Lewis Clareburt Delivers Stellar Swim in 400 IM at Sydney Open Unisport Nationals; Rikako Ikee Prevails in 100 Fly
Preparation for the Olympic Games in Paris this summer continues to heat up, evidenced by a pair of international performances produced at the Sydney Open Unisport Nationals. While the meet features primarily Australian athletes, New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt and Japan’s Rikako Ikee registered victories during Saturday’s evening session.
Clareburt continued his surge toward the French capital when he clocked a winning time of 4:08.71 in the 400-meter individual medley. That time is a second faster than the mark Clareburt posted to win gold earlier this year at the World Championships in Doha. More, the swim was just .01 off Clareburt’s personal best in the event, which he set at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Clareburt was also the bronze medalist in the 400 IM at the 2019 edition of the World Champs.
In the women’s 100 butterfly, Ikee posted a winning time of 57.63, which was a little more than a half-second clear of runnerup Elizabeth Dekkers (58.26). Ikee has been training in Australia and the Leukemia survivor has been producing stronger and more consistent results throughout her time Down Under.
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