Glintmeyer & Tapper Clock World Short Course Qualifying Times
Day One Wrap – 2026 NZ Short Course Swimming Championships
The 2026 NZ Short Course Swimming Championships got off to an impressive start in Christchurch, with two World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) qualifying performances and plenty of national records highlighting the opening night of racing at the new Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre.
Milan Glintmeyer (Coast) led the charge, claiming the women's 100m backstroke title in 57.35 to swim under the qualifying standard for the 2026 World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) and break the 18 years New Zealand age-group record.
She returned to the pool later in the session to claim her second individual gold in the women's 100m individual medley, holding off a strong challenge from teammate Zyleika Pratt-Smith (Coast) to win in 1:01.02 and set another 18 years New Zealand age-group record.
"I had a good lead after backstroke, I definitely knew Zyleika was going to get me back in the breaststroke, so I just had to work harder," said Glintmeyer.
Pratt-Smith secured silver, with 16-year-old Alyssa Lawson (Hamilton Aquatics & St Andrew's) taking bronze.
Alyssa Tapper (St Peter's & Griffith Uni) delivered the evening's second World Championships qualifying performance in the women's 800m freestyle, producing an excellent and well paced swim to claim gold in 8:26.05. Tapper's performance saw her clear the qualifying standard by more than a second.
"It always feels like it's just getting progressively harder and harder, but I think I just had to put myself out there and hold on as long as I could," said Tapper.
Emilia Finer (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) claimed silver, while Alexis Buissinne (North Shore) secured bronze.
Jasper Cornish added to Coast's successful evening with victory in the men's 100m backstroke, clocking 51.79. It was a satisfying result for Cornish, who returned to competition after battling glandular fever earlier this year.
Cooper Morley (North Shore) claimed silver in 52.38, while William Seymour (Nelson South) secured bronze in 53.28.
Australian Amelia Steiner (S19) recorded 1:10.08 in the multi-class women's 100m backstroke to take visitor gold, while Londyn Dillinger (S9 – Murihiku) clocked 1:19.09 for the Kiwi gold. Local swimmer Brooke Anderson (S7 – Wharenui) placed second, ahead of Ruby Stace (S13 – Aquagym) in third.
In the men’s event, David Beck (S14 – United) touched the wall in 1:06.32 to take the win, ahead of Isaac Armstrong (S18 – Tasman) in second and Tianle Chen (S19 – Howick Pakuranga) in third. Kithmi Kandegoda Gamage (S6 – South Otago Sharks) was another strong performer, clocking 1:32.03 to reset his 16/U national record from earlier in the day.
The breaststroke events produced impressive performances from Zyleika Pratt-Smith (Coast), who won the women's 200m in 2:24.78, and Kevin Zhang (Roskill), who claimed the men's title in 2:07.49. Zhang recorded a significant personal best, finishing less than a second outside the World Championships qualifying standard.
In the women's event, Brearna Crawford (Waitakere) claimed silver in 2:25.30, while 13-year-old April Lin (Phoenix Aquatics) secured bronze in 2:28.90, setting her third New Zealand age-group record of the day. Jenna Borea (Jasi) was just off the podium, clocking 2:29.83 to set a new 14 years New Zealand age-group record.
In the men's event, Hara Hughes (Coast) finished second and James Slessor (Waitakere) took bronze.
Fraser Walker (United) celebrated his first open medal with victory in the men's 100m individual medley, powering home over the final 25m to win in 54.58. Blake Elliott (Pukekohe) finished second, with Roman Anderson (Tawa) third.
Aimee van Aardt (SM18, Pukekohe) impressed in the multi-class 100m individual medley, recording 1:49.63 to take the title – after setting an S18 national record earlier in the heats. Londyn Dillinger (SM9 – Murihiku) placed second and Summer Vincent (SM14 – Dannevirke) third.
Competing in the men’s version of the same event, Aquablack Asher Smith-Franklin (SM14 – Coast) was in career best form, touching the wall in 1:00.98 to smash his New Zealand record by over a second. Ian Chen (SM19 – St Paul’s) placed second and James Haydon (SM14 – United) third.
15-year-old William Tye (Nga Tai Tuatea a Taraika) produced an impressive performance in the men's 1500m freestyle, claiming the national title in 15:26.42 and improving on his entry time by almost 34 seconds en route to resetting Michael Mincham's national age record from 2011. All the more impressive, it was the Wellington swimmer's second time racing the distance.
Alfie Weatherston Harvey (Kiwi & Swim Dunedin) finished second, with Tyler Lushkott (North Shore) third.
The 4 x 100m freestyle relays rounded out the evening, with Coast Swimming Club completing a clean sweep of the men's and women's titles.
The women's combination of Zoe Pedersen, Amber George, Savannah-Eve Martin and Glintmeyer claimed victory in 3:42.51, capping a fantastic opening day for Glintmeyer who claimed her third open gold medal of the evening.
The men's Coast team of Igor Russanov, Jasper Cornish, Brendan Visser and Liam Curling followed with victory in 3:13.54, securing Cornish his second gold medal of the night.
In the multi-class 4 x 100m freestyle relay, the S14 men's team of James Haydon, David Beck, Asher Smith-Franklin and Jack Bugler set a national record in an impressive 3:59.25.
Full results can be found on Swimify.
The championships mark the return of national championship swimming to Christchurch, with five days of racing taking place at the new Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre.
The 2026 New Zealand Short Course Swimming Championships are supported by competition partners Christchurch City Council and China Eastern.
Key Details
Heats will be held from 8:30am each morning, with finals held in the evening from 5pm. All sessions of the championships will be streamed on the Swimming NZ Vidzing channel.
You can purchase full livestream access to all five days of racing for $24.95, or alternatively pay $5.00 for an individual session pass.
Dates: 27 September – 1 October
Location: Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre, Christchurch
Heats Start: 8.25am (livestream), 8:30am (racing)
Finals Start: 4.50pm (livestream), 5pm (racing)
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