TRICKETT NUDGES WORLD RECORD AS DELANEY STRIKES BACK
Sydney, March 19: World record holder Libby Trickett was just a fingernail outside her own world mark in the 100m freestyle and emerging star Ashley Delaney smashed his first Commonwealth record in the men's 200 metres backstroke on a thrilling third night of competition at the 2009 Telstra Australian Championships.
Trickett (SOPAC, NSW) clocked 52.99, the second fastest time in history - just 0.11secs outside her own world record of 52.88 in a stunning swim at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.
The 24-year-old, who moved to Sydney to join new coach Grant Stoelwinder at the New South Wales Institute of Sport in October last year, was just 0.01 seconds under world record pace with her 25.39secs split at 50 metres.
"My goal was to go as close as I could to what I did at the Olympics and to beat that time and go under 53 is more than I could have hoped for," said Trickett, who will be chasing her second gold medal of the meet in a red-hot 100m butterfly final on Friday night.
Meanwhile, Nunawading's AIS-based Delaney clocked the seventh fastest time in history when he clocked 1:55.82 to set a new Commonwealth record.
The 22-year-old later revealed he had been studying the stroke of five-time Olympic champion and eight-time world champion Aaron Peirsol in an effort to advance.
"After the Olympics we sat down and looked at what I could improve on. We watched this video (of Aaron Peirsol) and I picked up that his stroke was that much wider than mine, he was reaching that much further. "
MAGGIE ELLIS reviews all tonight's finals.....
MEN'S 200M BACKSTROKE FINAL
Ashley Delaney lit up the pool on night three of the Telstra Australian Swimming Championships, smashing the Commonwealth record to take gold in the men's 200m backstroke final tonight.
Delaney was leading by a body-length at the halfway mark and hit the wall in a sizzling 1.55.82.
His time makes him the seventh fastest in history in the event.
"I wasn't quite ready at the Olympics, I probably didn't swim it the way I needed to, but in that race tonight everything came together and it turned out to be a good result," said Delaney, who won the 50m in an Australian record earlier in the week.
The 22-year-old revealed he had been studying the stroke of Olympic champion Aaron Peirsol in an effort to advance.
"After the Olympics we (coach Vince Raleigh) sat down and looked at what I could improve on. We watched this video and I picked up that his stroke was that much wider than mine, he was reaching that much further.
"I hopped in the water and tried it for the first time and straight away we could see the results. We picked up on a few other things with his kick as well, and just learnt so much from watching those videos. I'm a really visual learner so something like that really helps me."
Delaney also shared his motivation to continue improving over the next few years.
"I love swimming, and for me it's about wanting to be the best and striving for that every day. Being at the Olympics and missing out on the podium is driving me pretty hard to think about London. I'd love to be there on the number one spot on the podium."
Silver went to fellow Olympian and defending champion Hayden Stoeckel (Norwood, SA) with a time of 1.57.38.
Between Delaney and Stoeckel Australia's stocks in backstroke are looking healthy.
"We've come along way in the last year and a half," agreed Delaney.
"We both did quite well at the Olympics and if we continue moving forward and pushing each other we'll get closer to those Americans."
Robert Hurley (Wests Illawarra Aquatic, NSW), the national champion in the 400m freestyle, took the bronze medal in 2.00.04.
WOMEN'S 100M FREESTYLE FINAL
Libby Trickett (SOPAC, NSW) gave her own world record a fright in the women's 100m freestyle final, storming down the first 50m under world pace by .01 of a second.
She hit the wall in 52.99 and beat the field by nearly a body length.
The scintillating performance was just 0.11 outside her best of 52.88, and the second fastest time in history.
"My goal was to go as close as I could to what I did at the Olympics and to beat that time and go under 53 is more than I could have hoped for," said Trickett, who made the move to Sydney to train under Grant Stoelwinder last October.
"I think part of the reason I've been able to perform that well is that I'm excited again, I've had a huge change and the different things are inspiring me and motivating me.
"There are always going to be points where you want to re-affirm the decisions that you make in your life. The first time I dived in the water in Sydney confirmed for me that I'd made the right decision. My mental attitude has confirmed for me that I've made the right decision and swimming like I have so far this meet and tonight in particular reaffirms that I'm on the right track and I'm where I'm supposed to be."
Silver and the second individual swim in Rome went to 2004 Olympic backstroker Marieke Guehrer (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC), who continues to shine at this meet, and adds this achievement to her 50m butterfly Commonwealth record earlier in the week.
