Horton Hammers Out World’s Number One Time in the 400 Freestyle

2015 HANCOCK PROSPECTING AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Dates: Friday, April 3 to Friday, April 10, 2015
• Times: prelims 9:30 am, semis/ finals 6:30 pm
• Location: Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre (GMT +11, or 15 hours ahead of N.Y., 18 ahead of L.A.)
• Live Results: Available
• Championship Central

On the first evening of competition at the 2015 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships seven swimmers put up times that place in the top three of the world rankings.

Men’s 400 freestyle – Final

The most impressive of the swims on the first evening was Mack Horton‘s in the men’s 400 freestyle. Horton posted a 3:42.84 to win the event taking over the top spot in the world rankings from James Guy who had posted a 3:45.77 earlier this year.

Horton came close to even splitting the race taking the first 100 meters out in a time of 1:51.36 and swimming the second half of the race in a time of 1:51.48. His performance also beats his lifetime best of 3:44.60 which he posted at this same meet last year.

This is a break through swim for Horton who medalled in the 800 and 1500 freestyle at the Pan Pacific Championships and in the 1500 freestyle at the Commonwealth Games. At both competitions he made the final in the 400 but finished outside of the medals.

David McKeon took the silver finishing in a time of 3:44.28 which places him second to Horton in the world rankings. He was not far off his lifetime best of 3:43.71 which he recorded in 2013.

Grant Hackett continuing his comeback finished third in a time of 3:46.53 which puts him third in the world rankings.

All three men were under the FINA standard of 3:47.86.

Jordan Harrison finished fourth in a time of 3:49.06 followed by Daniel Smith (3:50.56), Jack Mcloughlin (3:50.67), Matthew Levings (3:51.88) and George O’Brien (3:53.67).

Women’s 400 freestyle – Final

Jessica Ashwood took the women’s event in a time of 4:05.58 just off her own lifetime best of 4:05.01 and season’s best of 4:05.30 which she posted in February. Ashwood’s was under the FINA standard of 4:05.58.

Although Ashwood won the event her performance was not the most impressive on the first day of competition. In prelims Lauren Boyle of New Zealand posted a time of 4:03.88. Boyle was not far off her national record time of 4:03.63 and was one one-hundredth of a second faster than the time she put up to win the bronze at the 2013 World Championships.

Her time also places her second in the world rankings with only American Katie Ledecky having swum faster this year.

Being a foreign athlete Boyle could not participate in the final.

Leah Neale took the silver in a time of 4:06.84 followed by Tamsin Cook (4:07.14), Kylie Palmer (4:08.04), Kiah Melverton (4:10.42), Katie Goldman (4:10.50), Jordan White (4:11.13) and Jessica Pengelly (4:14.20).

Women’s 100 butterfly – Semi-Final

Emma McKeon will go into the 100 butterfly final as the top ranked swimmer after posting a time of 57.35 in the semi-final. Mckeon swam a lifetime best beating her previous best of 57.66 which she posted at the Commonwealth Games where she collected the bronze. Her time places her third in the world rankings.

Madeline Groves had the second fastest qualifying time posting a 58.01 just ahead of defending champion Alicia Coutts who finished in a time of 58.15. Groves time places her fourth in the world rankings while Coutts time puts her sixth.

Brittany Elmslie qualified in the fourth position with a time of 58.37.

All four women were under the FINA standard of 58.44.

Brianna Throssell was the next fastest swimmer posting a 58.83 followed by Sara-Jean Saal (59.60), Jessica Hobbin (1:00.01) and Mikka Sheridan (1:00.02).

Men’s 100 breaststroke – Semi-Final

 Jake Packard was the top qualifier in the men’s 100 breaststroke recording a 1:00.27. Packard beat his lifetime best of 1:00.44 which he posted at the Pan Pacific Championships last year. His time also places him third in the world rankings.

Tommy Sucipto was the next fastest qualifier posting a 1:00.75 followed by Christian Sprenger who touched the wall in a time of 1:00.83.

Matthew Treloar was the next fastest qualifier finishing in a time of 1:01.49 followed by Nicholas Schafer (1:01.02), Joshua Palmer (1:01.81), Grayson Bell (1:01.93) and Daniel Tranter (1:01.98).

Women’s 200 IM – Semi-Final

Kotuku Ngawati was the fastest qualifier touching the wall in a time of 2:12.16 beating her lifetime best of 2:13.08. Aisling Scott qualified in second in a time of 2:12.57 which is also a lifetime best beating her previous mark of 2:13.40.

Emily Seebohm qualified third in a time of 2:12.83. She was followed by Hayley Baker (2:12.99), Tessa Wallace (2:12.99), Bronte Barratt (2:13.20), Keryn McMaster (2:13.40) and Ellen Fullerton (2:13.67).

Men’s 50 butterfly – Semi-Final

Jayden Hadler was the top qualifier in the men’s 50 butterfly recording a time of 23.70 which is just outside of the world’s top 10 placing 11th. Ryan Pini qualified second in a time of 23.77 followed by Daniel Lester who posted a 23.94.

Christopher Wright qualified in fourth with a time of 23.98 followed by Cameron Jones (24.03), defending champion Nathaniel Romeo (24.09), David Morgan (24.19) and Tommaso D’Orsogna (24.19).

 Women’s 100 backstroke Multi-Class – Final

Ellie Cole (S9) took the women’s 100 backstroke multi-class event in a time of 1:10.81. She was followed by Taylor Corry (S14) who collected the silver in a time of 1:09.07 and Jaqueline Freney (S7) who won the bronze in a time of 1:27.53.

Men’s 100 backstroke Multi-Class – Final

Michael Anderson (S10) won the men’s 100 backstroke multi-class event in a time of 1:01.58. He was followed by Daniel Fox (S14) who posted a 1:03.94 and Brenden Hall (S9) who recorded a 1:05.61.