It's been a happy homecoming for US-based Lauren Boyle at the New Zealand National swimming Championships in Auckland, with the 23-year-old returning from her current base in California to claim her her second qualifying time for July's World Championships after winning the 200m freestyle.
Boyle clocked a strong 1:58.74 in the 200m freestyle, 4/10ths outside the national record but more than half a second inside the qualifying mark.
More importantly she dragged her Delhi Commonwealth Games medal-winning team-mates of Tash Hind, Amaka Gessler and Penny Marshall through to a combined time under the mark for world championships 4x200m relay combination.
There have now been six qualifying times from five swimmers along with the women's 4x200m freestyle relay at the midway point of the championships.
The other highlight was a superb solo performance from Queensland-based Dylan Dunlop-Barrett who beat the 20 year old national record of Olympic gold medallist Danyon Loader in winning the 800m freestyle.
Dunlop-Barrett, now based under the leading Australian coach Denis Cotterell, clocked 8:03.09, a personal best by 17 seconds, to beat Loader's long-standing mark by more than two seconds.
Earlier Glenn Snyders easily accounted for challengers to win the 50m breaststroke in a handy 28.11s, half a second off his national record.
The meet continues until Friday.
