Today was the day that Australian comebacker Michael Klim was to try the 100 fly, but alas it was not to happen as he scratched the prelims of the race. Still, he did swim the 50 free, though with only a mixed level of success.
Klim would ultimately place 9th in the race, with a finals time of 23.60. That was a touch slower than his 23.45 from prelims.
Matt Targett topped that race in 22.23, which is a great mark for him. He’s swum well throughout this meet. The runner-up was his teammate Cameron Prosser in 22.60.
Ian Thorpe was done with the meet by this point, but there were other notable swims in this race. Britain’s Jessica Dickons won the women’s 200 fly in 2:09.50. That’s an excellent time for her coming off of heavy training (she was a 2:07.8 in early December). Her British cohort Ellen Gandy was less-impressive to take 2nd in 2:11.39. As compared to what she’d done earlier in this meet, a 2:11 was not a great performance for her.
As one reader astutely pointed out, it seems as though the Brits both here and at the Austin Grand Prix are likely rested, though not on full taper, for their meets this weekend.
Melanie Schlanger, already with a 100 free title under her belt, took the women’s 200 free as well in 1:58.07. Tack her on to the growing list of swimmers who specialize in the 100 and 200 freestyles, rather than the more traditional 50/100 combination. Kelly Stubbins took 2nd in 2:01.17, and New Zealander Lauren Boyle was 3rd in 2:01.20.
In the men’s 400 IM, a spectacular win came from 17-year old Yuki Tezuka of Japan. He put up a mark of 4:19.89, which is a huge time for a a swimmer of that age (similar to that of American Chase Kalisz).
http://theswimmerscircle.com/blog/ervin-earns-podium-in-50-free-adrian-takes-cake-sub-22/
saw handy after her race talking to coach, very disappointed in it and coach was not happy with it. i reckon just end of tight compact meet and she didn’t deliver, still looks like a good 200fly chance going into london
Don’t forget that Gandy also swam a 26mid. That is huge for a 200 flyer in the midst of heavy training.
She’ll be right up there mixing it up with Vollmer, Sjostroem and Coutts.
I’d like to think about it this way: if Gandy can crack 58 while being 6 seconds off what she’s capable of in the 200, she’s going to be a huge force in the 100.
I know the British squad (minus Gandy) have rested very slightly in Melbourne for Victorian States but i am not sure about the Austin team. I have a feeling they may not be as there have been some mighty impressive by British youngsters across the UK and the Flanders meet in Belgium, there is an article on the British swimming website where all the younger guys are quoted talking about learning to swim well in heavy training. Here, http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/news/swimming/development-swimmers-put-through-paces-in-loughborough/12208/
This applies to the swimmers at the Flanders meet. A few standout swims from youngsters were Eleanor Faulkner (93) 800FR 8.29.70, Georgia Hohmann (94) 200BK 2.09.71 there were many other PBs from British youngsters.… Read more »