Just for the record: Mitch Larkin does it for the kids
Swimming Australia, December 16, 2015: Swimming’s man-of-the moment Mitch Larkin showed tonight that his magical year was far from over when he set a new Australian and Queensland All-Comers record at the Queensland State Championships in Brisbane.
After a stellar year which saw him win two world titles in Kazan and dominate the Fina World Cup Series before setting his first world record in the 200m backstroke short course, Larkin’s coach Michael Bohl did not want to push his super-charge to race again…and again.
But the 21-year-old wanted to swim his home State Championships “for the kids” who lined up to get his autograph after his sizzling 1:53.72 – the fastest time 200m backstroke time swum in Australia.
It lowered the times set by Japan’s Ryosuke Irie (1:54.02) in 2012 and American Tyler Clary (1:54.91) at the Pan Pacs on the Gold Coast in 2014 – prized scalps – they were the 2012 London Olympic silver and gold medallists respectively.
“I remember when I was a kid and coming to this meet with all the stars and I felt like I owed it to them to swim,” said Larkin.
“Michael (Bohl) was concerned about how my body would hold up after a long year but I’m feeling pretty good and I think it is a mind set.
“I was really happy with that swim – happy with the way I was able to swim the race and descend my times.”
Larkin smoked the field, going through the first 100 metres in 55.87 (26.73 and 29.14) and coming home in 57.85 (29.21 and 28.64).
In the women’s 200m backstroke, Larkin’s fellow dual world backstroke champion, Emily Seebohm kept the records rolling herself, setting a new Queensland All-Comers record of 2:07.43, powering past Madi Wilson (2:07.84) over the final 25 metres with World Junior Champion Minna Atherton third in 2:11.04.
It followed Seebohm’s Australian and Queensland All-Comers records in last night’s 100m backstroke in 58.70.
The 800m freestyle for women saw Kazan World Championship finalist and Australian record holder Jess Ashwood (8:21.15) outpace New Zealand’s Kazan silver medallist Lauren Boyle (8:22.75).
Meanwhile, Gold Coaster David Morgan showed shades of Jon Sieben’s famous 1984 Olympic come-from-behind gold medal swim to take out tonight’s 200m butterfly.
The 21-year-old from TSS Aquatic swam almost the identical tactics that saw 17-year-old Sieben swim down “The Albatross” Michael Gross in Los Angeles 32 years ago.
Morgan trailed 2012 Olympian Chris Wright by a second and half at the 100m and the 150m turn but a-la-Sieben hunted him down, eventually passing his fellow Gold Coaster from Southport Olympic in the final metres in a time of 1:57.40 – to 1:57.55, splitting 29.94 to Wright’s 31.64 for the final lap.
The Kazan World Championship representative is the third fastest Australian over the distance, in 1:55.99, set in Sydney at the Australian Championships earlier this year and Sieben remains the 10th fastest of all time in 1:57.04.
Morgan prides himself in the “back end” of his races and admitted he had seen Sieben’s swim, the last time when the legendary gold medallist address the Dolphins at this year’s Townsville Grand Prix.
Meanwhile World Junior champion Clyde Lewis (St Peters Western) showed why he is one of Australia’s rising stars, winning the 200m individual medley in 2:02.02 from Jared Gilliland (Chandler) 2:02.57 and Joshua Tierney (TSS Aquatic) in 2:05.66
The women’s 200IM went to Chandler's Ellen Fullerton (2:12.34) from the fast finishing dual Olympian Bronte Barratt (2:13.52) & Commonwealth Games 200m breaststroke gold medallist Taylor McKeown (2:14.05).
QUEENSLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS, TUESDAY, December 15:
Men
200m backstroke
Mitch Larkin (St Peters Western) 1:53.72 (Aust/Qld All-Com)
Peter Mills (East Brisbane) 2:02.95
Ben Edmonds (Marion, SA) 2:03.02
200m butterfly
David Morgan (TSS Aquatics) 1:57.40
Chris Wright (Southport Olympic) 1:57.55
Shaun Burnett (TSS Aquatic/NZ) 1:59.82
200IM
Clyde Lewis (St Peters Western) 2:02.02
Jared Gilliland (Chandler) 2:02.57
Joshua Tierney (TSS Aquatic) 2:05.66
Women
200m butterfly
Madeline Groves (St Peters Western) 2:06.36
An Sehyeon (Korea) 2:10.40
Emma McKeon (St Peters Western) 2:10.97
200IM
Ellen Fullerton (Chandler) 2:12.34
Bronte Barratt (St Peters Western) 2:13.52
Taylor McKeown (USC Spartans) 2:14.05
200m backstroke
Emily Seebohm (Brisbane Grammar) 2:07.43
Madison Wilson ((St Peters Western) 2:07.84
Minna Atherton (Brisbane Grammar) 2:11.04
Issued on behalf of Swimming Australia by
Ian Hanson| Media Manager
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia Managing Director
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