MERINDAH WINS GOLD IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWDOWN
Sydney, April 15: World Championship rookie Merindah Dingjan has taken bragging rights over Great Britain's Ellen Gandy after producing the swim of the night on day three of the 2009 Australian Age Swimming Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre tonight. By Brooke Hanson Clarke......Dingjan was selected on the Australian team for this year's FINA World Championships as a member of the 4x200m freestyle relay squad after finishing fifth at the Telstra Australian selection trials three weeks ago.
The AIS-based freestyler, who hails from Southside Wesley in Western Australia, clocked 1.58.58, just 0.06 outside her best, to win her second gold medal of the week with an outstanding race in 17-18 years 200m freestyle.
The Dutch-born Dingjan, who moved to Australia at the age of three and was pushed all the way by British visitor Gandy (1:59.80) who trains under Rohan Taylor at Nunawading and who will also race at the World Championships in Rome.
The pair will likely eye each other off when they line up in Rome in July in the 4x200m freestyle showdown.
Dingjan's World Championship team mate Blair Evans (City of Perth, WA) 2:00.48 was the second placed Australian with Kelly Marquenie (Pro-Ma Miami) 2:01.44 finishing third.
"I'm so happy with that time, my goal was to perform well this week and consolidate the times I did at trials and I've definitely done that," said Dingjan.
"It's the first year I have won gold medals at Australian Age and I still have the 100 freestyle to go; I'm absolutely loving training in Canberra at the AIS and I believe the World Championships is a great first team to be on."
AUSTRALIAN RELAY RECORDS FALL TO QUEENSLAND GIRLS
Two Australian records went to the St Peters Western 14 years and under girls medley relay team and the Queensland girls 18 years and under medley relay State team.
The St Peters Western team made up of three 13-year-olds and a 14-year-old smashed the previous record set by Chandler QLD in 2001. Led off by Madison Wilson (30.59) backstroke and followed by Tess David (35.16) breaststroke, Madeline Groves (28.85) butterfly and Yolane Kukla (25.91) freestyle. The Queensland girls clocked 2.00.51 to win the gold medal and break the Australian Age and Allcomers records.
Then the Queensland 18 years and under State team wrote their names into the record books by erasing the 2003 Queensland team made up of three Olympic gold medallists Lisbeth Trickett nee Lenton, Leisel Jones and Alice Mills alongside fellow Australian representative, Melanie Houghton.
Tonight's swimmers also had their own Olympic golden girl in Emily Seebohm and Olympic bronze medallist Cate Campbell and they pulled together to create their own piece of history, establishing new Australian and Australian Allcomers records. Seebohm (29.53) led off the backstroke, Leiston Pickett (31.07) the breaststroke, Tegan Warrener (24.43) the butterfly and Campbell (24.43) freestyle produced a sizzling 1.52.70.
FULLERTON ON SONG IN MEDLEY
Another World Championship rookie Ellen Fullerton (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) swam a tough 400m individual medley after her win in the 400m freestyle last night. Fullerton's time of 4:43.72 won the gold medal ahead of her Pro-Ma Miami training partner Katie Goldman (4:45.22) won the silver medal with Jessica Legge (Novocastrian, NSW) 4.52.72 claiming the bronze medal.
Mikkayla Maselli-Sheridan (Commercial, QLD) won her fifth gold medal of the Championships, winning the girls 14 years 200m butterfly in a time of 2:14.51.
Maselli-Sheridan led from start to finish, winning by just over five seconds, from Kaelyn Hann (Redcliffe Leagues, QLD) 2:19.87 and Samantha Redman (Novocastrian, NSW) 2.20.10.
The winner of seven gold medals at last year's titles then clocked 59.11 secs to finish third in the 14 years 100m freestyle behind Junior Pan Pac gold medallist Brittany Elmslie (Noosa, QLD) 56.16 and Emma McKeon (Wests Illawarra, NSW) 57.16.
HADLER WINS 400M AFTER FALSE STARTThe 15 years boys 400m freestyle final wasn't short of drama after what looked like a false start from New Zealand's Ewan Jackson.
With the whole crowd stunned, the race was underway until the boys reached the 40m mark and the false start rope was dropped stopping all 10 finalists.
All swimmers walked back to the start end of the pool and Jackson took his cap and goggles off thinking he was disqualified for a false start.
