Boyle Sets World Class Times Ahead of FINA Swim Championships

Lauren Boyle has claimed two national records in world class times in her build-up for this month’s FINA World Swimming Championships.

Boyle, who has recently returned after completing her scholarship and academic degree in the USA, broke the short course records in the 800m and 400m freestyle at the Auckland Winter Championships at the West Wave Aquatic Centre in Henderson.

The 23 year old smashed the second oldest short course record in winning the 800m freestyle in 8:16.91. It was nearly eight seconds under the record established by the outstanding Phillippa Langrell at the World Cup in Paris in 1992.

It leaves just two records remaining that were set in the 1990s, both over 1500m freestyle by Langrell and Danyon Loader.

Boyle went through the 400m in 4:07 and powered home in a superb result.

The State AquaBlacks swimmer followed this yesterday with a second record in winning the 400m freestyle in 4:02.13. She broke the previous mark of 4:03.31 set by Melissa Ingram at the World Cup in Sydney in 2008. Boyle finished eight seconds clear of fellow world championship-bound Penny Marshall.

Both swims were the 12th fastest in the world this year and only a fraction of a second outside the winning times set in both events this weekend at the Australian championships by Kylie Palmer, a multi gold medallist at world short course, Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

“I am very thrilled that an outstanding swimmer like Lauren has broken my record,” Langrell told Auckland Swimming.

The championships conclude today.