Aussie Champs: Thorpe Takes Hackett in 400 Free Opener

By Stephen J. Thomas

SYDNEY, March 22. THERE had been much expectation created in the build-up to this meet with the clash of the two giants of Australian men’s swimming in the 400 freestyle, Ian Thorpe the world record-holder, and Grant Hackett, the 2nd fastest all-time.

Thorpe took the race out fast, 0.12 under his world record pace at the 100-meter turn (52.90 to 53.02), with Hackett half a body length behind. Thorpe kept just 0.03 ahead of WR pace at the 200 (1:49.54 to 1:49.57) and but then dropped behind at the 300 (2:46.35 to 2:45.43).

Thorpe did not pull away in the final lap as has been his custom but sufficient to keep Hackett at his hip at the wall. Thorpe clocked 3:42.41 (the 9th fastest swim all-time) to Hackett’s 3:42.94 and now holds the nine fastest times over the distance, Hackett holding the tenth fastest. AIS-based Craig Stevens took third in a PR 3:47.99.

After the race Thorpe said: "I expect to swim my best every time I swim, so with me going out there and not swimming quite as fast, I'm disappointed with my time, but I'm in no way disappointed with my swim. I've done everything right in my preparation and in the race. so I don't see how I can be disappointed."

Italian Olympic silver medalist Massi Rosolino won the B-final in 3:50.02.

Elka Graham had an all-the-way win in the women’s 400 freestyle final, after taking the race out in a fast 2:04.07 the title-holder clocked 4:11.55 to hold off a determined finish from AIS-based Linda MacKenzie (4:12.16) and Sydneysider Belinda Wilson (4:13.70). Graham, 21, was only 0.08 outside her PR set in taking the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games last year.

Semi-finals:
Women’s 100 butterfly:

World champion Petria Thomas looks set to take her fourth consecutive national title in the 100 fly with a swift 58.72 (58.68 in the morning heat). Thomas, who due to pending surgery won’t be swimming at the world champs, easily qualified fastest for the final from 16-year-old Queenslander Jessica Schipper (1:00.38) and Lara Davenport (1:00.46).

Women’s 200 IM:

Title-holder Jenny Reilly was fastest qualifier in 2:16.19 from breaststroker specialist Leisel Jones (2:16.23), Brooke Hanson (2:16.74) and Alice Mills (2:16.93).

Men’s 50 butterfly:

Backstroke specialist Matt Welsh swam a PR 23.88 to upset world record-holder Geoff Huegill in the first semi-final to qualify fastest for the final, splashing half-a-second under his previous best and become the third fastest Aussie performer. Huegill qualified second, clocked 24.04, well outside his world best 23.44, with Adam Pine third in 24.34.

Men’s 100 breaststroke:

Local boy Jim Piper was fastest through to the final in 1:02.36 from Queenslander Mark Riley (1:02.75) and Victorian Brenton Rickard (1:02.77).

RESULTS

Men's 400 freestyle final:
1 THORPE, Ian
S.L.C. Aquadot
NSW, AUS
3:42.41

2 HACKETT, Grant
Miami SC Inc
QLD, AUS
3:42.94

3 STEVENS, Craig
S.L.C. Aquadot
NSW, AUS
3:47.99

4 PENFOLD, Stephen
Miami SC Inc
QLD, AUS
3:52.28

5 CRAM, Jason
S.L.C. Aquadot
NSW, AUS
3:57.25

6 NEDERPELT, Travis
City of Perth
WA, AUS
3:57.85

7 SKUDUTIS, Brent
Mackay SC Inc
QLD, AUS
4:01.04

8 COX, David
City of Perth
WA, AUS
4:02.57

Women's 400 freestyle final:
1 GRAHAM, Elka
Sydney University
NSW, AUS
4:11.55

2 MACKENZIE, Linda
Mackay SC Inc
QLD, AUS
4:12.16

3 WILSON, Belinda
Toongabbie SC Inc.
NSW, AUS
4:13.70

4 GITEAU, Kasey
Toongabbie SC Inc.
NSW, AUS
4:13.82

5 PATON, Sarah
Telopea ASC
NSW, AUS
4:16.43

6 PASCOE, Amanda
Campbelltown ASC Inc.
NSW, AUS
4:19.44

7 ABBOTT, Chloe
Toongabbie SC Inc.
NSW, AUS
4:22.84

8 SMITH, Tammie
Newman Churchlands
WA, AUS
4:24.75

Women's 100 butterfly qualifiers
1 THOMAS, Petria
Ginninderra SC
NSW, AUS
58.72

2 SCHIPPER, Jessicah
Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton SC Inc
QLD, AUS
1:00.38

3 DAVENPORT, Lara
Galston SC Inc.
NSW, AUS
1:00.46

4 GALVEZ, Felicity
Campbelltown ASC Inc.
NSW, AUS
1:00.56

5 LENTON, Lisbeth
Commercial SC Inc
QLD, AUS
1:00.62

6 COFFEE, Rachel
Carey Aquatic
VIC, AUS
1:00.72

7 WEBB, Jordana
Carey Aquatic
VIC, AUS
1:00.81

8 HOUGHTON, Melanie
Chandler SC Inc
QLD, AUS
1:01.08

Men's 50 butterfly qualifiers:
1 WELSH, Matt
Melbourne Vicentre
VIC, AUS
23.88

2 HUEGILL, Geoff
Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton SC Inc
QLD, AUS
24.04

3 PINE, Adam
Yeronga Park SC Inc
QLD, AUS
24.34

4 SHARP, Robert
City of Perth
WA, AUS
24.39

5 HAWKE, Brett
Sydney University
NSW, AUS
24.40

6 CARTER, David
Sydney University
NSW, AUS
24.66

7 PINI, Ryan

PNG
24.70

8 COHEN, Jason
Nunawading
VIC, AUS
24.71

Women's 200IM qualifiers:
1 REILLY, Jennifer
Victoria Park
WA, AUS
2:16.19

2 JONES, Leisel
Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton SC Inc
QLD, AUS
2:16.23

3 HANSON, Brooke
Nunawading
VIC, AUS
2:16.74

4 MILLS, Alice
Chandler SC Inc
QLD, AUS
2:16.93

5 ABBOTT, Jessica
Hurstville Aquatic SC Inc.
NSW, AUS
2:17.19

6 REESE, Shayne
Carey Aquatic
VIC, AUS
2:19.44

7 MORRISON, Kristy
Galston SC Inc.
NSW, AUS
2:19.97

8 CROSSINGHAM, Charnelle
Hunter SC Inc.
NSW, AUS
2:20.05

Men's 100 breaststroke qualifiers:
1 PIPER, Jim
Campbelltown ASC Inc.
NSW, AUS
1:02.36

2 RILEY, Mark
Commercial SC Inc
QLD, AUS
1:02.75

3 RICKARD, Brenton
Unattached
VIC, AUS
1:02.77

4 NORRIS, Justin
Hunter SC Inc.
NSW, AUS
1:02.82

5 HARRISON, Regan
Yeronga Park SC Inc
QLD, AUS
1:02.85

6 WOOLDRIDGE, Michael
Railways SC Inc
QLD, AUS
1:03.00

7
BEASLEY, James
Knox Pymble SC
NSW, AUS
1:03.16

8
COWLEY, Simon
S.L.C. Aquadot
NSW, AUS
1:03.62

7 ROGERS, Phil
Sydney University
NSW, AUS
1:03.84

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