27/07/2014 Pic by: Penny Cross
Commonwealth Games – Glasgow 2014
Tollcross Swimming Centre
Pictured: Meli Malani (FIJ) Men’s 50m breaststroke heats
Meli Malani this evening Ohio, USA time set a time of 23.18 in the 50-Freestlye breaking the current Long Course National Record set by Carl Probert by 0.15 seconds.
Probert’s time of 23.31 was set at the Athens Olympic Games in June 2004.
Timing wise this couldn’t have come at a better time as Malani chases Rio qualification in the same event.
Malani, who is currently on a FINA scholarship specifically to prepare for the Olympics at the SPIRE Institute in Ohio, USA has until the Oceania Swimming Championships in June 2016 to make a qualifying time.
“Preparation’s been going well. I am where I need to be right now, timetable and schedules are being made for North Carolina where I am going to try and qualify for the Olympics,” said Malani after his record breaking race this morning.
The North Carolina meet he is referring to is part of the Arena Pro Series and is designated an Olympic Qualifying event and will take place in mid-May.
This event will see many of the top US swimmers trying to do the same.
Malani will join up to 30 swimmers from Team Fiji for the Oceania Swimming Championships to be held from 19-24 June in Suva.
This is also an Olympic qualifying competition and Malani as well as swimmers from 12 other countries that are attending have one last chance to make Olympic qualifying times.