RELAXED HOCKING IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MEDAL HUNT
Sydney, April 17: A relaxed Olympic backstroker Belinda Hocking (Albury, NSW) showed why she will be in the medal hunt at this year's FINA World Championships in Rome after a world class performance on night five of the 2009 Australian Age Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre tonight. Brooke Hanson Clarke reports....
Hocking joined the growing list of record-breakers when she smashed her own 18 years Australian and Australian All-comers records in the 17-18 years 200m girls backstroke, clocking a time of 2:08.45.
It was not only a personal best for Hocking but also the fourth fastest time in the world this year and only 0.36 outside Meagen Nay's Australian open record of 2:08.09 swum in last year's Beijing Olympic final.
The AIS-based Hocking also swam 0.35seconds faster than her own Olympic final swim and is now looking forward to continuing her improvement before the Telstra Dolphins take on the world in Rome this July.
"I've been sitting on 2.08 ‘high' for such a long time so to go a personal best tonight was just great," Hocking said after her record breaking swim.
"It's fantastic to swim faster here than what I did at trials, there is less pressure and I was able to go out tonight relax and have some fun.
"I'm looking forward to racing in Rome and gaining more international experience. I have been working on relaxing more and not trying too hard and that's what I will be focusing on in the lead up to the 2012 London Olympics."
Those ahead of her in the 2009 world rankings are Olympic champion and world record holder Kirsty Coventry (2:07.59), China's Zhao Jing (2:07.87) and Italy's Alessio Fillipi (2:08.44).
In comparison Olympic champion and world record holder Kirsty Coventry, the US-based Zimbabwean, won the 200 metres backstroke at this week's South African Nationals in an un-pushed 2:08.32.
It was a similar story for Hocking, who led all the way to win her second gold of the meet ahead of silver medallist Tiffany Papaemanouil (Norwood, SA) 2.15.04 who has now won one gold, one silver and three bronze medal with Alexandra Woodlock (Haileybury Waterlions, VIC) 2.16.37 claiming the bronze.
The only other record of the night came in the 14 years State 4x50m freestyle relay, when Te Haumi Maxwell (MLC Marlins, NSW) led off for the NSW team and broke his own Australian and Australian All-Comer14 years 50m freestyle record, stopping the clock at 23.46.
FULLERON'S FOURTH GOLD
Meanwhile, FINA World championship representative Ellen Fullerton recorded an impressive personal best of 2:13.92 to win her fourth gold medal in the 16 years girls 200m individual medley - maintaining her place as the eighth fastest all-time Australian.
Her Pro-Ma Miami team mate Katie Goldman 2.19.94 won her third silver of the championships with the bronze medal going to Australian Youth Olympic Festival champion Jessica Legge (Novocastrian, NSW) 2.18.61.
Another World Championship rookie Blair Evans won the 17-18 years girls 800m freestyle in 8:41.62 ahead of Gold Coast pair Kelly Marquenie (Pro-Ma Miami) 8:49.12 and Melanie Garibaldi (Southport Olympic, QLD) 8:50.03.
Olympic backstroker Emily Seebohm (Brothers, QLD) 59.72 won the 16-years girls 100m butterfly ahead of Zoe Johnson (Sydney Swim PLC, NSW) 1.01.60 and Megan Mackay (St Peters Western, QLD) 1.01.79.
Unlike her Olympic team mate Hocking, Seebohm has decided not to swim any backstroke races at this meet and is enjoying racing different strokes.
"It's great to come to Age Nationals and catch up with all the girls in my age group, I'm looking forward to taking a week off after this meet before I get back into training for Worlds," said Seebohm.
YOLANE'S FLYING 50 FREE
In another eye-catching swim, St Peters Western's 13-year-old rising star Yolane Kukla(St Peters Western QLD), clocked a classy 25.43 to street the field in the 50 metres freestyle, taking her impressive tally to four gold after last night's 13 years Australian record time of 55.26 in the 100m freestyle.
