In the most tightly contested final of the second night of the 2016 Swimming NSW State Open Championships, Gold Coast London Olympian Cameron McEvoy held on the men’s 200m freestyle in 1:46.85 ahead of Miami’s Dan Smith (1:47.32) and SOPAC’s Kurt Herzog (1:47.80).
McEvoy swam almost four seconds faster than at the same meet last year and has been focusing heavily on his time over the first 100 metres.
“I’ve gone 1:46 three times since December which is great,” he said. “Last time I was 1:46 in season was leading into Commonwealth Games trials. I’ve surprised myself by being able to go 1:46 tonight.
“The main aim was definitely that first 100. I haven’t been able to attack that since Commonwealth Games and tonight I managed to hold on technically and it wasn’t too bad of a drop off and the overall time was satisfying.”
With the impressive depth in the event and Grant Hackett still to be added into the mix, the showdown at next month’s Hancock Prospecting Australian Championships and the Race to Rio for the two individual Olympic berths is promising to be one of the most exciting races of the meet.
There was a changing of the guards in the women’s freestyle, with world champion Bronte Campbell returning to competition but sister Cate going down with the illness that prevented Bronte from swimming yesterday.
Feeling better, Bronte swam the 50m freestyle, posting her fastest time of the year [24.37] and giving her confidence in her rehabilitated hip ahead of trials.
“I’ve been really, really pleased,” Campbell said. “When I started the year I was operating with my hip at about 10 per cent kick-wise in the pool. It wasn’t looking very good. But it is really promising having good swims both here and in Perth. Considering how we started the year, I am really pleased with how the last few weeks have been going.”
Denmark’s Jeanette Ottesen took silver in 24.77 and Emma McKeon the bronze in 25.03.
Meanwhile World Junior Champion Minna Atherton won her first ever senior title when she took out the women’s 100m backstroke. The humble teenager said it was great to take her first win at a senior meet, despite the absence in the race of her training partner – World Champion Emily Seebohm.
Atherton swam 59.73 seconds to edge out Madison Wilson (59.80), with Hayley Baker rounding out the medals in 1:00.95.
“I wasn’t really expecting to do a PB because I haven’t really tapered but I was expecting around that time so I’m happy with that,” the 15-year-old Brisbane Grammar swimmer said.
“It’s been really good,” she said of training with Seebohm. “She’s been really helping me out. I’ve been racing her and she’s been racing me, it’s going really well.”
Emma McKeon posted the fourth fastest 100m butterfly time of the year, winning in 57.24 while multiple Olympic and Commonwealth Games medallist Alicia Coutts showed she is continuing to return to form, placing third in 57.53. Ottesen of Denmark took silver in 57.40.
Swimming NSW contributed this report.
RESULTS (In order of the events being contested)
Women’s 400m Freestyle
1. Jessica Ashwood (V-Chandler) 4:06.07
2. Lauren Boyle (V-Miami) 4:08.91
3. Remy Fairweather (V-Nudgee) 4:10.37
Men’s 50m Butterfly
1. Daniel Lester (V-Lawnton) 23.90
2. Cameron Jones (V-St Peters Western) 24.10
3. Christopher Wright (V-Southport Olympic) 24.24
Women’s 100m Butterfly
1. Emma McKeon (V-St Peters Western) 57.24
2. Jeanette Ottesen (V-Denmark) 57.40
3. Alicia Coutts (V-Redlands) 57.53
Men’s 200m Backstroke
1. Mitch Larkin (V-St Peters Western) 1:55.08
2. Josh Beaver (V-Nunawading) 1:57.79
3. Ashley Delaney (V-Nunawading) 1:59.05
Women’s 100m Backstroke
1. Minna Atherton (V-Brisbane Grammar) 59.73
2. Madison Wilson (V-St Peters Western) 59.80
3. Hayley Baker (V-Melbourne Vicentre) 1:00.95
Men’s 100m Breaststroke
1. Jake Packard (V-USC Spartans) 1:01.01
2. Hayato Watanabe (V-Japan) 1:01.31
3. Matthew Wilson (SOPAC) 1:01.68
Men’s 100m Backstroke Multi-Class
1. Michael Anderson (S10) (V-USC Spartans) 1:01.91
2. Timothy Hodge (S9) (The Hills) 1:06.91
3. Samuel Greatorex (S15) (V-Nunawading) 1:03.09
Women’s 100m Backstroke Multi-Class
1. Ellie Cole (S9) (Castle Hill RSL Dolphins) 1:10.85
2. Taylor Corry (S14) (Nelson Bay) 1:10.81
3. Maddison Elliott (S8) (Nu Swim) 1:23.86
Women’s 200m Breaststroke
1. Rikke Pedersen (V-Denmark) 2:23.55
2. Kanako Watanabe (V-Japan) 2:24.04
3. Georgia Bohl (V-St Peters Western) 2:25.61
Men’s 200m Freestyle
1. Cameron McEvoy (V-Bond) 1:46.85
2. Daniel Smith (V-Miami) 1:47.32
3. Kurt Herzog (V-SOPAC) 1:47.80
Women’s 50m Freestyle
1. Bronte Campbell (V-Commercial) 24.37
2. Jeanette Ottesen (V-Denmark) 24.77
3. Emma McKeon (V-St Peters Western) 25.18
Men’s 200m Individual Medley
1. Justin James (Mackay) 2:02.36
2. Juran Mizohata (V-Japan) 2:03.91
3. Travis Mahoney (V-Nunawading) 2:03.85
Mixed 4 x 50m Medley Relay
1. Carlile 1:49.76
2. Japan (V) 1:49.88
3. Melbourne Vicentre (V) 1:50.11
Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Club Relay
1. Melbourne Vicentre (V) 8:14.01
2. Japan (V) 8:18.69
3. Ravenswood 8:19.18
Men’s 4 x 200m Freestyle Club Relay
1. Japan (V) 7:25.17
2. Melbourne Vicentre (V) 7:33.85
3. Sydney University 7:37.14
Men’s 100m Butterfly Multi-Class
1. Mitchell Kilduff (S14) (MLC Marlins) 1:00.04
2. Matthew Levy (S7) (Cranbrook Eastern Edge) 1:12.70
3. Timothy Antalfy (S13) (Hunters Hill) 1:00.38
Women’s 100m Butterfly Multi-Class
1. Taylor Corry (S14) (Nelson Bay) 1:11.12
2. Paige Leonhardt (S9) (Wingham) 1:11.28
3. Madeleine Scott (S9) (Canberra) 1:11.46
Men’s 400m Freestyle Multi-Class
1. Guy Harrison-Murray (S10) (V-USC Spartans) 4:18.48
2. Braedan Jason (S1) (V-USC Spartans) 4:14.41
3. Blake Cochrane (S8) (V-USC Spartans) 4:46.42
Women’s 400m Freestyle Multi-Class
1. Jade Lucy (S14) (SLC Aquadot) 5:01.93
2. Nikesha Harding (S14) (Aquablitz Toongabbie) 5:09.87
3. Amy Cook (S14) (SLC Aquadot) 5:17.80
