Australian Short Course Championships: Ellen Fullerton Wipes Out Stephanie Rice National Record

MELBOURNE, Australia, September 20. YOUNGSTER Ellen Fullerton, 15, continued to impress as one of the future stars for the Aussies. Today, she clipped Stephanie Rice's national record in the Australian Short Course Championships.

Fullerton completed the women's 400 IM with a national record of 4:32.02. That swim erased Rice's record of 4:32.48 set just last August. It could be scary for the rest of the IMers in the world if Fullerton follows the same progression as Rice. Rice is coming off a pair of IM gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games and is the reigning world-record holder in both the 200 and 400 IMs.

"My goal was to just swim as fast as I could and I can't believe I have just broken the Australian record," Fullerton told Swimming Australia. "Stephanie has been a huge inspiration to me over the last year and I can't explain how it feels to have her old record. I saw the record in the program but didn't expect to be anywhere near it."

Amy Levings finished a distant second in 4:40.35, while Jackie Staples took third in 4:43.21.

Kyle Richardson topped the men's 200 free with a time of 1:44.90. He touched out Ryan Napoleon, who finished second in 1:45.01. Robert Hurley placed just behind with a third-place 1:45.07.

Amy Smith followed with a dominant victory in the women's 200 fly. She clocked a time of 2:06.31, beating Staples (2:09.59) by more than three seconds. Jessica Ash rounded out the podium in 2:10.45.

In relays, Lloyd Townsing, Justin Griggs, Ryan Nolan and Cameron Prosser won the men's 400 free relay in 3:16.89. Fran Adcock, Leah Cutting, Tiffany Papaemanouil and Ash won the women's 800 free relay in 8:03.50.

In multi-disability events, Madelein Scott topped the women's 10 & over 50 breast in 41.43. Meanwhile, Grant Patterson earned the top finish in the men's 10 & over 50 breast in 1:06.30.

In the women's 50 breast semifinal, Sarah Katsoulis led the way with a time of 30.98. Jade Edmistone qualified second in 31.07, while Samantha Marshall took third in 31.35.

In the men's 100 back semis, Hurley paced the field with a time of 52.65. Hayden Stoeckel finished just behind in 52.85 with Daniel Arnamnart taking third in 53.34.

Christian Sprenger topped the men's 100 breast semifinal round with a time of 59.07. Craig Calder placed second in 1:01.05, while Karl Wurzer touched third in 1:01.39.

Grace Loh led the women's 100 back semis with a time of 59.29, while Bridget Taylor took second in 1:00.19. Amy Cockerton finished third in 1:00.34.

In the men's 100 fly semis, Matt Jaukovic earned the top seed in 50.83 with Chris Wright taking second in 51.98. Jayden Hadler placed third in 52.57.

Ellen Fullerton breaks Stephanie Rice's Australian record.

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