The Year Nine student was just 0.08 outside of her own Australian record with Western Australian Brianna Throssell (Kalamunda) 26.69 winning the silver medal ahead of Freshwater's under 15 Australian surf race champion Georgia Miller of Warringah Aquatic, NSW (26.80).
MIKKAYLA'S GOLD MEDAL HAUL NOW EIGHT
Mikkayla Maselli-Sheridan (Commercial, QLD) took her gold medal tally to eight with two more impressive wins in the 14 years age group.
Her seventh gold medal of the 2009 Australian Age Championships came in the 100m backstroke in a time of 1.03.66. The silver medal was won by Madison Wilson (St Peters Western, QLD) 1.04.91 with Samantha Wilkins (Haileybury Waterlions, VIC) 1.05.37 bronze.
Maselli-Sheridan (4.54.84) then went one better than her results from last year, winning her eighth gold of the championships in the gruelling 400m individual medley.
She beat her nearest rival by ten seconds and looks on target to win an amazing ninth gold in the 200m freestyle tomorrow night.
Her medal tally now stands at eight gold and one bronze with one race to go.
"It's been a good week and I'm really happy with the way I am swimming I surprised myself winning seven gold last year so to win eight gold medals is great"
"I don't have a favourite race but I am looking forward to swimming my tenth final tomorrow tonight," said Maselli Sheridan after her eighth win.
Second place behind Maselli-Sheridan was Natalie Roberts (Maribyrnong, VIC) 5.04.45 with Michelle Short (Revesby Workers, NSW) 5.05.93 third.
SIXTH GOLD TO TOWNSVILLE'S REGAN LEONG
Regan Leong (Townsville Marlins, QLD) 24.90 won his sixth gold of the championships in the 13 years & under boys 50m freestyle. Leong beat Alex Press (TSS Aquatics, QLD) 25.03 silver and Alex Williams (Gladstone, QLD) 25.51 bronze.
Fourteen-year-old Matthew Jepson (Sea Eagles, NSW) 4.43.29 took eight seconds off his personal best to win the 400m individual medley and was one of five medallists in the event.
New Zealand visitors Dylan Garrod (4:45.97) and Matthew Hutchins (4.47.49) finished second and third with Australia's second and third placegetters going to William Smith (Victoria Park, WA) 4:50.09 and Ben Schreiner (Mornington, VIC) 4:50.47.
Tessa Wallace (Pelican Waters Caloundra QLD) went for a 100m time in the final of the 15 years girls 200m breaststroke splitting 1.09.08 at the 100m mark, Wallace held on the next two laps to win in a time of 2.32.81.
Wallace won her second gold medal of the week beating Zoe Diamond (Liverpool, NSW) 2.35.43 and Chloe Francis New Zealand 2.37.73 and third Australian Montana Sansby (Waterworx, QLD) 2.38.64.
KENNETH'S TO HOLD ON FIVE GOLD
In the 16 years boys 100m butterfly James Argiro (Nunawading, VIC) 55.27 won this second gold medal of the meet ahead of Christopher Fedrick 55.64 with Kenneth To (Trinity Grammar School, NSW) 56.22 in third.
To then backed up to win the 16 years boys 200m individual medley in 2.03.78 taking his medal tally of five gold, one silver and two bronze.
Jayden Hadler (Commercial, QLD) 1.52.55 the won his fourth gold medal in the 15years boys 200m freestyle defeating Daniel Egan (Moonee Valley Aquatic) 1.54.54 and Samuel Parker (Hunter, NSW) 1.54.87.
Junior Pan Pac team member Declan Potts (Norwood, SA) took out the boys 17-18 years 1500m freestyle in a time of 15:41.51 ahead of Jarrod Killey (Hunter, NSW) 15:49.23 who just touched out bronze medallist Christopher Ashwood (SOPAC Swim Club, NSW) 15:49.90.
