Queensland Champs, Finals, Day 3: Cody Simpson and Alexandria Perkins Fly Off The Blocks and Into The Australian All-Time Top 10
Paris Olympic hopefuls Cody Simpson (Griffith University) and Alexandria Perkins (USC Spartans) wasted no time flying off the blocks on Night Three of the 2023 Hancock Prospecting Queensland Championships.
DIVE STREAM: Cody Simpson’s perfect execution. Photo Courtesy Wade Brennan Photography
Both charging into the Australian all-time Top Ten swimming personal best times in their respective 100m butterfly finals.
Simpson dropping his best to 51.67 – now sharing equal ninth on the Australian rankings with London Olympian Chris Wright.
A time that sees Sydney 2000 Olympic bronze medallist and one of Australia’s most popular swimmers Geoff Huegill, drop out of the top ten. Huegill had clocked his best time 10 years after Sydney when he came back to swim at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Simpson beating home Shaun Champion (Abbotsleigh, NSW) 52.55 and Ben Armbruster (Bond) 52.72 and saying it was always great to drop time off a PB “anytime you race.”
“I’m so glad it was here tonight, it’s awesome to be looking forward to Olympic Trials; it’s really important to race well. I grew up racing in this pool and it’s great to get a Queensland Open Championship tonight.”
Simpson also acknowledged a select group, of age groupers who were chosen to attend the session as part of the Swimming Queensland Speedo Swim Stars in the crowd tonight, passing on some words of wisdom.
“My advice to the young swimmers is to enjoy the feel of the water, enjoy being in the water, enjoy your training and be patient knowing that in time results will come, but most importantly have fun,” said Simpson.
Later in the evening Simpson backed to finish fifth in the 100m freestyle final with Kai Taylor (St Peters Western) an impressive winner in 48.86 from last night’s 200m freestyle champion Max Giuliani (Miami) 48.90, Ed Somerville (Brisbane Grammar) 49.41, Jack Cartwright (St Peters Western) 49.56, followed by Simpson in 49.63.
WINGSPAN: Alexandria Perkins in full cry. Photo Courtesy Wade Brennan Photography
While in the women’s 100m butterfly Perkins lowered her best to 57.48, moving her into eighth on the All Time Top Ten, out-touching dual Olympian Brianna Throssell (St Peters Western) 57.53, early leader Rikako Ikee(Japan) 57.74 and Lily Price (Rackley Swim Team) 58.67.
Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus led home her St Peters Western team mates to win the 400m freestyle in 4:04.25 (2:00.67), ahead of New Zealand’s Eve Thomas (4:07.63), Mollie O’Callaghan (4:09.43), Jamie Perkins (4:10.98) and Kiah Melverton (4:11.03) – adding another title to her collection after taking out the 800m last night as she builds towards 2024 and the defence of her Olympic crown.
The women’s 100m breaststroke saw a real battle royal between last night’s 200m winner Jenna Strauch(Miami) and runner up and big improver Ella Ramsay (Chandler) with the ever-present Kaylee McKeown (Griffith University) throwing her hat into the breaststroke ring as she looks to improve her IM.
It was Strauch who held on to collect the double in 1:07.30 from McKeown (1:07.47) with Ramsay third home in 1:07.64 – just 0.34 separating the top three girls.
Ramsay has certainly turned some heads in Brisbane this week, her 200m a personal best of 2:24.28, jumping her into the Australian Top Ten – a time which sees former world record holder Rebecca Brown drop out after spending 29 years in the Australian Top Ten.
Ironically, Brown’s 1994 world record of 2:24.76, was also set at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre.