Aussie Age Championships, Day Two: Accidental Fly Star, Rice Sets Age Group Record

PERTH, W. Australia, April 15. COMMERCIAL 15-year-old, Stephanie Rice kick started the Fisher and Paykel Australian Age day two finals with a sensational performance in the women’s 100 meter butterfly final with the Queenslander setting a new Australian Age record in the event in a time of 1:00.32.

Rice added her second gold of the meet in as many days to take 0.48 of a second off the previous record held by Athens Olympian, Jessicah Schipper set only last year, that would have witnessed her finish fifth in the final of the Australian Championships under a fortnight ago.

“It was really good to do a personal best by about one and half seconds, I went out pretty fast tonight and that was my plan going into the race,” said Rice.

“I’m not really a 100 fly swimmer so I thought I’d give it a real go from the start and rely on my fitness to get me home,”

“I’m really excited with breaking the Australian Age record. I was aiming to do a time that would get me into the Queensland target squad and I did that so to get the record as well is pretty special”

The 15-years men’s 100 meters butterfly was a tight affair taken out by Newcastle teen Nic Donald who grabbed his second gold of the meet in a time of 56.79 marginally ahead of Alexander Ross (56.91) of Cranbrook Eastern Edge with Stephen Parkes (57.16) of SLC Aquadot rounding out the podium placegetters.

Twin Towns 14-year-old, Sarah Marson caused an upset in the 100 meter breaststroke event stopping the clock in 1:15.02 to touch out Nunawading’s, Kimberley Chanter (1:16.29). In the men’s 14-years event it was Sam Hourigan of Knox Pymble that proved too quick for the field to take the win in a time of 1:07.93.

The 17 – 18 years women’s and men’s 200 meters backstroke were both very tightly contested event with South Australian, Karina Leane (2:16.46) just tipping out Marieke Guehrer (2:16.53) while in the men’s event it was the continued rematch between Western Australian, Michael Jackson and Queenslander, Leith Brodie that proved a highlight.

Jackson swum brilliantly from the front take his third consecutive win in a personal best performance of 2:01.36 ahead of Brodie (2:02.90) with Toongabbie 17-year-old, Glenn Piper taking bronze in 2:04.97.

It was again the power of Brisbane 15-year-old, Bronte Barratt (26.36) who proved too strong to take out the women’s 15-years 50 meters freestyle. In a thrilling finish on the wall Barratt just touched out Macquarie Fields, Olivia Halicek (26.49) and Siobhan Keane of Commercial (26.70).

The men’s 15 – years event was taken out by Great Britain visitor, Martin Handley in 24.23 with the first Australian to touch being Brisbane’s, Dirk van Velden in 24.49.

More winners on the Day two finals session include:

Women’s 14 years 200 meters butterfly Kylie Palmer Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton, QLD 2:17.43

Men’s 14 years 200 meters butterfly Garth Kates West Coast, WA 2:07.97

Women’s 13/U 200 meters freestyle Elizabeth Simmonds (V) Great Britain 2:07.20

Kate Brennan Coffs Harbour, NSW 2:07.75

Men’s 13/U 200 meters freestyle Nick Johnston Fairymead, QLD 2:01.66

Women’s 16 years 200 meters backstroke Gemma Spofforth (V) Great Britain 2:15.14
Zoe Tonks Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton, QLD 2:17.43

Men’s 16 years 200 meters backstroke Grant Brits Toongabbie NSW 2:04.30

Women’s 13/U 200 meters breaststroke Nicola Sleight Kiama, NSW 2:38.94

Men’s 13/U 200 meters breaststroke Ian Sarno MLC Marlins, NSW 2:28.84

–Courtesy, Australian Swimming

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