Seebohm, Zimmer Put On Show With Tie In 100 Back at Australian Long Course Championships

By Jason Marsteller

BRISBANE, Australia, December 5. TAY Zimmer and Emily Seebohm put together an exciting finish for the spectators at the Chandler Aquatic Center by stopping the clock with identical 1:01:09s in the 100 back at the Australia Long Course Championships. Meanwhile, Matt Welsh secured his ninth 100 back Australia national title and his 51st overall, while Leisel Jones overcame a midway slip to still post a 1:05 time in the 100 breast.

Men's 200 Freestyle Finals
Kenrick Monk and Patrick Murphy battled throughout the entire race, until Monk poured on the steam in the final lap to take the title in a personal-best 1:48.66. Meanwhile, Murphy grabbed silver in 1:48.95. Grant Brits closed out the top three in 1:49.72. Notably, Grant Hackett withdrew from finals in the event.

"It would have been nice to see Grant swim but a lot of us had to step up and we did that," Monk said. "That's my first National title so I'm wrapped about it but there were eight guys in the field and it was anyone's race and someone had to step up and take the top position."

Women's 100 Backstroke Finals
In what is always an incredible outcome in a sport measured down to the hundreths of a second, Tay Zimmer and 14-year-old Emily Seebohm posted matching 1:01.09 times to both grab gold. Seebohm's effort lowered her own Australian National Age Group record previously set in semi-final action with a 1:01.63. Those types shattered her previous personal best of 1:03.66 coming into the meet. Sophie Edington wrapped up third place in 1:02.08.

"It's an amazing feeling and that's a really good time," Seebohm said. "My coach and I had been talking about making the team but I didn't think it would be so soon. I really didn't think I'd get there but this is awesome and I'm just trying to soak it all in."

Women's 1500 Freestyle Finals
Melissa Gorman cruised in with a gold-winning performance of 16:27.99 to easily outpace the field. Sarah Paton placed second in 16:55.77, while Morgaine Gilley finished third in 16:57.03.

Men's 100 Backstroke Finals
One day after becoming the top career Australian national title winner with 50 crowns, Matt Welsh kept piling on the laurels. This time, Welsh pocketed his ninth 100 back national title and 51st overall by winning in 54.80. He had to withstand a huge challenge from Hayden Stoeckel, who touched in 54.87 for silver. Ashley Delaney rounded out the top three in 55.24.

"Last night was great getting to 50 (titles) and winning a race is always good but I knew the pressure was on for tonight and last night was sort of irrelevant really," Welsh said. "Tonight's the one I wanted and the one I needed and event though it was a small margin I got it."

Women's 100 Breaststroke Finals
In what might have been a world-record swim if not for slipping off the wall at the halfway turn, Leisel Jones clocked the fourth time of 1:05 in the history of the event. She wound up clocking a 1:05.60 to win the race going away. Tarnee White took the runner-up spot in 1:07.84, while Sally Foster placed third in 1:08.54.

"It's a 1:05 and so I'm really happy with that – anything under 1:06 I'm happy with even though it was not the 1:04 I was after," Jones said. "But I had a shocking turn and probably rushed it a bit and for me it's probably a good learning curve that race, but I'm still happy with it.

"I slipped on the turn, when I put my hands on the wall and I tried to push off a bit harder and my hands just went to my feet so I probably lost a good point two (0.2 seconds), so I rushed it too much and it hurt more than it should have," Jones continued. "I learned a lot from that so it gives me a bit of a platform to build from and hopefully strive for better things and give me something to train for."

Men's 50 Breaststroke Semi-Finals
Brenton Rickard threw down a 28.23 for the top spot in the sprint breast finals. That time nearly caught the 28.22 he posted to win the national title on Feb. 2, 2006 last season. Rene Paccagnan posted the second-quickest time of 28.63, while Kieran O'Regan notched the third-fastest clocking of 29.15.

Women's 200 Freestyle Semi-Finals
Bronte Barratt had no worries in the 200 free semi-finals when she strolled in with a 1:58.73 to win by nearly a second. Lara Davenport earned the second qualifying spot in 1:59.47, while Stephanie Rice placed third in 1:59.99.

Men's 200 Butterfly Semi-Finals
Travis Nederpelt dominated the 200 fly semi-finals with a 1:58.35 clocking. Meanwhile, Nick D'Arcy took second in 1:59.44, while Joshua Krogh placed third in 1:59.83.

Multi-Disability Events
Christine Noble won the women's 50 fly in 34.14, while Damien Narbeshuber finished first in the men's 50 fly in 28.62. Additionally, Alex Hadley conquered the men's 400 free in 5:10.57.

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