New Zealand's Road to Rio: 22-29 March

Boyle and Robinson make opening night splash at swimming nationals 

Lauren Boyle and Emma Robinson became the first New Zealand swimmers to go under the qualifying time for Rio on the first night of the New Zealand Open championships in Auckland last night. 

Boyle, a five-time world championship medallist, swam a blistering 800m freestyle final in 8m 25s - the fourth fastest time in the world this year – smashing the qualifying time of 8m 33s. Robinson followed suit with a personal best of 8m 31.27s, nearly two seconds under the mark for Rio.

Helena Gasson came with half a second of the qualifying mark in the women’s 200m butterfly, setting a new national record of 2m 9.84s, while Glenn Snyders – gunning for this third Olympic Games – showed himself to be in strong form, winning his 12th national title in the 50m breaststroke. 

Meanwhile Matt Stanley ignited the morning session on day two by blitzing to an Olympic nomination time in the heats of the men's 200m freestyle. The 2012 World Short Course 400m freestyle bronze medallist stopped the clock in 1:47.68 to better the Rio Olympic qualifying standard by some 0.29s.

This meet, which runs through to Friday at the Sir Owen G Glenn National Aquatic Centre at the AUT Millennium facility, is the first of two official Olympics trials for the country's best. New Zealand swimmers have a second chance to meet the marks at the Canadian Olympic trials next week.

Liam Stone scores momentous springboard victory in Atlanta

Springboard diver Liam Stone has achieved one of the most exceptional results by a Kiwi diver, winning gold in the one-metre diving event at the prestigious NCAA National Championships in Atlanta, Georgia.

Stone, 19, won the preliminary event against 48 other divers with a personal best of 408.20, then stood firm under immense pressure in the final to record a total of 453.70 and win by 15.30 points.

Stone, on a four-year scholarship to the University of Tennessee, became only the fourth diver from the university to exceed 400 points – doing so twice in one day.

Former Olympic coach Dennis Gear described Stone's performance as "the most outstanding result ever achieved by a New Zealand diver, surpassing the bronze medals New Zealand has previously won at Commonwealth Games".

Composure lifts Lydia Ko to 11th LPGA Tour title

Lydia Ko has won her 11th LPGA Tour title in style, shrugging off a challenge from former world No.1 women’s golfer Inbee Park to win the Kia Classic in California by four shots.

Eighteen-year-old Ko, the current world No. 1, went into the final round with a three-shot lead, extended it to six, but then had to fend off a late charge from Park who got within one shot. 

But Ko finished her round in calm and controlled style, with three consecutive birdies giving her a five-under 67 and the title.

 Happy Easter from Lydia Ko!

Anton Cooper bounces back for Oceania mountain bike win

Within a week, world under-23 champion Anton Cooper rebounded from losing the national title to winning the elite men's cross country crown at the Oceania mountain bike championships in Queenstown.

Cooper out-kicked world No. 8 Dan McConnell from Australia for the title honours, after the pair broke away from newly-crowned national champion Sam Gaze midway through the race. Gaze had to settle for fourth.

Top New Zealand women’s rider Katie Fluker gave reigning champion Australian Rebecca Henderson a run for her money on the steep climbs, but had to settle for second when Henderson dominated the descents.
 

Black Sticks go into Hawke’s Bay Cup on a high

The Black Sticks women have taken another assured step forward on their march to Rio, with a 2-0 series victory over Canada in Hamilton.

After a scoreless opening quarter in their 6-0 first test win on Sunday, New Zealand responded to a call from captain Sam Charlton to start Monday’s second test with more impetus – and Charlotte Harrison scored in the 10th minute. The Black Sticks eventually took out the test 5-1.

The team now prepares for the Hawke's Bay Cup, featuring eight international sides; with New Zealand’s first game on Saturday, against India.

Three Kiwi boxers still fighting for Rio spots

Three New Zealand boxers have fought their way through to the quarterfinals of the Asian and Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament in Qian’an, China.

David Nyika, the 2014 Commonwealth gold medallist, won his first bout, and will now fight No. 1 seed Uzbekistan's Rustam Tulaganov in the heavyweight quarterfinals on Wednesday. His brother Josh bowed out of the welterweight division with a TKO in the round of 16.

Super heavyweight Patrick Maitala and light heavyweight Tyson Sykes have also won their way into the quarterfinals. The top three boxers in their divisions will qualify for the Rio Olympic Games.

Kiwi tennis pair on fire in Mexico

New Zealand tennis doubles pair Marcus Daniell and Artem Sitak have won their second title in three weeks with a victory in the US$50,000 Challenger at San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

They beat Mexican Santiago Gonzalez and Mate Pavic of Croatia, 6-3 7-6 in the final on clay - the same pair they beat to win the Puebla Challenger two weeks earlier.

With two victories and a semi-final finish in their past three tournaments in Mexico, Daniell and Sitak will now play in the US$75,000 Challenger in Leon, Mexico.