Christian Sprenger continues to look fantastic every time he hits the water at the 2013 EnergyAustralia Swimming Championships. In the 50 breaststroke Sprenger dominated the final winning by a full second, posting a time of 26.90. His time is by far the fastest done in the world this year and is a new Australian record.
The previous record of 26.95 was set by Brenton Rickard in 2009.
In the men’s 200 butterfly Grant Irvine put up a 1:55.32, winning the event by over two seconds. His time is the best time in the world this year, surpassing the 1:55.51 posted by Yuki Kobori at Japanese Nationals earlier this month. At the half way point Irvine and Christopher Wright were in a tight race, but Irvine made a significant move in the third 50 to pull away from Wright and had an even stronger final 50 to win the race easily.
Grant’s splits – 25.94/29.47 (55.41)/30.05 (1:25.46)/29.86 (1:55.32)
Wright finished second in a time of 1:57.79 followed by Keiran Qaium who finished third posting a time of 1:58.10.
On the first night of competition Bronte Barratt impressed many in the 400 freestyle winning the event in a time of 4:03.52. On night fourth night of the competition she was once again very impressive in winning the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:56.05, the second fastest time in the world this year next to Camille Muffat of France who posted a 1:55.48 at the French Nationals earlier this month.
In London Barratt collected the bronze in the same event recording a time of 1:55.81. Her season’s best coming into the meet had been a 1:57.51, which she had at the New South Wales Open Championships.
Barratt was followed closely by both Kylie Palmer and Emma McKeon with all three women finishing under 1:57.
Barratt – 27.51/29.35 (56.86)/29.60 (1:26.46)/29.59 (156.05)
Palmer – 27.79/29.71 (57.50)/29.74 (1:27.24)/29.42 (1:56.66)
McKeon – 27.34/29.38 (56.72)/29.97 (1:26.69)/30.08 (1:56.77)
McKeon’s 1:56.77 breaks Blair Evans’ 18 year olds national record of 1:57.38.
Brittany Elmslie finished fourth in a time of 1:57.15.
The men’s 800 freestyle final saw three youngsters finish in the top three spots. 18 year olds Jarrod Poort and Jack McLoughlin won gold and silver in times of 8:06.71 and 8:12.53 respectively. They were followed by 16 year old Ethan Owens who posted a time of 8:14.66.
James Magnussen who clocked a 47.97 in the heats won the semi-final in a time of 48.24. He was followed by Cameron McEvoy who posted a 48.63 with Matt Targett qualifying third in a time of 48.68. Kenneth To (48.58) who had the second fastest time in preliminaries decided to bypass the semi-final to focus on the 200 IM.
The men’s 200 IM final looks to be a very exciting race with only six tenths of second separating the top three men. Daniel Tranter took top spot heading into the final posting a season’s best of 1:59.06. He was followed by Justin James, who was 1:59.64, and Kenneth To who recorded a 1:59.66.
To and Tranter had a great race at the New South Wales Open Championship earlier this year, with Tranter winning the event in a time of 1:59.18 with To finishing in a time of 1:59.52.
Alicia Coutts took top spot in the semi-finals of the women’s 50 backstroke qualifying for the final in a time of 28.12. Emily Seebohm qualified second in a time of 28.14 followed by Madison Wilson who recorded a time of 28.47.
The women’s 200 butterfly final should be a great race with the top three women separated by only 26 one-hundredths of a second.Samantha Hamill posted a time of 2:10.64 followed by Madelin Groves who recorded a time of 2:10.81 with Amy Smith qualifying third in a time of 2:10.90.
The women’s multi-class 100 breaststroke saw Tanya Huebner (S6) win the event in a time of 1:44.72.
Blake Cochrane (S8) won the men’s multi-class 100 breaststroke in a time of 1:19.24 followed by Ahmed Kelly (S4) who posted a 1:54.56 to take second with Richard Eliason (S14) finishing in third with a time of 1:08.86.
In her second race of the evening Amanda Fowler (S14) won the women’s multi-class 400 freestyle in a time of 4:56.17. Kara Leo (S14) finished second recording a time of 4:57.59 followed by Katherine Downie (S10) who finished third recording a time of 4:51.83.
