Live coverage of day four finals of the 2016 Australian Championships. Hit refresh for the latest coverage.
Events:
- Women’s 100 Fly (Multiclass)
- Men’s 100 Fly (Multiclass)
- Men’s 100 Free Semi-finals
- Women’s 200 Free Finals
- Men’s 200 Fly Finals
- Women’s 200 Fly Semi-Finals
- Men’s 200 Breast Semi-Finals
- Women’s 200 IM Finals
- Men’s 200 Free (Multiclass)
- Women’s 200 Free (Multiclass)
Women’s 100 Fly (Multiclass) :
Taylor Corry grabbed first in the women’s 200-meter fly (multiclass) with a win of 1:09.63. Following her to the wall was Madelein Scott who stopped the clock at a 1:10.35 ahead of Prue Watt.
=== Finals ===
1 CORRY, TAYLOR S 21 NBAY 1:08.47 1:09.63. 937
r:+0.79 31.10 1:09.63 (38.53)
2 SCOTT, MADELEIN 23 CBRA 1:11.56 1:10.35. 854
r:+0.72 32.79 1:10.35 (37.56)
3 WATT, PRUE S13 29 CRAN 1:10.34 1:09.72. 811
r:+0.77 32.10 1:09.72 (37.62)
4 BEECROFT, EMILY 16 TRL 1:12.57 1:11.78 804
r:+0.71 33.53 1:11.78 (38.25)
5 VAN ROOSMALEN, 25 MING 1:10.49 1:10.14. 797
r:+0.84 32.11 1:10.14 (38.03)
6 DOWNIE, KATHERI 20 WCA 1:11.67 1:09.97. 755
r:+0.73 31.84 1:09.97 (38.13)
7 LEONHARDT, PAIG 15 WGHM 1:11.16 1:11.53 707
r:+0.74 31.84 1:11.53 (39.69)
8 HARDING, NIKESH 17 ABTO 1:16.69 1:16.96 694
r:+0.76 34.59 1:16.96 (42.37)
Men’s 100 Fly Multiclass:
Brendan Hall turned in the top time for the men’s 100-meter fly (multiclass), stopping the clock at a 1:02.13. Finishing second was Sam Bramham, while Rick Pendleton grabbed third with a 1:00.61.
=== Finals ===
1 HALL, BRENDEN S 22 LAWNT 1:02.97 1:02.13 852
r:+0.91 29.21 1:02.13 (32.92)
2 BRAMHAM, SAM S9 27 UNAV 1:04.05 1:03.72 790
r:+0.82 29.10 1:03.72 (34.62)
3 PENDLETON, RICK 31 SPRTN 1:01.05 1:00.61 788
r:+0.66 28.45 1:00.61 (32.16)
4 HODGE, TIMOTHY 15 THIL 1:05.13 1:04.08 777
r:+0.79 29.99 1:04.08 (34.09)
5 JASON, BRAEDAN 17 SPRTN 59.79 1:00.02. 745
r:+0.64 27.99 1:00.02 (32.03)
6 AUNGLES, JESSE 20 MARI 1:07.58 1:06.75 743
r:+0.64 31.14 1:06.75 (35.61)
7 HEARNE, MATTHEW 16 WIAQ 1:02.30 1:01.88 741
r:+0.77 29.00 1:01.88 (32.88)
8 YOURELL, AIDAN 16 RVLY 1:01.91 1:02.39 723
r:+0.75 29.23 1:02.39 (33.16)
Men’s 100 Free Semi-Finals:
Cameron McEvoy posted the top time in the 100-meter free semi-finals, stopping the clock at a 48.09 to finish under the Australian Olympic qualifying time of 48.49. McEvoy’s time sits a slim .04 seconds off the Commonwealth and Australian records of 47.05 set by Eamon Sullivan in 2008 making it possible that McEvoy will challenge those records come finals.
Matthew Abood grabbed second overall with a 48.89 finishing just shy of the 48.49 qualifying standard.
James Roberts rounded out the top three with a time of 49.04.
=== Semi-Finals ===
1 MCEVOY, CAMERON 21 BOND 48.75 48.09Q 928
r:+0.63 22.95 48.09 (25.14)
2 ABOOD, MATTHEW 29 CBRA 49.93 48.89 883
r:+0.71 23.29 48.89 (25.60)
3 ROBERTS, JAMES 24 SOMGC 49.51 49.04 875
r:+0.67 23.50 49.04 (25.54)
4 CHALMERS, KYLE 17 MARI 48.61 49.06 874
r:+0.72 23.58 49.06 (25.48)
5 TO, KENNETH 23 TRGR 49.12 49.19 867
r:+0.65 23.30 49.19 (25.89)
6 MAGNUSSEN, JAME 24 RAVN 48.77 49.21 866
r:+0.75 23.58 49.21 (25.63)
7 STOCKWELL, WILL 20 COMM 49.32 49.29 862
r:+0.65 23.51 49.29 (25.78)
8 GERRARD, JACK 21 MVC 49.63 49.33 859
r:+0.71 24.02 49.33 (25.31)
Women’s 200 Free Finals:
Emma McKeon blasted to the top of the leaderboard in finals of the women’s 200-meter free in record-breaking time. McKeon delivered a sizzling 1:54.83 to lower the Commonwealth, Australian, and All-Comer records.
Bronte Barratt posted the second fastest time in the event with a 1:56.34 underneath the Australian Olympic qualifying standard of 1:56.95.
Finishing third was Madeline Groves with a time of 1:57.74.
=== Finals ===
1 MCKEON, EMMA 21 STPET 1:55.82 1:54.83! 952
r:+0.73 26.55 55.27 (28.72)
1:24.88 (29.61) 1:54.83 (29.95)
2 BARRATT, BRONTE 27 STPET 1:56.56 1:56.34Q 915
r:+0.65 27.31 56.54 (29.23)
1:26.27 (29.73) 1:56.34 (30.07)
3 GROVES, MADELIN 20 STPET 1:57.84 1:57.74. 883
r:+0.70 27.31 57.13 (29.82)
1:27.53 (30.40) 1:57.74 (30.21)
4 NEALE, LEAH 20 SPRTN 1:58.76 1:58.12. 875
r:+0.71 27.65 57.11 (29.46)
1:27.73 (30.62) 1:58.12 (30.39)
5 COOK, TAMSIN 17 UWSC 1:59.45 1:58.14. 874
r:+0.70 27.46 57.39 (29.93)
1:27.75 (30.36) 1:58.14 (30.39)
6 BUCHANAN, CARLA 20 ACACI 1:59.31 1:58.34. 870
r:+0.70 27.69 57.79 (30.10)
1:28.03 (30.24) 1:58.34 (30.31)
7 ASHWOOD, JESSIC 22 CHAND 1:58.28 1:58.73. 861
r:+0.78 28.24 58.19 (29.95)
1:28.77 (30.58) 1:58.73 (29.96)
8 SHERIDAN, MIKKA 21 SOSC 1:59.24 1:59.70 840
r:+0.72 27.77 58.11 (30.34)
1:28.92 (30.81) 1:59.70 (30.78)
Men’s 200 Fly Finals:
An exciting race from start to finish, the men’s 200-meter fly saw David Morgan finishing ahead of the existing champion Grant Irvine to finish first with a time of 1:55.63. Irvine grabbed second with a 1:55.73. Both swimmers posted times underneath the Australian Olympic qualifying time of 1:55.75. Their final times move them to fourth and sixth in the world rankings respectively.
Rounding out the top three was Keiran Qaium with a time of 1:56.84.
=== Finals ===
1 MORGAN, DAVID 22 TSS 1:59.21 1:55.63Q 896
r:+0.62 25.72 55.67 (29.95)
1:25.81 (30.14) 1:55.63 (29.82)
2 IRVINE, GRANT 25 STPET 1:58.27 1:55.73Q 894
r:+0.70 25.80 55.06 (29.26)
1:25.13 (30.07) 1:55.73 (30.60)
3 QAIUM, KEIRAN 23 SYDU 1:57.78 1:56.84 869
r:+0.64 25.79 55.50 (29.71)
1:25.60 (30.10) 1:56.84 (31.24)
4 MORRIS, HUGO 21 CBRA 1:58.03 1:57.77 848
r:+0.66 25.94 55.45 (29.51)
1:26.00 (30.55) 1:57.77 (31.77)
5 WRIGHT, CHRISTO 27 STHPT 1:58.41 1:58.07 842
r:+0.65 25.43 55.06 (29.63)
1:26.29 (31.23) 1:58.07 (31.78)
6 BROWN, NICHOLAS 20 WSS 1:59.86 1:58.17 840
r:+0.71 26.61 56.36 (29.75)
1:26.57 (30.21) 1:58.17 (31.60)
7 HARMSEN, WILL 21 BOND 2:00.97 2:00.24 797
r:+0.69 26.51 56.62 (30.11)
1:28.40 (31.78) 2:00.24 (31.84)
8 JONES, ISAAC 20 WRN 2:00.14 2:01.75 768
r:+0.71 26.64 57.33 (30.69)
1:29.00 (31.67) 2:01.75 (32.75)
Women’s 200 Fly Semi-Finals:
Not long after posting a third-place finish in the 200 free Madelin Groves was back in the water, posting the top time in semi’s of the 200-meter fly. The 20-year-old inched ahead of Bria Throssell to finish first with a 2:09.04 over Throssell’s 2:09.17.