The referee then told all swimmers individually that a whistle had been blown in the crowd and that the race would start again with all ten swimmers.
Jayden Hadler of Commercial, Queensland was the eventual winner in a personal best time of 3.58.36 - winning his third gold medal of the championships.
Hadler was pushed every stroke of the way by Jackson (3:59.00), with Mitch Larkin (Brisbane Jets, QLD) the second Australian while Daniel Egan (Moonee Valley Aquatic, VIC) 4:06.33 won the bronze medal from lane zero.
The crowd was then reminded to make sure that there is full silence for the start of every race and not to blow whistles in the interest of fair play.
"I was feeling really good and then we got stopped by the rope, I saw Jackson break at the start out of the corner of my eye but I wasn't sure what was going on," said Hadler.
"The boys and I walked back to the blocks and had a bit of a laugh about it. In the end it was a good race for me - I kept my eye on Jackson the whole time, even though I wasn't breathing to his side.
"It's my third gold medal from three swims and it was a good fun race and I'm happy to swim a personal best time."
TESSA ABREAST OF FIELD BEFORE SILVER IN 50M FREESTYLEJunior Pan Pac medallist Tessa Wallace won the 15 years girls 100m breaststroke by more than two body lengths. Wallace (Pelican Waters Caloundra, QLD) clocked 1.09.24 three and a half seconds faster than visitor Chloe Francis (New Zealand) 1.12.97, second place Australian went to Zoe Diamond (Liverpool, NSW) 1.13.03 with bronze to Montana Sansby (Waterworx, QLD) 1.13.19.
Wallace 26.37 and Diamond 26.62 then finished second and third respectively in the final of the 50m freestyle behind Tegan Warrener (Warwick, QLD) 25.87 who won the gold medal from visiting Canadian Chantel Vanlandghem 26.17 who won silver.
In the boys 17-18 years 200m freestyle Daniel Smith from Pro-Ma Miami QLD had a great battle with Great Britain's Thomas Parris who led Smith for the first 150m but Smith proved to strong swimming over the top of Parris in the last 25m.
Second Australian was last night's 400 IM winner Thomas Fraser-Holmes (Hunter, NSW) 1.51.31 with Jackson Bailey (TSS Aquatics, QLD) 1.51.32 in third.
In the 14 years boys 200m butterfly Zach Featherstone (Southport Olympic, QLD) dominated the race leading the field at the 100m in 58.73 he continued to his maintain his lead to win his second gold medal of the week. Featherstone stopped the clock at 2.04.87 ahead of Hugo Morris (Woden, NSW) 2:07.38 and Charles Jordan (Burnside, SA) 2:09.21.
Te Haumi Maxwell won the boys 14 years 100m freestyle in 52.15 only 0.01 of a second outside his own Australian record. Zach Featherstone (Southport Olympic, QLD) 53.62 added another medal to his tally winning the silver medal with Nicholas Veivers (TSS Aquatics, QLD) 53.69 winning the bronze medal.
In the boys 15 years 100m breaststroke Buster Sykes (Brothers, QLD) 1.05.44 pulled away in the final 10 metres to win his first gold of the championships, silver went to Christian Swallow (Trinity Grammar School, NSW) 1.07.45 and the bronze medallist from Yamba Orcas, NSW was Dylan Brown (1.09.19).
Seventeen-year-old Rebecca Kemp (Mackay, QLD) backed up her win in the 17-18 years 100m breaststroke on night one of the championships to win another gold 200m breaststroke. Kemp smashed her personal best for the second time in one day by more than two seconds to clock 2:29.12 four seconds ahead of her nearest rival.
Kemp beat silver medallist Taylor Ritenberg (Starplex, SA) 2.33.47 with Ashlea Gierke (Maroochydore, QLD) 2.33.75 winning the bronze medal.
Regan Leong (Townsville Marlins, QLD) took his medal tally to three gold and one silver winning the 13 years & under 200m backstroke. Leong's time of 2.15.53 touched out Lachlan McLeish (Yarra Plenty, VIC) 2.15.99 with the bronze medal going to Yan Tkachenko (Burnside, SA) 2.17 46.
In the boys 17-18 years 200m breaststroke Jeremy Meyer (Traralgon, VIC) 2.16.33 won his second gold medal of the week defeating Nicholas Schafer (River City, QLD) 2.16.58 and Ian Sarno (Brothers, QLD) 2.19.78.
