NEW SOUTH WALES, Australia, February 13. THE first day of long course swimming took place at the New South Wales State Open Championships held in Australia. Ashley Delaney downed the Australian record in the men's 50 back as the highlight swim of the day.
Robert Hurley topped the men's 400 free with a time of 3:47.06 with Ryan Napolean clinching second in 3:49.11.
Therese Alshammar set the meet record with a 25.94 in the women's 50 fly, the first sub-26 time in the world this year. Considering the time of training for Alshammar, the effort is not far off her world record of 25.46 set in Spain in 2007. Marieke Guehrer finished second in 26.01 with Felicity Galvez taking third in 26.33. Guehrer's time broke the Australian record of 26.05 set by Danni Miatke in 2007.
Nick D'Arcy crushed the field in the men's 200 fly with a winning effort of 1:56.47, while Lachlan Staples placed a distant second in 1:59.18. Meanwhile, Sarah Katsoulis held off Tarnee White, 1:07.00 to 1:07.68, for the women's 100 breast title.
Brenton Rickard snagged the sprint 50 breast crown with a time of 28.87 with Sean Inkley touching second in 29.17 before swimmers headed into the men's and women's 100 frees.
Libby Trickett blasted the women's 100 free with a time of 53.81, with Galvez taking a distant second in 55.36. Andrew Lauterstein earned the men's 100 free crown in 48.99 with Cameron Prosser finishing second in 49.63. Eamon Sullivan, coming off an injury, tied Prosser for second in 49.63.
Beijing gold medal darling Stephanie Rice cruised in the women's 400 IM with a winning readout of 4:40.29, while Samantha Hamill touched second in 4:41.73.
With the backstroke flags in place, Belinda Hocking dominated the women's 200 back in 2:09.86 as Meagen Nay placed second in 2:12.24. Meanwhile, Delaney came within half-a-second of Randall Bal's world record of 24.33 in the 50 back with a 24.88. The effort did clear the Australian record of 24.99 set by Matt Welsh in 2005. Hayden Stoeckel finished second in 25.50.
In the distance event of the day, Bronte Barratt picked up the women's 800 free crown in 8:31.44 with Jessica Ashwood finishing second in 8:42.06.
In multi-disability events, Matthew Cowdrey topped the men's 50 free in 26.23, while Jacqueline Freney claimed the women's 50 free in 32.69.