HCM CITY (VNS) — Some of Viet Nam's best swimmers proved yesterday why they were competing at a championship level.

At the National Junior Swimming Championships in Ha Noi, Tran Thi Hong Cam of Long An, set a new national record in the U13 girls' 400m freestyle with a time of 4:35.54. She finished first in the U13 girls' 50m backstroke with a time of 32.89 secs.

Hoang Thi Trang of Thanh Hoa and Hanoian Tran Hoang Minh Chau came in second and third.

Also at yesterday's contest, which was held at the National Sports Complex, Cam set a new record of 2:10.31 in the U13 girls' 200m freestyle – beating her old time by less than half a second.

Nguyen Le Phuong Thao of Vinh Long outstandingly beat nine other swimmers to take lead in the U11 girls' 50m backstroke with a time of 36.75 secs. Vo Thi Tuyet Hoa of Dong Nai and Nguyen Thi Nhat Lam of Vinh Long were the runners-up.

In the U11 boys' 50m freestyle, Thao's teammate, Nguyen Hoang Khang won gold with a time of 30.23, while Ngo Dinh Chuyen of Quang Ninh won gold in the U13 boys' 50m freestyle.

After four days of competition, HCM temporarily took the lead with 20 golds, 13 silvers and 10 bronzes. Long An were the runner-up with 13 golds, 16 silvers and 16 bronzes, while National Defence Sports Centre No 5 were third with 12 golds, nine silvers and five bronzes. — VNS