Mitchel Donaldson from New Zealand (4:26.42) was too strong for the Australians taking out the gold medal in the 16 years boys 400m individual medley.
Kenneth To (Trinity Grammar School) 4.31.24 took his medal tally to three gold, one silver and one bronze when he claimed the gold medal for first Australian. The silver medal went to Zac Dalby (East Brisbane, QLD) 4.32.76 with Llewellyn Little (Nunawading, VIC) 4.34.38 claiming the bronze medal.
Other night three winners included: Jessica Ashwood (SOPAC Swim Club, NSW) 4.16.89 15 years girls 400m freestyle, Caitlin Sinclair (MLC Marlins, NSW) 1.03.55 16 years girls 100m backstroke, Max Ackermann (Warwick, QLD) 56.81 16 years boys 100m backstroke, Bonnie Macdonald (Pro-Ma Miami) 9.00.11 13 years & under girls 800m freestyle, Jordan Harrison (Pro-Ma Miami) 8.52.12 13 years & under boys 800m freestyle, Hayley Baker (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) 2.21.51 13 & under 200m backstroke, Matthew Roberts (Novocastrian, NSW) 23.73 in the boys 15 years 50m freestyle.
2009 Australian Age Championships Medal Winners - Day 3
BOYS
17/18 years
200m freestyleD Smith (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) 1:50.38
T Parris (Great Britain) 1:50.92 - visitor
T Fraser-Holmes (Hunter NSW) 1:51.31
J Bailey (TSS Aquatics, QLD) 1:51.32
200m breaststroke
J Meyer (Traralgon, VIC) 2:16.33
N Schafer (River City, QLD) 2:16.58
I Sarno (Brothers, QLD) 2:19.78
Boys 18 & under 4x50m medley relay
Queensland 1:43.43 (M Ackerman, L Kerswell, J Carty, J Roberts)
New South Wales 1:43.78 (J Stock, K To, P Butcher, A Abood)
Western Australia 1:49.07 (J Sturgeon, A Taylor, M Ferguson, J Solciansky)
16 years
100m backstroke
M Ackermann (Warwick, QLD) 56.81
R Sanders (Noosa, QLD) 58.26
K To (Trinity Grammar School, NSW) 58.67
400m IM
M Donaldson (New Zealand) 4:26.42 - visitor
K To (Trinity Grammar School, NSW) 4:31.24
Z Dalby (East Brisbane, QLD) 4:32.76
L Little (Nunawading, VIC) 4:34.38
16 & under 4x100m freestyle relay
CA Tritons (VIC) 3:32.94 (J Alati, A Read, R Mak, R Harvey)
Blacktown City (NSW) 3:35.69 (N Grant, J Brouwer, B Sibir, M Fell)
SLC Aquadot (NSW) 3:36.22 (J Stack, K O'Brien, S Phillips, J Shea)
15 years
50m freestyleM Roberts (Novocastrian, NSW) 23.73
N Roughley (Castle Hill RSL Dolphins, NSW) 23.95
A Digby (TSS Aquatics, QLD) 24.22
400m freestyle
J Hadler (Commercial, QLD) 3:58.36
E Jackson (New Zealand) 3:59.00 - visitor
M Larkin (Brisbane Jets, QLD) 4:04.10
D Egan (Moonee Valley Aquatic, VIC) 4:06.33
100m breaststroke
B Sykes (Brothers, QLD) 1:05.44
C Swallow (Trinity Grammar School, NSW) 1:07.45
D Brown (Yamba Orcas, NSW) 1:09.19
14 years
100m freestyle
T Maxwell (MLC Marlins, NSW) 52.15
Z Featherstone (Southport Olympic, QLD) 53.62
N Veivers (TSS Aquatics, QLD) 53.69
200m butterfly
Z Featherstone (Southport Olympic, QLD) 2:04.87
H Morris (Woden, NSW) 2:07.38
C Jordan (Burnside SA) 2:09.21
14 & under 4x50m medley relay
Brothers (QLD) 1:54.94 (K Donaldson, J Gilliland, Z Whenuaroa, R Eugster)
Nunawading (VIC) 1:55.14 (N Groenwald, E Lim, S Whitten, T Currie)
Newmarket Racers (QLD) 1:57.46 (N Fitzgerald, B Judd, D Martin, B Fitzgerald)