Full, live meet results available here.
Cate Campbell just swam 53.47 in the prelims.
I hope she’ll be healthy in Barcelona, she can really give much stronger opposition to Kromowidjojo in both 50/100 than anyone else.
Seebohm should concentrate on both 100 back/free, instead of doing 200 IM.
There’s only one event separating 100 back in 200 IM, and it is extremely highly unlikely she’ll even get bronze in the 200 IM, and the training for 200 IM dulls her 100 speed and swimming two rounds of 200 IM will not help her in the 100 back final.
If she focuses on 100 back/free, she’ll have the chance to defeat Missy and break the 100 back WR, as well as getting her 100 free… Read more »
Women’s 200 IM final is on Monday, July 29. Women’s 100 back final is on Tuesday, July 30. Emily Seebohm can swim both races. But I understand your argument. If she forgets the 200 IM, she will be stronger in her best race, the 100 back. I’m the first here to say it’s better to have one gold medal than 1 silver and 2 other finals. And I agree, she’s the only opponent for Missy in the 100 back. But Missy has the key. Don’t forget she’s the olympic champion. She’s the girl to beat now. She still has so many things to improve like starts, turns and underwaters. She’s by far the best between the walls. And the schedule… Read more »
Having seen men’s 100 Free results from France and Russia, and now prelims/semi-finals from Austraila, my mind is already gravitating towards the US trials in the event. Outside of Adrian, the field would appear wide open (I guess Berens would be the favorite for the second spot at this point). I don’t think we can expect anyone outside of Adrian to be below 48 mid, but who knows. Hopefully someone will step up. They will have to if the US’s 4×100 Free relay has any shot at winning a medal at WC.
The three medals will still be contested by three of AUS, FRA, RUS, USA.
RUS seems to be rising, and AUS will swim at least one to two seconds faster than their disastrous olympics final. The big question is USA. Will Phelps absent affect them much? Can Lochte be back to his tip top olympics condition? Will the youngsters (Feigen, anyone else?) rise?
Agreed..
I wish Bra would be there.. but with the guys who are now and the youngsters.. they will probably build a strong team for 2016.. but Fernado was a good surprise.. he was a backstrocker who dropped back for free and already improve 1 second his PB..
Rafael,
BRA coaches need to focus effort to get the team to relays finals, in order to give the team experience of swimming in the finals. Especially this year, when less is at stake and they have the time to build the team.
Fernando was a BIG surprise.I think De Lucca was a bit of let down.After his strong NCAA, i was expecting better times, but probably he can not hold the taper that well after NCAA.
For a relay, it needs a strong commitment to make it work.Without specific training camp/competitions, it is just a bunch of guys jumping in the water.
Overall times are not very impressive so far except Christian Sprenger, Alicia Coutts, Bronte Barrat and the McKeon family. But there’s much depth in a few races. For example very good level in the women’s 200 free. They have a team with 4 or 5 swimmers able to swim under 1.57 to play with USA even if I think Missy Franklin, Allison Schmidt and Katie Ledecky have a bigger talent. Now I’m waiting for the men’s and women’s sprint results.
Justin James qualified 2nd for the 200IM, not third.
Sprenger’s time is very close to the textile record, and equal van der burgh’s textile best. If that’s possible, I look forward to seeing the South African blow the textile record apart. I could see him very close to his WR.
If everyone swims by the rules (i.e. the current Olympic champion), I think van der Burgh will have his hands full with Sprenger, Scozzoli, Yamaguchi, and maybe even Cordes. The 50 & 100 breast looks loaded this year.
I think VDB is still the definitive favorite for both 50 and 100 this year.
I don’t think Van Der Burgh was the only one kicking at the start… But maybe he had more of a benefit of it.?
I would be surprised to see Yamaguchi under 27.50
Van Der Burgh was 27.0 on his first 50 in his WR swim… If he had swum the 50breast in the Olympics, there is no doubt he would’ve been under Silva’s 26.87 textile record. That being the record, and no one else having been under 27, it seems unlikely he’ll be severly pressured if he iis going for the WR>
Why did To not swim the semis? Judging from the swims in the semis, it looks like he could have easily advanced to the final and be on the relay. Which by the way is so far from the 200 IM to rest up and get prepared.
GIve him some slack for now. Last year, he dropped pretty much a second going from semis to finals. That said, he’ll probably need to make the same drop to stop McEvoy. From the looks of it, there will be two least one swimmer who will beat Magnussen’s semi swim.
Roberts was a convincing 48low swimmer in 2011 as well. 47.6 was surprising, but for him to return to 47.9-48.1 at this meet or Barce wouldn’t be a surprise. I dont think it was a once in a lifetime swim by anymeans.
To probably just wanted to put up a time for relay considerations.
Ok, I wasn’t sure if the Australian relay worked the same way as the US in that the coaches make the final call, and that it’s not strictly based on final swims.
As for Roberts, I guess it’s unfair to judge Roberts by that 47.6 standard because really, you don’t get many chances to draft off a swimmer that’s on WR pace. However, he did put it up, showing he’s capable, and I am expecting more that the swims he put up at the moment. He should be the second-best swimmer after Magnussen when the final is swum.
AUS relay system selection is exactly the same as the US.
Top 6 are given the berth to go, but the actual prelims and final line up will be at the discretion of the coach who will pick among anyone already in the team.
I guess To really wants to have individual 200 IM ticket, and once he is in the team, he can be considered for relay selection. Phelps did it, Lochte did it.
In 2011 Roberts went 48.49 once – his only time in the low 48s, so not all that convincing. He had a perfect draft on the fastest textile swim of all time, so I agree we should expect 47.6 from him. My money is on McEvoy for the second spot
those 800 free times are terrible. is that the state of Australia d swimming on the men’s side?
If you’re judging the Australian mens distance swimmers with those swims, then you haven’t been paying attention.
men 800 free is not a qualifying event.
top distance prospect like Mack Horton is not even swimming the 800.
A lot has been said about Mack Horton, yes, but his 400free time, 3 53, was not terriibly convincing. I’m not a huge fan of swimvortex’s new rankings compared to its comprehensive predecessor. And I don’t know off hand what his PR is, but I’m pretty sure that its not even his best time.
That said, even if he makes the qualifying standard, it will be a close call. A lot of men have risen out of the woodworks this year in Australia (in terms of time drops). But maybe progress in freestyle for Australia is coming a distance at a time… first the 100, then 200, now 400, and it’s not time for their new distance king yet.
I… Read more »
Horton has been 3:52 a couple of times this year, but the interesting this with him is that his versatility. At 16:
100 – 50.35 (would be 2nd all-time US NAG)
200 – 1:50.19 (4th)
400 – 3:52.26 (3rd)
1500 – 15:04.87 (3rd)
Those were set in January and he expected to go quicker her with a full taper – probably a bit disappointing so far with no best times yet.
Harrison, also 17, smashed the 400 and is also entered in the 1500.
The times might not be world beaters, but if there are 2 that go sub 15 aged 17 there is a good future
John26,
yes, Horton’s plateauing is a bit of concern for the aussies I guess. He should have swum sub 3:50 at least in the 400. Not sure what happened.
But Harrison is a legit prospect methinks. He’s training with Fraser Holmes and Sun Yang.
So thy are on the old USA system where 800 swimmers are taken from 400/1500 or some sort of combo?
Not quite sure, but it seems the 1,500 winners will be given the rights to swim the 800.
for the non-olympics 50s, the winners of 100s will be given the rights. Yes, it’s similar to the old US selection system.
for 1,500, watch out for mack Horton and Jordan Harrison (trained by Dennis Cotterel, the coach of Hackett and Yang)
Roberts is not looking like the 47.6 swimmer he was last year, although we still have the finals. Qualified 4th in 48.83 after swimming 49.68 in the heats. That may of been a once in a lifetime swim, drafting off a near sub 47 swim .. Just goes to show you how much of swimming is mental. Some swimmers how the potential, but will never reach that plateau because they over think their capabilities. Roberts is young though, so I’m not completely counting him out.
Eager to see what Magnussen does in the final. Will he go all out like last year or will be do just enough to win and save it for Barcelona? We shall see..