Bell Rings Out A Warning For NZ Swim Championships

Three into two does not go. That’s the exciting equation on the opening day of the New Zealand Swimming Championships in Christchurch that starts tomorrow.

The key clash on the first day features three Beijing Olympians – Moss Burmester and Corney Swanepoel from the International Training Centre and Perth-based Daniel Bell in the men’s 100m butterfly.

All three are confident of going under the new FINA 900 point mark which is the qualifying standard for July’s world championships in Rome, but only two can be selected.

Bell, the two-time world junior champion and Junior Pan Pacific star, believes his new training environment in Perth has him in good form and with a new mindset.

“You won’t see me mucking around in the heats like I have done in the past. I have a big schedule this week but I am pretty focussed and well tapered,” Bell said.

He broke two national open records at the recent age group championships as a lead-in.

Bell decided to move to Perth after coach Donna Bouzaid left the West Auckland club to live in Taranaki, opting for the programme under coach Mel Tantrum which his former West Auckland coach had used as a model.

That programme was established by Grant Stoelwinder, coach of world record holder Eamon O’Sullivan, with his protégé Tantrum taking over the Perth-based group.

“I am enjoying the lifestyle, the place, the weather and the environment for swimming. I have fitted in well and I think it’s what I need to take things up to the next level.”

He is looking forward to the clash with national record holder Swanepoel and Beijing 200m finalist Burmester.

“I think we will all go under the qualifying standard. The second Australian did 52.2 at their trials and I think all of us can go under that time. Corney already has and Moss and I are close to it.”

The backstroke star has spent more time on his butterfly in recent times, although despite tomorrow’s results, it’s likely that he will be needed to post a top quality 100m backstroke time if New Zealand is to qualify a men’s medley relay team for Rome.
 

ther key swimmers in action tomorrow include Zoe Baker and Annabelle in the 100m breaststroke, a group of emerging talent led by Natalie Wiegersma (Southland) and Samantha Lee (Capital) in the 100m butterfly, Olympic semifinalist Glenn Snyders in the 100m breaststroke, Melissa Ingram in the 50m backstroke and a bunch of young chargers led by Bell in the 50m backstroke.

The heats begin at 9am and finals at 6pm with the championships running until Sunday at the QE2 Leisure Centre.