The fourth day of Austalian Nationals saw more of the same from stars Cate Campbell and Christian Sprenger. The duo each took a top seed, with Sprenger sitting first in the 50 breast while looking for the overall breaststroke sweep of the national championships and sprint star Campbell sits atop the 100 free heading into tonight.
Belinda Hocking kicked things off with the top seed in the 200 back. The 23-year-old from Nunawading went 2:08.17 after taking second in the 100 back last night. Meagan Nay sits second over three seconds back at 2:11.55, and 100 back champ Emily Seebohm went 2:13.29 for third.
In the men’s 50 breast, Christian Sprenger took the top seed, going 28.20. That’s clearly a cruised swim for the 28-year-old, who took out his winning 100 in 27.35 last night. He probably won’t have to work much harder in semifinals, but watch for him to bust a big finals swim on what’s been a great week already for the Commercial star.
Joshua Palmer is second in 28.45 and Nick Schafer third with a 28.54.
50 free champ Cate Campbell was once again untouchable in the women’s 100 free. The sprint star went 53.73 to easily take the top seed. Campbell, a club teammate of Sprenger, also didn’t have to work her prelims swim much, as she’s still a second and a half off her Australian record from last summer.
Emma McKeon went 54.52 for the second seed, with the younger Campbell sister, Bronte, in tow at 54.75. Also in the hunt at this point are Brittany Elmslie (54.88) and Melanie Schlanger (55.08).
In the women’s 200 IM, Alicia Coutts holds the top spot. The Redlands swimmer went 2:12.39 to hold a 1-second lead over the field with plenty room to drop at finals. Aisling Scott is second at 2:13.40 for Albany Creek, while backstroke star Emily Seebohm sits third with a 2:14.45 coming off her 200 back earlier in the session.
Christopher Wright is the top seed out of the men’s 100 fly. His 52.60 is a few tenths faster than Keiran Qaium‘s 52.92, with Jayden Hadler third at 53.16.
In the women’s 100 breast, Lorna Tonks put up the morning’s fastest time, going 1:08.51. She sits half a second up on 28-year-old Sally Hunter of Marion with Nunawading’s Jessican Hansen third.
Australian record-holder Jessica Ashwood leads the 800 free after going 8:28.36, but the 20-year-old will have to battle youth in the final as 16-year-old Alanna Bowles nabbed the second seed with an 8:29.40. Those two are pretty well separated from the field at this point, and one would guess Ashwood has plenty left in the tank considering she went 8:19.76 just a month or so ago to set that national record.
In the Paralympic category, Ashley Cockburn of Ginninderra kicked off the session with the top seed in the women’s 100 back. The 15-year-old went 1:13.29 for the highest-scored swim, though the final should be a good battle between her and Lakeisha Patterson, who scored just 4 points lower in prelims, 845 to 841.
Michael Anderson of Somerset leads the men’s event, going 1:02.49.
In the women’s 100 breast, 15-year-0ld Hayley Morris put up a 1:22.48 to cut four seconds off her seed for the top spot. Waterworx’s Kayla Clarke is the top 200 free qualifier after going 2:16.63 this morning, but Nelson Bay’s Taylor Corry is only 5 points back, having gone 2:16.91 at prelims. In the men’s 200 free, the top spot belongs to Lawnton’s Brenden Hall, who went 2:03.50 at prelims.
Amazing swim Mcevoy but really Maggie choked in the final…he could go 47.5 or 47.6
It is now looking possible that the Australian w4x100 free can break WR either in CWG or PP.
I love nice excitement like this. The past few days have been ho-hum and predictable, despite some fast swimming.
47.65 by the 19-year-old McEvoy!!!!!! WOW!
McEvoy looks more and more like the “next PVDH” 🙂
McEvoy beat Magnussen 47.65 to 47.92!!!
There is a reason I am a big fan of McEvoy, and I am always a big fan of really smart swimmer.
mcEvoy now holds 100 free world record/fastest for 17yo, 18 yo and now 19 yo.
And he is still scrawny! Even Michael Andrew looks more jacked compared to mcEvoy.
I am excited what he can do in 2016 Rio.
Maybe its just the way the press in AUS covers him, but Magnussen seems to always have a lot of excuses and some questionable responses to interview questions. Coverage of today’s results is no different. Seems to me he could use a good PR rep.
I agree.
Magnussen offered excuse of chasing the WR when he botched his start and his turn.
But Australian newspapers are known to be very bombastic and can be cruel to their top swimmers too, though. The same newspaper (Sydney Morning Herald) that interviewed and reported Magnussen after today’s final is also the same newspaper which called Leisel Jones fat in the run up to 2012 London.
Yup, the Australian media has a reputation for their highly critical approach. I remember the constant scrutiny Thorpe underwent and was probably a huge factor in him eventually leaving the sport.
Shocking Cameron McEvoy won 47.65 against James Magnussen 47.92 in 100 free..OMG