Sydney Sprints (SC): Bronte Campbell Back In The Fast Lane And Taking A Leaf Out Of The Cam McEvoy Play Book
One of the fastest female sprinters in the world, Bronte Campbell says she has been encouraged by newly crowned world champion Cam McEvoy, in her pursuit of a fourth Olympic team in Paris next year.
At 29, the two-time Olympic relay gold medallist and a five-time world champion, has tonight wrapped up a successful Australian Short Course meet in Sydney, adding the 50m freestyle to her earlier win over the 100m on Thursday night.
Campbell (Cruiz, ACT) once again gave an impeccable display of 50m freestyle sprinting – off the blocks like a rocket and powering down the first 25m in 11.64 and back in 12.45 to take the National title in 24.09 – showing she has lost nothing of the speed that has made her one of the world’s best female sprinters since she first burst onto the scene in 2012.
ON THE MOVE: Bronte Campbell back in the fast lane. Photo Courtesy: Toby Zerna SwimAus
Her Cruiz teammate, Abbey Webb, who has also had a superb meet with wins over the 100 and 200m backstroke and 200m freestyle, was second home in 24.89, just out-touching the 27-year-old Ellysia Oldsen(Marion, SA) who clocked 24.89.
“I’ll take that, 24 zero – I’m really happy seeing I’m not really tapered,” said Campbell after the race.
“Every time I dive in the pool I’m getting faster, so that’s a good thing and I’m really enjoying the change in training under Shannon Rollason, seeing I only ever had one other coach in my career and that was Simon Cusack for 21 years.
“There is always something new to learn and you only have to look at what Cam McEvoy has done to see how he is exploring things (with his training) and is doing so well.”
Campbell and McEvoy have been on similar career paths over the last three Olympic campaigns with McEvoy breaking through to win his first world title in Fukuoka this year after working with new coach Tim Lane and implementing a new resistance program with the Queensland Academy of Sport.
He too is looking to a fourth Olympics and the affect he is having on his fellow Olympians could well be a huge impact on the make-up of Australia’s 2024 Olympic team.
And while Campbell has shown she’s going to keep the new breed of female sprinters honest in what will be the most competitive Australian Olympic Trials in history, a new female breaststroker is also on the move.
One of the swims of the night came from 20-year-old Victorian Tara Kinder (Melbourne Vicentre) who took out the 200m breaststroke in 2:21.69 (1:08.45/1:13.79) to join Tokyo Olympian Jessica Hansen as the equal 10thfastest All-Time Australian in the event.
The time was just fractionally slower than the time swum by Olympian and World Championship silver medallist Jenna Strauch to win last year’s event and gave the emerging Victorian the coveted 100-200m double, Kinder winning the 100m in 1:06.78.
With Australia’s top two breaststrokers Strauch and Chelsea Hodges forced out of this year’s World’s as they recovered from injury, the door is certainly open for fresh new breaststroke talent to put their hands up.
In other events Carlile’s Madeleine Gough added the women’s 800m freestyle in 8:24.70 to her 1500m win in 15:45.69, while nothing separated David Morgan (Surfers Paradise, QLD) and Tomas Kopocious (Knox Pymble, NSW) in the 50m freestyle for men -the pair dead-heating in 21.82, with Thomas Robinson (Cruiz, ACT) third in 22.00.
2023 Australian Short Course Championships, Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, Day 4, FINALS:
WOMEN
50m freestyle: Bronte Campbell (Cruiz, ACT) 24.09, Abbey Webb (Cruiz, ACT) 24.89, Ellysia Oldsen (Marion, SA) 24.99
100m IM: Sophie Martin (Somerville House, QLD) 1:00.82, Kayla Hardy (Cruiz, ACT) 1:01.50, Ellysia Oldsen (Marion, SA) 1:01.74
200m butterfly: Bella Grant (Trinity Grammar, NSW) 2:07.57, Lucy Dring (Sunshine Coast Grammar, QLD) 2:08.48, Elloise Doolan (Somerville House, QLD) 2:10.82
200m breaststroke: Tara Kinder (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) 2:21.69, Kaylce Pressler (Marion, SA) 2:25.42, Bianca Fuller (Cruiz, ACT) 2:27.01
800m freestyle: Madeleine Gough (Carlile, NSW) 8:24.70, Sienna Deurloo (Toowoomba, QLD) 8:39.65 Mackenzie Hunter (MLC Aquatic, VIC) 8:44.11
50m backstroke MC: Kael Thompson S14 (Sunshine Coast Grammar, QLD), 32.18, Taylor Corry (Kincumber Pacific Dolphins, NSW) 323.19, Montana Atkinson (Helensvale, QLD) 32.88
100m butterfly MC: Taylor Corry (Kincumber Pacific Dolphins, NSW) 1:06.86, Montana Atkinson (Helensvale, QLD) 1:10.92, Jasmin Fulgrabe (Marion, SA) 1:13.47.
MEN
50m freestyle: David Morgan (Surfers Paradise, QLD) and Tomas Kopocius (Knox Pymble, NSW) 21.82 (dead heat) Thomas Robinson (Cruiz, ACT) 22.00
100m IM: Alex Quach (SOPAC, NSW) 53.56, Callum Halloran-Lavelle (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) 54.70, Jamie Mooney (Wagga Wagga, NSW) 54.79
200m butterfly: Ruan Van der Riet (USC Spartans, QLD) 1:55.84, David Morgan (Surfers Paradise, QLD) 1:58.18, Caleb Dryer (Trinity Grammar, NSW) 1:58.90
200m breaststroke: Angus Menzies (SOPAC, NSW) 2:08.02, Nash Wilkes (Southport, QLD) 2:08.10, Yannik Swolsman (Southport, QLD) 2:08.54.
1500m freestyle: Adam Sudlow (North Coast, WA) 15:21.88, Euan Liney (Knox Pymble, NSW) 15:25.53, Harry Hay (MLC Aquatic, VIC) 15:32.21
100m butterfly MC: Dylan Logan S15 (Geelong, VIC) 58.16, Jarred Dyer (Dapto, NSW) 59.54, Declan Budd (Knox Pymble, NSW) 1:00.20
50m backstroke MC: Declan Budd S14 (Knox Pymble, NSW), 29.39, Joshua Alford S14 (University of QLD) 30.76, Dylan Logan S15 (Geelong, VIC) 27.30
100m breaststroke: Riley Moore SB9 (Woy Woy, NSW), 1:09.99, Ahmed Kelly (Yarra Plenty, VIC) 1:58.96, Beau Matthews (SLC Aquadot, NSW) 1:16.76
100 backstroke for women was won by 16 yr old Mackenzie Burns (who also won the 50 back)