Grabbing third in semi’s was Alice Stuart with a time of 2:11.37.
=== Semi-Finals ===
1 GROVES, MADELIN 20 STPET 2:09.80 2:09.04 841
r:+0.74 28.23 1:00.94 (32.71)
1:34.91 (33.97) 2:09.04 (34.13)
2 THROSSELL, BRIA 20 PERC 2:11.53 2:09.17 838
r:+0.73 29.55 1:02.81 (33.26)
1:35.86 (33.05) 2:09.17 (33.31)
3 STUART, ALICE 18 TSS 2:13.29 2:11.37 797
r:+0.70 29.28 1:02.96 (33.68)
1:37.12 (34.16) 2:11.37 (34.25)
4 TAYLOR, LAURA 16 TSS 2:15.00 2:11.60 793
r:+0.70 29.08 1:02.60 (33.52)
1:36.78 (34.18) 2:11.60 (34.82)
5 MEE, NICOLE 23 SOSC 2:13.54 2:12.08 784
r:+0.77 29.76 1:03.57 (33.81)
1:38.05 (34.48) 2:12.08 (34.03)
6 WASHER, EMILY 19 CARL 2:14.50 2:14.02 750
r:+0.78 28.70 1:02.60 (33.90)
1:37.50 (34.90) 2:14.02 (36.52)
7 GOOD, ALEXANDRA 18 SYP 2:15.45 2:14.30 746
r:+0.75 29.60 1:03.72 (34.12)
1:38.59 (34.87) 2:14.30 (35.71)
8 GILMOUR, TIANNI 20 PWCAL 2:14.93 2:14.39 744
r:+0.79 30.05 1:03.75 (33.70)
1:38.17 (34.42) 2:14.39 (36.22)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
9 FITZHENRY, FRAN 16 TRGR 2:15.66 2:15.39 728
r:+0.71 30.36 1:04.55 (34.19)
1:39.55 (35.00) 2:15.39 (35.84)
10 MITCHELL, CHARL 15 TSS 2:16.33 2:15.77 722
r:+0.79 29.97 1:04.16 (34.19)
1:39.67 (35.51) 2:15.77 (36.10)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
11 WHITE, JORDAN 22 SLCA 2:15.20 2:15.79 721
r:+0.71 29.69 1:03.63 (33.94)
1:38.60 (34.97) 2:15.79 (37.19)
12 SCHLICHT, JEMMA 18 MLC 2:16.87 2:16.12 716
r:+0.77 29.52 1:03.83 (34.31)
1:39.53 (35.70) 2:16.12 (36.59)
13 ROGERS, DAHLAS 21 GSAQU 2:19.20 2:17.51 695
r:+0.72 30.38 1:04.98 (34.60)
1:41.53 (36.55) 2:17.51 (35.98)
14 LICCIARDI, CHRI 20 MVC 2:18.10 2:19.29 668
r:+0.67 30.08 1:05.46 (35.38)
1:41.48 (36.02) 2:19.29 (37.81)
15 BLATCHFORD, HAI 16 SSSD 2:18.31 2:19.74 662
r:+0.76 30.60 1:06.01 (35.41)
1:42.48 (36.47) 2:19.74 (37.26)
16 LEVINGS, AMY 24 YERPK 2:19.20 2:20.45 652
r:+0.75 29.84 1:04.10 (34.26)
1:41.04 (36.94) 2:20.45 (39.41)
Men’s 200 Breast Semi-Finals:
17-year-old Matthew Wilson dashed ahead of the competition in semi-finals of the men’s 200-meter breaststroke to move to first with a 2:10.68. Wilson’s time sits 1.04 seconds off the Australian Olympic qualifying time of 2:09.64 meaning he will need to pick up speed in finals to clear it.
