age-group Swimming Championships at Rotorua. Two of her old marks were bettered, as six records fell in the first 10 events of the second finals sessions last evening. ‘ Wellington’s ’ Michelle Burke set a new 59.30 time in the 15-17 year girls 100 m freestyle — for a new 16 year old record, as well as a new event mark. Perrott’s 16 year' old’s time ,of 1:00.10 .had stood for. 11 years.

Later, in the Girls 15-17 years 200 m butterfly, Pip Langrell, of Canterbury, saw off another historic Perrott time. The 16. year old bettered Perrott’s 1978 mark of 2:20.50, swimming the distance in an incredible 2:18.45. Three other records fell early on — in the boys 15-17 year 100 m freestyle, where John Steel, Auckland, improved on his 54.10 record, coming home in 53.09, in the girls’ 13-14 year 200 m medley, Nichola West, of Canterbury, setting a new 2:26.81 (2:21.87) and Aucklander John Munro, in the boys’ 1517 year 200 m butterfly, with 2:09.71 (2:11.92).