US-based swimmer Lauren Boyle says she surprised herself in qualifying for the 200 metre freestyle at July's World Champs after winning the same event at the New Zealand Nationals in Auckland last night.
The 23-year-old, returning from her current base in California, clocked 1:58.74 in the final, 4/10ths outside the national record but more than half a second inside the qualifying mark.
More importantly she helped her Commonwealth Games medal-winning team-mates Tash Hind, Amaka Gessler and Penny Marshall through to a qualifying time for the world champs 4x200 metre relay.
Boyle says qualifying for the 200 was a bit of a shock for the long distance specialist.
There have now been seven World Championship qualifying times at the midway point of the national champs.