Nicholas Schafer, the defending title holder, posted the second fastest time with a 2:11.62. Last year Schafer won the event with a 2:12.47, but will need to turn on the heat if he’s going to challenge Wilson and slide under the qualifying standard.
Jake Packard grabbed the third-place seed with a time of 2:12.19.
=== Semi-Finals ===
1 WILSON, MATTHEW 17 SOSC 2:12.90 2:10.68. 918
r:+0.68 30.00 1:03.05 (33.05)
1:36.70 (33.65) 2:10.68 (33.98)
2 SCHAFER, NICHOL 24 ACQUA 2:13.31 2:11.62. 898
r:+0.68 29.45 1:02.53 (33.08)
1:36.43 (33.90) 2:11.62 (35.19)
3 PACKARD, JAKE 21 SPRTN 2:14.59 2:12.19. 886
r:+0.67 29.45 1:03.05 (33.60)
1:37.58 (34.53) 2:12.19 (34.61)
4 BREMER, LENNARD 21 WCA 2:14.88 2:12.85 873
r:+0.63 29.69 1:03.37 (33.68)
1:37.76 (34.39) 2:12.85 (35.09)
5 MILLIGAN, ALEX 18 UWSC 2:14.87 2:13.72 856
r:+0.67 30.47 1:04.10 (33.63)
1:38.60 (34.50) 2:13.72 (35.12)
6 HARLEY, GEORGE 17 BRW 2:15.62 2:14.10 849
r:+0.67 30.54 1:05.01 (34.47)
1:39.51 (34.50) 2:14.10 (34.59)
7 TIERNEY, JOSHUA 20 TSS 2:14.73 2:14.13 849
r:+0.67 30.67 1:04.11 (33.44)
1:38.51 (34.40) 2:14.13 (35.62)
8 CAVE, DANIEL 17 MVC 2:16.27 2:14.89 834
r:+0.64 30.95 1:05.18 (34.23)
1:39.96 (34.78) 2:14.89 (34.93)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
9 MCKECHNIE, JAME 20 STP 2:16.54 2:15.29 827
r:+0.73 30.22 1:04.41 (34.19)
1:39.38 (34.97) 2:15.29 (35.91)
10 SYKES, BUSTER 22 TSS 2:18.06 2:16.44 806
r:+0.66 30.04 1:03.87 (33.83)
1:39.41 (35.54) 2:16.44 (37.03)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
11 ROCHE, RYAN 20 SOSC 2:16.58 2:16.65 802
r:+0.68 31.07 1:05.72 (34.65)
1:41.18 (35.46) 2:16.65 (35.47)
12 GILLILAND, JARE 21 CHAND 2:18.45 2:17.13 794
r:+0.68 30.49 1:05.94 (35.45)
1:41.07 (35.13) 2:17.13 (36.06)
13 KIM, SAMUEL 21 M1 2:18.75 2:18.40 772
r:+0.68 31.23 1:06.41 (35.18)
1:42.46 (36.05) 2:18.40 (35.94)
14 WOOLLEY, JUSTIN 23 MVC 2:16.52 2:18.64 768
r:+0.72 30.41 1:05.38 (34.97)
1:41.47 (36.09) 2:18.64 (37.17)
15 VAN DER LAAN, C 17 TSS 2:18.90 2:19.79 750
r:+0.71 31.10 1:06.14 (35.04)
1:43.25 (37.11) 2:19.79 (36.54)
16 DURRANT, SAM 17 MLC 2:18.46 2:20.87 732
r:+0.71 29.98 1:05.23 (35.25)
1:41.35 (36.12) 2:20.87 (39.52)
Women’s 200 IM Finals:
The women’s 200-meter IM proved to be a closely matched field with the top three finishers posting times underneath the Australian Olympic qualifying time of 2:11.39.
Leading the charge was Alicia Coutts who stopped the clock at the 2:09.95 mark. Coutts jumped out ahead in the first 50 of the race, leading the competition by over a second, and never looked back. Coutts’ first-place finish punches her card to Rio and marks her third Olympic games. Her time of 2:09.05 also boosted her to third in the world rankings behind Katinka Hosszu (2:07.69) and Miho Teramura (2:09.87).
