SCHIPPER AND SULLIVAN THE SHOWSTOPPERS ON NIGHT FOUR
Sydney, March 20: Jessicah Schipper and Eamon Sullivan set the pool alight on night three of the Telstra Australian Swimming Championships at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, racing to victories ahead of exceptional fields.
Schipper (Commercial, QLD) stormed her way into sub-57 seconds territory in winning the women's 100m butterfly final, overcoming a hot field featuring six Olympians to touch the wall in a new PB of 56.90.
The 22-year-old, who made the move from longtime coach Ken Wood to Stephan Widmer at the Commercial club in Queensland, went out hard and never looked back, holding off the rest of the field to become the fourth fastest in history.
Schipper was elated, and will be looking to take back the world title she won in 2005 in Montreal at this year's FINA World Championships in Rome.
"I'm so excited, I've finally done a PB, and to go under 57 for the first time is amazing," said Schipper.
"Leaving Ken was such a massive decision and you always wonder if you're doing the right thing. Doing well in the 50 earlier this week I kind of hoped on doing a PB but I didn't think I'd break the 57 so it's looking awesome for the 200 on Sunday."
The field for the final included six Olympians, setting up a classic showdown.
"I didn't really realise who was in the race until I was actually sitting in the marshalling area," admitted Schipper.
"I looked around and you've got five or six of the best women swimmers in Australia sitting next to you. It kind of gets the nerves going and the adrenaline pumping and you go out there and hope you can do your best racing against them all.
"I remember touching the wall and looking around at my parents first, and they were all screaming pretty loud so I thought that had to be a good sign. I was just so excited to have done a PB."
Schipper said the victory helped affirm her decision to make the move to Widmer.
"It was very hard to decide to leave Ken and decide where to go next. I'm very happy that I did make that decision and have moved on. My training squad is awesome and Stephan is absolutely amazing, so I'm more than happy with my decision."
Double Olympic champion Stephanie Rice (St Peters Western) held on over the final metres to take silver and the second individual swim in the even in Rome in 57.67, also a new PB.
"I was actually nervous before the race but more of an excited nervous, just looking forward to it, no pressure," Rice said after the race.
"I think I seated myself really well next to probably the two fastest girls who were going to take it out. I just tried to stay with them to the 50. I did not move that last 20 metres at all and I had the worst finish, but I guess that's good, I've got things to work on for Rome!"
Bronze went to Felicity Galvez (SOPAC, NSW) in 57.79, adding to the bronze she won in the 100m freestyle last night, while Olympic champion Libby Trickett (SOPAC, NSW) finished fourth in 57.86.
"I didn't get the best out of myself and that's the most disappointing thing to me as an athlete," said Trickett.
"I'm not trying to race the other girls. They didn't beat me, I beat myself. That's what I need to learn to deal with."
100 METRES FREESTYLE - SULLIVAN SHINES
Meanwhile world record holder Sullivan (SOPAC, NSW) powered his way to gold in the men's 100m freestyle, hitting the wall in 48.34 and securing his place in the race to the FINA World Championships in Rome.
It was a spectacular return to the water after undergoing hip surgery to launch his quest for World championship gold.
"I was not feeling entirely confident with my preparation for the 100, all these guys have been doing a lot of fitness work and I've been in there doing the bare minimum really," said Sullivan.
"I just tried to use my speed to an advantage in the first 50 and get a lead off that turn and hold on. I'm very happy to get through. It shows good signs if I get the preparation I'd like under my belt. I think by Worlds I should be firing on all cylinders."
Sullivan has had to ease back into training following the surgery and spoke about the kind of work he has done in the absence of a high kilometre count.
"I was doing a lot of extra pilates work, a lot of yoga, and stretching, a lot of upper body work in the gym. My upper body feels great at the moment, it's just my legs, especially in the last 25 I just felt them sink. I'm working at about 70 to 80 percent at the moment.
"It was a tough decision to have the surgery that close to the trials but I had the slim hope and stubborn thought in my head that I'd be fine. I surprised myself. Now the main thing is to just make sure it heals completely."
Beijing finalist Matt Targett (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC), who is currently based in the USA, booked the second Rome swim in finishing second to Sullivan in 48.63.
"It's what I wanted to do, come back and secure a spot on the team, swim two individual events in Rome. Mission accomplished," said Targett.
"I get straight on a plane back to LA tomorrow."
The bronze went to butterfly champion Andrew Lauterstein (SOPAC, NSW), who touched the wall just 0.01 behind Targett, with a third NSWIS "Super Squad" member Matthew Abood (Kingscliff, NSW), who trains alongside Sullivan and Lauterstein, finishing fourth in 49.05, Tommaso D'Orsogna (West Coast, WA) fifth in 49.26, and Commercial's Kyle Richardson touched in sixth with a time of 49.43.
The top six place-getters will all be considered for the World championship relay team in Rome.
MEN'S 400M IM - PARKES WINS FIRST NATIONAL CROWN
In the men's 400m individual medley Stephen Parkes (St Peters Western, QLD) swam a sensational race, slashing five seconds off his PB to win gold and his first National title.
The 20-year-old surged to the lead in the breaststroke leg and powered away from the field to lead by a body-length going into the freestyle.
Parkes then held on to touch in 4.18.64, falling agonisingly short of the automatic qualifying time for Rome which is set at 4.18.40.
Silver went to Thomas Fraser-Holmes (Hunter, NSW), a member of the 2009 Junior Pan Pac team, in a time of 4.22.07, and bronze was won by early leader Declan Potts (Norwood, SA) who hit the wall in 4.26.18.
WOMEN'S 800M FREESTYLE - NEW FACE TO MAKE WORLD CHAMPS DEBUT
Blair Evans (City of Perth, WA) took out her first National title in the women's 800m freestyle, the 17-year-old making her move at the halfway mark to record a time of 8.30.86.
Evans, the bronze medallist in the event at the 2009 Junior Pan Pacs, was followed closely the whole race by silver medal winner Melissa Gorman (Redcliffe Leagues, QLD), who touched in 8.31.81 to also beat the A-qualifying time for Rome.
Gorman was already assured of a seat on the plane after winning the 5k and 10k open water events recently.
Bronze went to Olympic gold medallist in the 4 x 200m relay Bronte Barratt (Albany Creek, QLD) in a time of 8.43.29.