Australian Short Course Champs, Day 4: Brooke Hanson Impresses with Wins in the 100 Breaststroke and 200 IM. Brenton Rickard Lowers Aussie Record for the 50 Breast.

By Stephen J. Thomas

BRISBANE, Australia. September 28. OLYMPIC 100m breaststroke silver medalist Brooke Hanson put in a powerful back half to edge out the new world record-holder for 50 meter, Jade Edmistone, in a fast 1:05.48 to 1:05.69. Sarah Katsoulis was just 0.02 of a second back in third behind Edmistone in 1:05.71. Including the absent Leisel Jones, the Aussies now have considerable strength in this event with four current swimmers among the top all-time performers.

The World All-Time Top Ten now looks like this:

1. Tara Kirk (USA) 1:04.79 (WR)
2. Leisel Jones (AUS) 1:05.09
3. Emma Igelstrom (SWE) 1:05.11
4. Penny Heyns (RSA) 1:05.40
5. Brooke Hanson (AUS) 1:05.45
6. Jade Edmistone (AUS) 1:05.69
7. Samantha Riley (AUS) 1:05.70
8. Sarah Katsoulis (AUS) 1:05.71
9. Kristy Kowal (USA) 1:05.74
10. Luo Xuejuan (CHN) 1:05.78

Hanson backed up to add the 200m individual medley to her impressive meet, clocking 2:10.29 (outside her NR 2:09.93), just holding off Olympic team-mate Lara Carroll PR 2:10.64 – fourth all-time Aussie performer.

Victorian breaststroke specialist Brenton Rickard lowered his own national record in the 50 meters by 0.08 of a second in the semifinals, touching in 27.09. Rickard also holds the NR in the 100m, which he won earlier in the meet.

Joshua Taylor swam an impressive PR to win the 50m fly in 23.08, edging out the title-holder Matt Welsh 23.17. The time by the 20-year-old Taylor edged past the great Michael Klim, placing him third all-time Aussie performer. Geoff Huegill holds the current world record at 22.74 set in Berlin in January 2002.

Dual Olympian Matt Welsh easily took the 50m backstroke in 24.47, well outside his NR 23.31. It was the sixth consecutive title in this event for the 27-year-old Victorian and former world record-holder.

Tayliah Zimmer looks on course to take the dorsal treble in the women’s events, as she clocked 27.86 in the semifinals of the 50 meters, while Leith Brodie went a swift 54.69 to be fastest qualifier for the men’s 100m individual medley.

Libby Lenton was the fastest qualifier for the final tomorrow night in both the 100m butterfly (58.77) and 50m freestyle (24.86).

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