Silver Lining for Ingram in Tokyo Swim

New Zealand swimmer Melissa Ingram wrapped up a successful FINA World Cup season for Kiwi swimmers in Tokyo overnight.

The 26 year old finished second in the final of the women’s 400m freestyle, breaking the New Zealand record in the process.

Ingram completed the Asian leg of the seven-round World Cup with four medals – two wins, a second and a third along with two fifths and three sixth placings. She broke two national records in the process in the 200m backstroke and the 400m freestyle.

This adds to the four medals, including three golds, by fellow Swimming New Zealand High Performance Centre swimmer Glenn Snyders who competed in the European meets in Stockholm and Berlin.

West Auckland teenager Jessica Marston also made three finals while Queensland-based Kiwi Cameron Simpson was fourth in the 50m freestyle in Singapore.

“The World Cup offers our swimmers the chance for some hard international competition in top quality meets and high profile venues,” said Swimming New Zealand campaign manager Rushdee Warley.

“Short course racing offers the opportunity to test skills at starts and turns and is a good lead-in to the big racing coming up next year.

“The results were pleasing with Glenn and Melissa not only winning medals but breaking national records in the process.”

Ingram bypassed the 100m backstroke to qualify second fastest in heats of the 400m freestyle in 4:07.57. She went out strongly in the final, going through the first 50m in 28 seconds before reeling off consistent 50m laps of 30 seconds and closing in 29 seconds.

She finished close behind Australia’s Blair Evans in 4:02.03 which broke the national record set by Lauren Boyle (4:03.13) in the Auckland Winter Championships in July.

Earlier Simpson was unable to qualify in the 50m freestyle (22.59 – 15th fastest) and 50m backstroke (26.33 – 24th fastest).

Results, Women’s 400m freestyle: Blair Evans (AUS) 4:01.24, 1; Melissa Ingram (NZL) 4:02.03, 2; Fei Wang (CHN) 4:04.62, 3.