Pascoe back to her best

Sophie Pascoe gave New Zealand swimming fans reason to smile today when she qualified first in the women’s SB9 100, breaststroke.

Pascoe, 25, caused some concern when she collapsed after her gold medal swim on Saturday, but she looked comfortable today. Her time of 1min 17.92s showed she is in top form and put her in a class of her own going into the evening finals.

Several other New Zealanders also progressed today.

Bobbi Gichard managed 28.81s in the women’s 50m backstroke, 10^th overall and easily good enough to make the semi-finals.

And Daniel Hunter and Sam Perry booked spots in the men’s 50m freestyle semi-finals. Hunter, who has swum well at these Games, was eighth fastest qualifier with a time of 22.32s and Perry grabbed the 16^th and final spot with his 22.93s swim.

There wasn’t such good news for Lewis Clareburt, who already has a bronze medal at these Games. He swam a personal best in the 200m backstroke, recording 2min 01.54s, which was good only for 10^th spot overall and a second reserve spot for the final.

The other New Zealanders in the 200m backstroke were Corey Main, whose 2min 01.54s placed him 11^th and Bradlee Ashley, whose 2min 02.32s earned him 14^th position.

The final New Zealand swimmer of the session was Helena Gasson in the women’s 200m individual medley. She swam 2min 13.25s, which placed her 13^th, so she missed a spot in the final.