Despite a strong second half from Kotuku Ngawati there was just no catching Coutts. Ngawati finished second overall with a time of 2:11.03 to claim her spot on the Rio roster.
Third went to Blair Evans and her time of 2:11.14.
=== Finals ===
1 COUTTS, ALICIA 28 REDLA 2:12.50 2:09.95. 914
r:+0.74 27.36 1:00.61 (33.25)
1:38.97 (38.36) 2:09.95 (30.98)
2 NGAWATI, KOTUKU 21 MVC 2:12.78 2:11.03. 892
r:+0.68 28.71 1:02.35 (33.64)
1:40.13 (37.78) 2:11.03 (30.90)
3 EVANS, BLAIR 25 UWSC 2:12.45 2:11.14. 890
r:+0.71 28.88 1:02.42 (33.54)
1:40.67 (38.25) 2:11.14 (30.47)
4 MCMASTER, KERYN 22 CHAND 2:13.11 2:12.45 863
r:+0.67 28.58 1:02.03 (33.45)
1:41.15 (39.12) 2:12.45 (31.30)
5 FULLERTON, ELLE 23 CHAND 2:14.27 2:13.15 850
r:+0.70 28.37 1:02.11 (33.74)
1:40.85 (38.74) 2:13.15 (32.30)
6 SCOTT, AISLING 23 BGRAM 2:14.71 2:13.62 841
r:+0.70 29.13 1:02.59 (33.46)
1:40.38 (37.79) 2:13.62 (33.24)
7 SHERIDAN, CALYP 17 BGRAM 2:15.74 2:16.83 783
r:+0.70 29.04 1:04.86 (35.82)
1:43.68 (38.82) 2:16.83 (33.15)
8 BRETTLE, HOLLY 22 TGSH 2:16.41 2:18.02 763
r:+0.76 29.75 1:04.14 (34.39)
1:45.24 (41.10) 2:18.02 (32.78)
Men’s 200 Free (Multiclass):
Daniel Fox succeeded in defending his title in the men’s 200-meter free (multiclass) with a time of 1:57.54. Fox improved upon his time by more than a second and a half after winning the title last year with a 1:59.32.
Liam Schluter posted the second fastest time of the night, stopping the clock at a 1:59.57 to be the only other athlete under the two-minute mark.
Joshua Alford rounded out the top three with a 2:00.05.
=== Finals ===
1 FOX, DANIEL S14 24 CHAND 1:56.32 1:57.54. 968
r:+0.73 26.54 56.53 (29.99)
1:27.34 (30.81) 1:57.54 (30.20)
2 SCHLUTER, LIAM 17 KAWTR 2:02.38 1:59.57 919
r:+0.70 27.53 57.77 (30.24)
1:29.45 (31.68) 1:59.57 (30.12)
3 ALFORD, JOSHUA 20 TNGV 2:00.48 2:00.05 908
r:+0.74 27.09 57.07 (29.98)
1:28.54 (31.47) 2:00.05 (31.51)
4 POWELL, LOGAN S 17 SPRTN 2:12.91 2:13.22 713
r:+0.86 31.02 1:04.50 (33.48)
1:38.72 (34.22) 2:13.22 (34.50)
5 POPHAM, BEN S8 15 WCA 2:26.67 2:24.28 710
r:+0.82 32.61 1:09.26 (36.65)
1:46.35 (37.09) 2:24.28 (37.93)
6 YOURELL, AIDAN 16 RVLY 2:14.80 2:13.10 636
r:+0.73 30.51 1:04.72 (34.21)
1:39.84 (35.12) 2:13.10 (33.26)
7 WICKENS, REAGAN 21 SLCA 2:44.74 2:44.40 620
r:+0.71 37.06 1:18.02 (40.96)
2:01.58 (43.56) 2:44.40 (42.82)
Women’s 200 Free (Multiclass):
17-year-old Lake Patterson delivered the top time in the women’s 200-meter free (multiclass) final. Patterson finished with a time of 2:18.98.
Kayla Clarke grabbed second with a 2:16.25, while third went to Katja Dedekind (2:20.97).
