The Olympic semifinalist Glenn Snyders has got the national Open swim champs in Christchurch off to a flying start with going under his own New Zealand record in the 100m breastroke.
Snyders showed no effects of a recent troublesome knee injury to clock 1 minute point 17 seconds, taking three tenths of a second off his own record set in last year's Olympic trials.
The championships double as the official trials for July's world champs in Rome and while Snyders' time was well under the FINA qualifying mark he'll need to do it again in tonight's final to secure a world championship berth.
Eighteen year old Daniel Bell also went under the FINA mark when he topped qualifiers for the 100m butterfly ahead of fellow Beijing Olympians Moss Burmester and Corney Swanepoel.
In other events Southland's Natalie Wiegersma was fastest in heats of the 100m butterfly, Katie Kenneally was quickest in the in the 100m breaststroke.
Bell also returned to clock the fastest time in the 50m backstroke with North Shore's Emily Thomas fastest in the women's 50m backstroke.
The finals get underway at start at 6pm tonight.