Guehrer's time was a new PB and rocketed her up the Australian all-time list to sixth fastest.
Dual Olympian Felicity Galvez (SOPAC, NSW), collected bronze in a PB of 54.50, which sees her join Guehrer in the all-time top ten as the seventh fastest Australian of all time.
Both Guehrer and Galvez edged in front of Susie O'Neill and Petria Thomas on the list, indicating the changing of the guard as a new generation steps up.
In contention for a relay spot on the World championship team are 200m freestyle champion Meagen Nay (St Peters Western, QLD - 4th in 55.10), Olympic breaststroker Sally Foster (Central Aquatic, WA - 5th in 55.20) and dual Olympian Shayne Reese (Nunawading, VIC - 6th in 55.23).
The incredible abilities of these athletes is highlight by the fact that in Athens Guehrer competed as a backstroker, Galvez as a butterflier, while in Beijing, Nay competed as a backstroker and Foster as a breaststroker.
WOMEN'S 200M BREASTSTROKE FINAL
AIS-based Sally Foster (Central Aquatic, WA) stormed home over the last 50m and hung on to win a thrilling women's 200m breaststroke, taking her first National title in 2.25.88.
The Olympic semi-finalist showed her endurance capabilities after finsihing fifth in the 100m freestyle final earlier in the night.
Silver went to 50m National champion and fellow Olympian Sarah Katsoulis (Nunawading, VIC) in 2.26.99 while early pacesetter, 15-year-old Junior Pan Pac silver medallist Tessa Wallace (Pelican Waters Caloundra, QLD, 2:26.27) was a touch behind in third
But in the decisive third 50m Foster and Katsoulis made their moves overcoming Wallace to touch in first and second.
WOMEN'S 100M BACKSTROKE FINAL
You could have thrown a blanket over the top three finishers in the women's 100m backstroke final, with Olympic relay gold medallist Emily Seebohm (Brothers, QLD) triumphing on the touch to win gold in 59.85.
The time was just shy of her Australian record of 59.33, but the 16-year-old was happy to be on the plane to Rome.
"I was just trying to touch the wall in first place," said Seebohm after the race.
"I knew the girls were going to be close the whole way and they were. I tried not to think too much. It wasn't a PB but I'm pretty excited about the world championships."
Finishing second was 2008 Olympic finalist Belinda Hocking (Albury, NSW) in 1.00.01, just missing out on breaking the one minute barrier.
Last year's silver medallist Sophie Edington (Unattached, QLD) had to settle for the bronze, touching the wall in 1.00.27.
All three women were separated by only .07 at the half way mark.
MEN'S 100M BREASTSTROKE FINAL
It couldn't get any closer in the men's 100m breaststroke final, with Beijing Olympic breaststroke duo Christian Sprenger (Commercial, QLD) and Brenton Rickard (Brothers, QLD) dead-heating the race in 1.00.64.
Sprenger turned just in front at the 50m mark, before the pair went stroke for stroke right to the wall over the last 25m.
"I'll still take it as a win," said Rickard jovially after the race. "It's obviously great for both of us. It's great to be a part of such a fantastic team."
For Sprenger it was his first National title.
"I always thought my first time would have been by myself," Sprenger said.
"But to get the National title is just amazing. I'm looking forward to racing Brenton at Worlds."
Bronze went to Albury's Craig Calder in 1.02.33.
MEN'S 50M BUTTERFLY FINAL
Australian record holder Andrew Lauterstein (SOPAC, NSW) flew through the water in the men's 50m butterfly final to take gold in 23.34 and was delighted with the win.
"I'm pretty happy with my time. It's only just off my PB and to come back and do that after the 100 freestyle semi-final, I'm happy. I'm enjoying myself," said Lauterstein, the Olympic bronze medallist in the 100m.
US-based defending champion Matt Targett (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) grabbed silver in a time of 23.49.
"I'll go back to the States and keep training with Brett Hawke until Rome. I'm really, really happy," said Targett.
Former world short course record holder Matt Jaukovic (Sydney University, NSW) collected the bronze in a time of 23.62.
WOMEN'S 100M BUTTERFLY MULTI-DISABILITY FINAL
Paralympian Prue Watt (Nunawading, VIC) won gold and the national title in the women's 100m butterfly multi-disability (S13 - 1.08.13), with Nerice Holland (Chandler, QLD) taking the silver (S14 - 1.12.03), and Mingara Aquatic's Tiegen van Roosmalen collecting bronze (S13 - 1.09.17).
