Sullivan and Carroll Headline Performances at West Aussie Open Championships

By Stephen J. Thomas

PERTH, Australia, January 10. RISING Aussie sprint star Eamon Sullivan reinforced his claim as a serious contender for selection to the Commonwealth and Pan Pacific Games teams in the 50 and 100 freestyle, and even an outside chance in the 50 fly with a strong showing at the West Australian Open Championships held January 3-6.

The 20-year-old Athens Olympian set three new West Australian Resident records in the three events, highlighted by a PR 49.60 in taking the 100 freestyle title. It was his second time under the 50-second mark in just a couple of weeks, having already taken the NSW Open title in 49.74 ahead of former world record-holder Michael Klim before Christmas.

The 28-year-old Klim clocked 49.67 in a semi-final at the Victorian Open on the weekend so the young Perth-born speedster has his head in front at the moment with only three weeks until the National Champs where the important business will take place. One other name worth a mention that has also qualified in a club meet for the two-lap sprint is the “lightly raced” Ian Thorpe. Thorpe’s last public race over the distance was his Olympic bronze medal winning 48.56 in Athens.

Sullivans’ other two wins were in the 50 free, winning in 22.66 after "missing" the start and a PR 24.35 in the 50 fly.

His Athens teammate Lara Carroll performed very well in a heavy program highlighted by a new WA Residential record of 2:14.89 in the 200 individual medley, an event in which she took bronze at the World Champs last year. The 19-year-old Carroll also took the breaststroke treble, 200 fly, 50 and 200 backstroke events.

National record-holder Jennifer Reilly looked to be making a successful comeback to competition with a win in the 400 IM (4:47.84) while Travis Nederpelt (4:26.29) got on top of arch-rival Adam Lucas in the final leg to take the men’s event. Nederpelt also beat Lucas in the 400 freestyle while Lucas (1:52.16) edged out Nederpelt in the four-lap race.

Nederpelt finished his challenging Commonwealth Games Trials preparations, winning the 1,500 freestyle in 15.40.53 while Lucas, the reigning national champ in the medley events, also took the 100-200 backstroke double (57.45/2:02.66) and the 200 IM in 2:04.88. Lucas’ kid sister Amy took the women’s 100 back (1:04.53) and silver medals in the 50-200 back and 100 free.

Aussie record-holder Jim Piper won gold in his signature 200 breaststroke (2.17.92) after missing the shorter races due to illness. Mark Riley cleaned up in the 50-100 breast clocking 28.95 and 1:04.47, respectively.

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