Fast Times Continue at Aussie Age Championships
By Stephen J Thomas
BRISBANE, April 28. THE impressive group of Queensland teenagers that forms an important part of the Aussie World Championship team continue to produce excellent times despite swimming untapered for the National Age Championships in Brisbane.
Olympic silver medalist, Leisel Jones clocked 1:08.03 in the girls 17-18 years 100 breaststroke.
Sixteen-year-olds Jessica Schipper and Alice Mills battled out the 100 fly, finishing 1:00.11 to 1:00.30. Mills also took the 200IM in 2:15.82 not far outside her PR 2:14.84.
Sprint sensation Libby Lenton clocked a fast 25.36 defeating South Aussie Sophie Edington 25.53 in the 17-18 years 50 free. Mills had already clocked a hot 25.22 last night for the one lap dash in a relay lead.
Brisbane sixteen-year-old Leith Brodie clocked 2:05.35 in winning the 200IM – not far adrift of Ian Thorpe’s national age record 2:04.58. Brodie had already broken the 100-200 backstroke records earlier in the meet.
Stephanie Williams clocked a promising 4:19.90 in the girls’ 13 years 400 freestyle – a time that would have placed seventh at the Aussie Nationals in March.
Promising 17-year-old West Aussie Travis Nederpelt clocked a very solid 15:27.43 (PR 15:23.94) to win the boys 17-18 years 1500 freestyle. However, he was well outside the Age record – 14:48.63 set by world record-holder Grant Hackett.