13 years & under
800m freestyle
J Harrison (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) 8:52.12
J Pye (Grammar Sports, QLD) 8:53.27
T Williams (Noosa, QLD) 8:53.52
200m backstroke
R Leong (Townsville Marlins, QLD) 2:15.53
L McLeish (Yarra Plenty, VIC) 2:15.99
Y Tkachenko (Burnside, SA) 2:17.46
GIRLS
17/18 years
200m freestyleM Dingjan (Southside Wesley, WA) 1:58.58
E Gandy (Great Britain) 1:59.80 - visitor
B Evans (City of Perth, WA) 2:00.48
K Marquenie ( Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) 2:01.44
200m breaststroke
R Kemp (Mackay, QLD) 2:29.12
T Ritenberg (Starplex, SA) 2:33.47
A Gierke (Maroochydore, QLD) 2:33.75
Girls 18 & under State 4x50m medley relay
Queensland 1:52.70 (E Seebohm, L Pickett, T Warrener, C Campbell - Australian All-Comers Record
New South Wales 1:53.54 (B Hocking, S Marshall, Z Johnson, N Mee)
Western Australia 1:58.17 (K O'Connell, B Evans, G Leone, M Dingjan)
16 years
100m backstroke
C Sinclair (MLC Marlins, NSW) 1:03.55
A Scott (Albany Creek, QLD) 1:03.91
K Meertens (The Hills, NSW) 1:03.93
400m IM
E Fullerton (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) 4:43.72
K Goldman (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) 4:45.22
J Legge (Novocastrian, NSW) 4:52.72
16 & under
4x100m freestyle relay
Brothers (QLD) 3:51.82 (D Clydesdale, T Butkus, S Pullen, E Seebohm)
Pro-Ma Miami (QLD) 3:53.68 (K Goldman, G Epstein, B McDonald, E Fullerton)
St Peters Western (QLD) 3:53.73 (M Van Hunnik, R Pegg, N Treloar, M Mackay)
15 years
50m freestyle
T Warrener (Warwick, QLD) 25.87
C Vanlandeghem (Canada) 26.17 - visitor
T Wallace (Pelican Waters Caloundra, QLD) 26.37
Z Diamond (Liverpool, NSW) 26.62
400m freestyleJ Ashwood (SOPAC Swim Club, NSW) 4:16.89
A Gabor (Canada) 4:17.27 - visitor
A Tokai (Tigersharks, VIC) 4:19.13
J White (SLC Aquadot, NSW) 4:19.35
100m breaststroke
T Wallace (Pelican Waters Caloundra, QLD) 1:09.34
C Francis (New Zealand) 1:12.97 - visitor
Z Diamond (Liverpool, NSW) 1:13.03
M Sansby (Waterworx, QLD) 1:13.19
14 years
100m freestyle
B Elmslie (Noosa QLD) 56.16
E McKeon (Wests Illawarra Aquatic, NSW) 57.16
M Maselli-Sheridan (Commercial, QLD) 57.92
200m butterfly
M Maselli-Sheridan (Commercial, QLD) 2:14.51
K Hann (Redcliffe Leagues, QLD) 2:19.87
S Redman (Novocastrian, NSW) 2:20.10
14 & under 4x50m medley relay
St Peters Western (QLD) 2:00.51 (M Wilson, T David, M Groves, Y Kulka) - Australian All-Comers Record
Revesby Workers (NSW) 2:02.82 (M Short, A Steed, S Abbott, G Turnbull)
Wests Illawarra Aquatic (NSW) 2:03.83 (A Mastro, S Sinadinovic, E McKeon, K Eady)
13 years & under
800m freestyleB Macdonald (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) 9:00.11
E Seymour (Redcliffe Leagues, QLD) 9:04.87
L Neale (C.Y.M.S St Edmunds, QLD) 9:10.53
200m backstroke
H Baker (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) 2:21.51
M Timms (St Peters Western, QLD) 2:22.53
T Gilmour (Coolum Peregian, QLD) 2:25.76
CLUB POINT SCORE:
Pro-Ma Miami, QLD (801.5)
St Peters Western, QLD (733.5)
Nunawading, VIC (674)
Norwood, SA (473)
Brothers, QLD (472)