Australian Short Course Championships: Bobby Hurley Takes Run At Aussie Record

PERTH, Australia, September 13. AN Aussie record had a bit of a scare on the second night of swimming at the Australian Short Course Championships held in Perth.

FINALS
Bobby Hurley threatened the Australian record in the men's 100 back with a scorching time of 50.98. That swim just missed Ashley Delaney's Aussie standard of 50.18 from 2009, and Thomas Rupprath's 2002 All Comers mark of 50.58. Hurley would have placed sixth in the world last year with his effort tonight. Hurley's lifetime best of 50.19 occurred during a FINA World Cup stop in Stockholm in 2010. Delaney, meanwhile, placed second tonight in 51.27, while Ben Edmonds claimed third in 52.30.

Travis Mahoney kicked off finals for the night with a dominant time of 4:09.07 in the men's 400 IM. He far surpassed the time Leith Brodie used to win the event in 2011 with a 4:14.03. Jared Gilliland touched second tonight in 4:13.76, while David Morgan earned third-place honors in 4:15.81.

Sarah Katsoulis clinched the women's 50 breast title in 30.68 after turning in a 30.56 during semis. Lorna Tonks placed second in 30.90, while Samantha Marshall picked up third place with a 31.15. Grace Loh edged Rachel Goh, 57.52 to 57.92, in the women's 100 back finale as both bettered the 57.99 used by Goh to win the title in 2011. Hayley Baker snagged third with a 58.97.

Christian Sprenger cruised to victory in the men's 100 breast with a 58.70, just off the time Brenton Rickard (58.62) used to win the title in 2011. Jeremy Meyers finished second tonight in 59.65, while Nikolas Pregelj pocketed third in 59.83.

Kenneth To turned in a 50.54 to win the men's 100 fly, well under the 51.30 posted by Christopher Wright to win the title in 2011. Grant Irvine finished a distant second in 51.63, while Joseph Carty took third in 51.69. Wright wound up off the podium with a fourth-place 51.79.

Laura Crockart topped the women's 800 free in 8:21.93, while Alanna Bowles claimed second in 8:30.57 at just 14 years of age. Kareena Lee posted an 8:33.11 to win bronze in the distance free event.

Jared Gilliland, Jamie Sturgeon, Andrew Kenney and Buster Sykes completed a 7:17.49 in the men's 800 free relay to secure victory in the event.

Madeline Scott was listed first in the women's 50 fly multi-class finale with a 32.30, while Patrick Donachie was listed first in the men's 50 fly multi-class with a 28.80. Teneale Houghton was listed first in the women's 200 IM multi-class with a 2:34.29. Donachie then doubled up as he was listed first in the 200 IM with a 2:27.04.

SEMIFINALS
Marieke Guehrer raced to the top seed in the women's 100 free with a 53.68, while Angie Bainbridge took second in 53.75. Kotuku Ngawati tied Brittany Elmslie for third with matching 54.00s. Elmslie returned in the women's 50 fly with a 26.81 for the top seed, while 14-year-old youngster Lucia Lassman qualified second in 26.82. Jemma Schlicht, 15, and Chris Licciard, 16, tied for third with matching 26.96s.

Ngawati returned in the women's 100 IM with the top-seeded time of 1:00.59. Aisling Scott (1:01.06) and Samantha Wilkins (1:01.26) placed second and third in qualifying.

Matthew Abood earned the top seed in the men's 50 free with a 21.48, while Cameron McEvoy raced to second in 21.77. Andrew Abood (21.88) and Tommaso D'Orsogna (21.94) qualified third and fourth.

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