Other winners on night four finals include: Tess David (St Peters Western, QLD) 1.13.19 13 years & under girls 100m breaststroke, Leah Neale (C.Y.M.S St Edmonds, QLD) 4:22.16 13 & under girls 400m freestyle, Jack Pye (Grammar Sports, QLD), 4:16.30, Corey Main New Zealand 59.69 and first Australian Adam Nettlefold (Firbank Aquastars, VIC) 1.00.01 14 years boys 100m backstroke, Alexandra Gabor of Canada 2.01.52 and first Australian Aleysha Tokai (Tigersharks, VIC) 2.02.50 15 years girls 200m freestyle, Buster Sykes (Brothers, QLD) 2.20.33 15 years boys 200m breaststroke, Atawhai Veitch a visitor representing (Nepean, NSW) 1.10.15 and first Australian Jared O'Hanlon (Rocky City, QLD) 1.10.72 13 years & under boys 100m breaststroke.
With one night remaining, Gold Coast club Pro-Ma Miami, QLD lead the National club pointscore 1,236.5 from St Peters Western, QLD (1,197) and Nunawading, VIC (990.5).
CLUB POINT SCORE
Pro-Ma Miami, QLD (1236.5)
St Peters Western, QLD (1197)
Nunawading, VIC (990.5)
Norwood, SA (892.5)
Brothers, QLD (742)
2009 Australian Age Championships - Day 5 Medal Winners
BOYS
17/18 years
1500m freestyle
D Potts (Norwood, SA) 15:41.51
J Killey (Hunter, NSW) 15:49.23
C Ashwood (SOPAC Swim Club, NSW) 15:49.90
200m backstroke
B Camm (Redlands, QLD) 2:02.25
R Pavoni (Great Britain) 2:03.09 - visitor
A Kelshaw (Blacktown City, NSW) 2:03.67
B Edmunds (Norwood, SA) 2:04.27
18 years & under 4x50m freestyle state relay
Queensland 1:33.49 (J Roberts, L Kerswell, J James, J Sweeney)
Victoria 1:34.29 (J Alati, M Pryor, A Read, K Johns)
Western Australia 1:35.40 (J Solciansky, H Rose, J Smith-Wright, P Homey)
16 years
100m butterfly
J Argiro (Nunawading, VIC) 55.27
C Fedrik (Jindalee, QLD) 55.64
K To (Trinity Grammar School, NSW) 56.22
200m IM
K To (Trinity Grammar School, NSW) 2:03.78
M Donaldson (New Zealand) 2:06.56
C Watson (Tigersharks, VIC) 2:07.86
J James (Mackay, QLD) 2:08.01
15 years
200m freestyle
J Hadler (Commercial, QLD) 1:52.55
D Egan (Moonee Valley Aquatic, VIC) 1:54.54
S Parker (Hunter, NSW) 1:54.87
200m breaststroke
B Sykes (Brothers, QLD) 2:20.33
B Micallef (Blacktown City, NSW) 2:27.70
B Lindsay (City of Perth, WA) 2:29.71
14 years
100m backstroke
C Main (New Zealand) 59.69 - visitor
A Nettlefold (Firbank Aquastars, VIC) 1:00.01
T Maxwell (MLC Marlins, NSW) 1:00.44
Z Whenuaroa (Brothers, QLD) 1:00.59
400m IM
M Jepson (Sea Eagles, NSW) 4:43.29
D Garrod (New Zealand) 4:45.97 - visitor
M Hutchings (New Zealand) 4:47.49 - visitor
W Smith (Victoria Park, WA) 4:50.09
B Schreiner (Mornington, VIC) 5:50.47
14 years & under 4x50m freestyle state relay
Queensland 1:37.41 (Z Featherstone, R Leong, A Press, Z Whenuaroa)
New South Wales 1:37.54 (T Maxwell, T Cottam, I Carey, E Long)
Western Australia 1:42.16 (L Bremer, L Hughes, M Sankey, N Hutt)
13 years & under
50m freestyle
