New South Wales State Open: Day One Finals

SYDNEY, Australia, February 15. THE Swimming New South Wales State Open Championships commenced in Sydney, Australia with some strong swims during the initial day of long course competition.

Men's 400 freestyle
With eyes on adding another Olympic gold medal to his mantel at the 2008 Beijing Games, Grant Hackett popped a remarkable time of 3:45.24 to win the middle distance event. Hackett's time stands behind only China's Zhang Lin this year, who clocked a 3:45.04 at the Good Luck Beijing China Open. The performance also stands as Hackett's best effort since winning the 400 free world title with a 3:42.91 in 2005.

"I'm absolutely thrilled — it's my fastest time in three years," Hackett told The Age. "You know how hard I've been working this week, and it felt like I have even more, to be honest. I was surprised I swam that quick. It feels like my old self again. It takes a long time (to recover) after shoulder surgery. I had no idea it would be such a process. It's certainly nice to be feeling like my old self again and to feel so comfortable — that's the best thing about it. If someone was beside me I know I could knock another second off that, the way I'm feeling tonight."

Robert Hurley claimed second-place honors in the event with a 3:49.55, while Craig Stevens took third in 3:51.91. Hurley's effort is among the top five in the world this year, while Stevens' is within the top 10.

Women's 50 butterfly
Sophie Edington notched the third-fastest time in the world this year as she touched out Jessicah Schipper, 26.94 to 26.96, to capture the sprint fly crown. Those times stand only behind Fran Halsall's 26.83 and Felicity Galvez's 26.90 this year. Galvez, meanwhile, placed third in 27.02.

Men's 200 butterfly
Nick D'Arcy came through with a strong time this year, the third-best thus far, with a winning effort of 1:57.29. The only two quicker times this year came from Pawel Korzeniowski (1:56.06) and Ioannis Drymonakos (1:56.86).

Travis Nederpelt touched second in 1:58.71, while Joshua Krogh finished third in 1:59.10. Both times are among the top 10 in the world this year.

Women's 100 breaststroke
Tarnee White might be the key to Leisel Jones establishing a dominant run in the breaststroke heading into Beijing. Jones has been so far ahead of the pack in the women's breaststroke events, that she has almost always been competing against herself and the clock.

Not so much lately, as White has been pushing Jones over the course of the past few months in head-to-head battles – even winning a handful of the battles. Jones had to gut out a 1:06.32 to 1:06.42 triumph over White in the 100 breast event. That upped the ante for Jones, as it clipped the fastest time in the world this year of 1:06.49 set at the Victorian Championships in January by Jones. White chopped nearly a second from her best time this year of 1:07.32 set during the same meet.

Sarah Katsoulis wound up taking third in 1:08.82 in the race, just off her season-best effort of a 1:08.76 from the Vic Champs as well.

Men's 50 breaststroke
Brenton Rickard surfaced triumphant in the sprint breast event with a top time of 28.75, which is among the top 10 times in the word this year. James Stacey claimed second by a fingernail, 29.50 to 29.51, over Luke Trickett. Jim Piper wound up with the hard-luck fourth in 29.53.

Women's 100 freestyle
Alice Mills lodged the fourth-swiftest time in the world this year with a 54.80 readout. That time stands behind only Britta Steffen (54.28), Fran Halsall (54.53) and Natalie Coughlin (54.61), and also shaved some time from Mills' previous season-best time of 55.10 set at the Vic Champs.

Angie Bainbridge collected second-place honors in 55.92, while Shayne Reese took third in 55.96.

Men's 100 freestyle
Eamon Sullivan posted the fastest time in the world this year by far with a 48.28 to dominate the field in the two-lap freestyle. Sullivan's effort far surpassed the 48.88 set by Alain Bernard in the French Cup last month.

Matt Targett, redshirting from Auburn this year as he trains to make the Australian Olympic roster, grabbed second place with a time of 48.94, which ties him with Stefan Nystrand for third-fastest this year.

Andrew Lauterstein picked up third place with a time of 49.13.

Women's 400 IM
Another top time in the world went up on the scoreboard in the women's 400 IM as Stephanie Rice ripped off a 4:38.55 to crush the previous best time in the world this year of 4:40.52 set by Hannah Miley in the French Cup in January. The performance also came within a second-and-a-half of Rice's own Australian record of 4:37.18 set in last August.

Samantha Hamill, 16, had the best vantage point in the house with a second-place time of 4:44.23, which still puts her among the top five in the world thus far this year, while 15-year-old Ellen Fullerton snagged third with a 4:46.86.

Women's 200 backstroke
Belinda Hocking, 17, hit the wall first in 2:12.00 to win the women's 200 back, just off her best time this year of a 2:11.89, while Japanese youngster Yuka Kawayoke, 14, touched out Melissa Ingram, 2:12.63 to 2:12.79, to grab second-place honors.

Men's 50 backstroke
Ashley Delaney earned first place in the men's sprint back event with a time of 25.51, currently the third best in the world this year, while Hayden Stoeckel pocketed second place with a time of 25.93 – a top five time in the world. Robert Hurley and Daniel Arnamnart deadheated for third with matching times of 26.02.

Women's 800 freestyle
Kylie Palmer, 17, went off in the women's distance event with a top time of 8:28.26, which clipped Kate Ziegler's effort of 8:28.66 as the best time in the world thus far this year. Albany Creek teammate Bronte Barratt finished second in 8:34.36, a top five time, while Melissa Gorman placed third in 8:35.28.

Relays
The Japanese team of Sayaka Akase, Maya Hamano, Mayuko Okada and Satomi Suzuki won the women's 400 medley relay in 4:16.38, while the West Coast squad of Bobby Jovanovich, Jim Piper, Garth Kates and Eamon Sullivan touched first in the men's 400 medley relay with a 3:43.85.

Multi-Disability Events
Matthew Cowdrey won the men's 50 free in 26.02, while Sian Lucas snared the women's 50 free title in 31.61.

Click here to view event results PDF file.

Full text of The Age article.

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