Boyle and Batchelor down NZL marks

At the New Zealand Championships in Auckland tonight, US-based Lauren Boyle smashed the national record in the 400 freestyle, with a 4:07.61 nearly two seconds inside her record of 4:09.45 from the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. In the 100 butterfly, 15-year-old Sophia Batchelor became the first from her country to crack the minute, winning in 59.54, just 0.19 shy of the cut for Shanghai. First night Kiwi qualifiers for Shanghai are Lauren Boyle in the 400 free, Natalie Wiegersma with a 2:15.02 in the 200 IM, and Glenn Snyder with a 1:01.49 in the men’s 100 breaststroke. Sources: SwimNews.com and Swimming New Zealand.