R Leong (Townsville Marlins, QLD) 24.90
A Press (TSS Aquatics, QLD) 25.03
A Williams (Gladstone, QLD) 25.51
400m freestyle
J Pye (Grammar Sports, QLD) 4:16.30
J Harrison (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) 4:16.55
T Williams (Noosa QLD) 4:17.64
100m breaststroke
A Veitch (Nepean, NSW) 1:10.15 - visitor
J O'Hanlon (Rocky City, QLD) 1:10.72
M Muggeridge (Gullivers Coomera, QLD) 1:11.33
A Williams (Gladstone, QLD) 1:12.70
GIRLS
17/18 years
200m backstroke
B Hocking (Albury, NSW) 2:08.45 (Australian/Australian All-comers record)
T Papaemanouil (Norwood, SA) 2:15.04
A Woodlock (Haileybury Waterlions, VIC) 2:16.37
800m freestyle
B Evans (City of Perth, WA) 8:41.62
K Marquenie (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) 8:49.12
M Garibaldi (Southport Olympic, QLD) 8:50.03
18 years & under 4x50m freestyle state relay
Queensland 1:43.15 (C Campbell, M Durso, T Wallace, E Seebohm)
Western Australia 1:45.40 (O Vorster, M Ray, B Evans, M Dingjan)
New South Wales 1:46.27 (Z Diamond, K Schnyder, S Cater, N Mee)
16 years
100m butterfly
E Seebohm (Brothers, QLD) 59.72
Z Johnson (Sydney Swim PLC, NSW) 1:01.60
M Van Hunnik (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:01.79
200m IM
E Fullerton (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) 2:13.92
K Goldman (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) 2:17.92
J Legge (Novocastrian, NSW) 2:18.61
15 years
200m freestyle
A Gabor (Canada) 2:01.52 - visitor
A Tokai (Tigersharks, VIC) 2:02.50
J Ashwood (SOPAC Swim Club, NSW) 2:02.54
Z Diamond (Liverpool, NSW) 2:03.72
200m breaststroke
T Wallace (Pelican Waters Caloundra, QLD) 2:32.81
Z Diamond (Liverpool, NSW) 2:35.43 - visitor
C Francis (New Zealand) 2:37.73
M Sansby (Waterworx, QLD) 2:38.64
14 years
100m back
M Maselli-Sheridan (Commercial, QLD) 1:03.66
M Wilson (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:04.91
S Wilkins (Haileybury Waterlions, VIC) 1:05.37
400m IM
M Maselli-Sheridan (Commercial, QLD) 4:54.84
N Roberts (Maribyrnong, VIC) 5:04.45
M Short (Revesby Workers, NSW) 4:05.93
14 years & under 4x50m freestyle state relay
Queensland 1:45.17 (B Campbell, A Purcell, B Elmslie, Y Kulka)
New South Wales 1:46.97 (G Miller, C Taylor, K Heal, E McKeon)
Western Australia 1:49.25 (A Hart, A Schultz, O Benoit-Spargo, B Throssell)
13 years & under
50m freestyle
Y Kulka (St Peters Western, QLD) 25.43
B Throssell (Kalamunda, WA) 26.69
G Miller (Warringah Aquatic, NSW) 26.80
400m freestyle
L Neale (C.Y.M.S St Edmunds, QLD) 4:22.16
B Macdonald (Pro-Ma Miami, QLD) 4:22.23
M Groves (St Peters Western, QLD) 4:23.04
100m breaststroke
T David (St Peters Western, QLD) 1:13.19
M Middleton (Aquaburn, NSW) 1:13.89
S Roberts (Blue Fin Aquarius, VIC) 1:15.93
Full results of Day 5 finals can be found in the results section of the Swimming Australia website at www.swimming.org.au