Eighth place finisher Ellie Cole (Kings, VIC): "I was six seconds over my PB this morning, so I wasn't expecting too much tonight. My goal is to beat Paralympic legend Natalie du Toit one day. I'm focusing on school this year, it's my final year, and next year I hope to get back into swimming seriously."
MEN'S 100M BUTTERFLY MULTI-DISABILITY FINAL
Paralympic star Matthew Cowdrey (Norwood, SA) took the gold medal in the men's 100m butterfly multi-disability final (S9 - 1.00.13), with Craig Morgan (Kinross Wolaroi, NSW) powering home to take the silver (S15 - 59.68) and Daniel Bell (Geelong, VIC) taking the bronze (S10, SB9 - 1.00.89).
Fourth place getter Jeremy Tidy (Nunawading, VIC) said: "I'm very happy with that. Moving to the Nunawading club has been probably the smartest move I've ever made in my life. They have so much experience, it's the way a program should be."
MEN'S 4 x 200M FREESTYLE RELAY
St Peters Western (QLD) sliced a massive three seconds off the nine-year-old club championship record in winning the men's 4 x 200m freestyle relay.
The team of Ryan Napoleon, Cameron Smith, Ned McKendry and Kenrick Monk finished in 7.16.00, well ahead of the 7.19.70 set by a Miami team of Grant Hackett, Daniel Kowalski, Rene Faulkner and Stephen Penfold in the year 2000.
Silver went to Blacktown City (NSW) (Michael Fell, Nathan Grant, Alex Kelshaw and Andrew Beato) in 7.30.34, and bronze to SOPAC Swim Club (NSW) (Mitchell Dixon, Alex Gohari, Alexander Patrulescu and Harrison Pullinger) with time of 7.31.70.
WOMEN'S 4 x 200M FREESTYLE RELAY
The women's team from Pro-Ma Miami (QLD) took an incredible five seconds off the club record in the women's 4 x 200m freestyle relay.
Jade Neilsen, Kellie Marquenie, Katie Goldman and Ellen Fullerton set the new mark at 8.02.75, well ahead of the 8.07.01 achieved by Albany Creek last year.
In second place were Nunawading (VIC) (Belinda Parslow, Shayne Reese, Talia Goddard, and Belinda Bennett) in 8.13.18, and third went to Norwood (SA) (Tiffany Papaemanouil, Leah Cutting, Jackie Staples and Jessica Ash) in 8.19.07.
MEN'S 800M FREESTYLE FINAL
Theodore Pasialis (SOPAC, NSW), a finalist in the 400m freestyle earlier the week, took gold in the men's 800m freestyle final in 8.01.90, missing the A-qualifying time for Rome which is a speedy 7.49.98.
Silver went to Redcliffe Leagues' Matthew Terry, who touched in 8.03.96, and the bronze was won by 2009 Junior Pan Pac team member Christopher Ashwood (SOPAC, NSW) with a time of 8.10.27.
Meanwhile in semi-final action.....
Women's 100m butterfly: Just over a second separated the "fab five" of Australian women's swimming in tonight's semi-finals with Commercial QLD's 2005 World Champion Jessicah Schipper (57.65) leading the way ahead of Olympic medley golden girl Stephanie Rice (St Peters Western, QLD 58.36), Olympic champion Lisbeth Trickett (SOPAC, NSW, 58.41), world short course champion Felicity Galvez (SOPAC, NSW 58.73) and world short course record hold for 50m butterfly Marieke Guehrer (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC, 58.79) - all A qualifying times for the World Championships but only the first two will swim the event in Rome. Inge de Bruijn's world record has stood at 56.61 since 2000 and the Commonwealth record at 56.73 to Trickett at last year's Olympics.
Men's 100m freestyle: World record holder Eamon Sullivan (SOPAC, NSW) continued his race to Rome with a slick 48.24 to win the second semi-final - the fastest time in the world this year and will start favourite to take his place on the team for the World Championships. His Olympic team mate, Beijing finalist Matt Targett (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) won the first semi-final in 48.79. Sullivan's NSWIS International training group training partners Matthew Abood (Kingscliff, NSW, 49.25) and Andrew Lauterstein (SOPAC, NSW, 49.26) will be very much in the medal mix as will 200m freestyle bronze medallist Tommaso D'Orsogna (West Coast, WA, 49.32).