=== Finals ===
1 PATTERSON, LAKE 17 UNAQ 2:21.16 2:18.98. 988
r:+0.81 32.89 1:08.12 (35.23)
1:43.68 (35.56) 2:18.98 (35.30)
2 CLARKE, KAYLA S 24 WWORX 2:17.02 2:16.25. 772
r:+0.86 31.26 1:05.04 (33.78)
1:39.84 (34.80) 2:16.25 (36.41)
3 DEDEKIND, KATJA 14 UQSC 2:21.16 2:20.97. 754
r:+0.78 31.84 1:08.21 (36.37)
1:45.87 (37.66) 2:20.97 (35.10)
4 LUCY, JADE S14 19 SLCA 2:21.81 2:19.89. 713
r:+0.91 32.16 1:07.59 (35.43)
1:43.70 (36.11) 2:19.89 (36.19)
5 CORRY, TAYLOR S 21 NBAY 2:17.64 2:20.05. 711
r:+0.80 31.34 1:06.06 (34.72)
1:43.23 (37.17) 2:20.05 (36.82)
6 COOK, AMY S14 17 SLCA 2:22.83 2:22.46. 675
r:+0.78 31.97 1:07.67 (35.70)
1:45.52 (37.85) 2:22.46 (36.94)
7 MIRO, NICOLE S1 16 SLCA 2:35.34 2:33.45 655
r:+0.83 33.77 1:12.72 (38.95)
1:53.71 (40.99) 2:33.45 (39.74)
8 SLACK, ELIZABET 19 LCOV 2:33.30 2:31.74 627
r:+1.08 33.59 1:11.64 (38.05)
1:51.14 (39.50) 2:31.74 (40.60)
Swimming Australia Press Release:
You could not wipe the smile off Emma McKeon’s face in Adelaide tonight after she smashed her own Commonwealth and Australian record in the 200m freestyle to grab her second individual swim in the race to Rio.
The 21-year-old who trains under Michael Bohl at St Peters Western clipped 0.70 of a second off her personal best to clock 1:54.83 in a powerhouse swim on night four of the 2016 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships.
The time that takes her to second in the world behind US superstar and Olympic favourite Katie Ledecky.
“I’m very thrilled and sort of relieved as well because I really wanted to get a 1:54 done before leading in the rest of the year,” McKeon said.
“A lot of girls in other countries are doing 1:54 so it gives me a lot of confidence that I have done that this early.
“The job of this meet is to make the team and I was lucky to do that on the second night and once that job was out of the way then the job was to get a good time out of myself for the 200 free, which I am happy I did tonight.”
Her St Peters Western teammate Bronte Barratt executed a textbook final to secure her place on what will likely be her last Olympic Team. Swimming alongside her training partner McKeon, Barratt clocked 1:56.34 to slide under the qualifying time.
It was a trifecta for St Peters Western with 20-year-old Maddie Groves rounding out the top three in 1:57.74. Leah Neale (USC Spartans, QLD) was fourth and will be considered for a relay position, as will fifth place getter Tamsin Cook who already qualified in the 400m and Carla Buchanan (Acacia Bayside, QLD) who was sixth.
The pain and perseverance has paid off for Alicia Coutts (Redlands, QLD), locking in her ticket to Rio in the 200m individual medley. The silver medallist from London 2012, Coutts has overcome injuries and challenges to get form and fitness for these trials, knowing that Rio will be her Olympic swansong.
“I was pretty nervous before the race,” Coutts said.
“I just wanted to swim well. I knew I had to swim my own race. It really hurt a lot. I was hoping to go a bit faster – it wasn’t much faster than NSW States but I’m just happy to have secured a spot to go and just be there.
“I’m just glad that I didn’t give up when it was hard. I am glad I persevered and I can feel happy that I gave it everything and I want to finish on a high.”
Joining Coutts in Rio will be Kotuku Ngawati who trains alongside Mack Horton at Melbourne Vicentre, VIC.
“I was so, so nervous. I really had to pull myself together for it. It’s something I have been dreaming of since I was a little kid. Last Olympic trials I missed out. To turn a dream into reality is absolutely amazing. I’m thrilled. I’m speechless.”
Four years of hard work paid off for TSS Aquatic’s David Morgan who will now follow his mum to an Olympic Games, after using the “Jon Sieben tactics from LA in 1984” to power home over the final 50 metres to snatch victory in the 200m butterfly in a qualifying time of 1:55.63 – the only swimmer under 30 seconds for the last lap.
Morgan’s mother swam as Amanda James and was a 15-year-old on the Great Britain team at the 1976 Montreal Games in the 100m backstroke.
It was sweet redemption for second-placegetter Grant Irvine, who four years ago missed Olympic selection by the smallest fraction.
The 25-year-old, who won silver in the event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, put the heartache of missing selection for London behind him tonight, clocking a qualifying time of 1:55.73 to secure his ticket to Rio – becoming the seventh St Peters Western swimmer to make nomination.
In the semi-finals of the 100m freestyle, Cameron McEvoy sent a message to his competitors winning the opening semi-final with the fastest qualifying time of 48.09, with the veteran Matt Abood (48.89) edging out 17-year-old SA schoolboy Kyle Chalmers (49.06) and London silver medallist James Magnussen will also move through in sixth place with a 49.21.
“The warm-up is probably the worst I have felt all week so to come out and go 48 is exciting – it doesn’t happen often,” said McEvoy.
“That time would have got third at Worlds. So it’s good that I can do a time like that while feeling like this because it shows that I can step up and comfortably make that Olympic final from the semi,” said McEvoy.
But the surprise packet of the night came from Abood, the oldest swimmer in the field who set a blistering pace to turn first at the 50 and never let go of his lead.
The 29-year-old who won World Championship gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay in 2011, was decidedly unlucky at the Olympic trials four years ago, just missing a place in both the 50m and 100m.
A move to Canberra six months ago to train under Shannon Rollason is paying dividends for the veteran, clocking a 48 time for the first time since 2013.
“I thought I had something like that in the bag,” Abood said. “I’m pretty happy with it but that’s that and we still have tomorrow night to go.
“It will be another big race and I’m happy I’ll be a part of it. It will be a big occasion, I’ll be in the middle lanes and I am sure it will be an interesting race. There will probably be a few guys going out like scalded cats and other guys coming home just the same.”
A deserved place in the final went to the improving Commercial QLD sprinter Will Stockwell, whose father Mark won the silver medal in the blue ribband event in LA in 1984 after winning the Australian title in Brisbane.
Stockwell, who trains alongside Cate and Bronte Campbell at the Valley pool under Simon Cusack, clocked two personal best times in one day – 49.32 in his heat and 49.29 in the first semi-final.
The youngster left some beaming smiles on the faces of his father Mark and mother Tracy Caulkins – herself one of the USA’s swimming legends – a triple Olympic gold medallist from LA and a five-time world champion.
Meanwhile in the Multi Class events, the swimmers sent warning messages to their international rivals with a number of near world record times.
Nelson Bay’s Taylor Corry took the 100m Butterfly Multi-Class title, with a time of 1:09.63. She edged out Madeleine Scott (Canberra) who was second in 1:10.35 (854 points) and Prue Watt was third on 1:09.72 (811 points.
In the corresponding men’s event, Brenden Hall was victorious, the S9 swimmer taking the Multi-Class title in 1:02.13 (852 points). Veteran Sam Bramham who competed as a teenager at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games proved his comeback to swimming is in good form, coming second in 1:03.72 (790 points). Rick Pendleton of USC Spartans was third in 1:00.61 (788 points).
Following on from her impressive performance in the Multi Class 400m freestyle earlier in the meet Lakeisha Patterson continued her run of success, taking the title in the Women’s 200m Freestyle Multi Class final tonight. Patterson clocked 2:18.98 for a total of 988 points. The silver medal went to Kayla Clarke (2:16.25 – 772 points) with Katja Dedekind rounding out the top three in 2:20.97 for 754 points.
After narrowly missing the world record in his heat and amassing and almost perfect 999 points, Daniel Fox went after the world mark again in his final tonight. Fox hit the wall in 1:57.54, just outside world record time for a total of 968 points, making his intentions for Rio clear. The silver medal was awarded to Liam Schulter (1:59.57, 919 points), while Joshua Alford (2:00.05, 908 points) bagged the bronze.
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McEvoy’s time sits a slim .04 seconds off the Commonwealth and Australian records of 47.05 set by Eamon Sullivan in 2008 making it possible that McEvoy will challenge those records come finals.
=> Actually he is 1.04 off, so not even close.