Australian Long Course Championships: Eamon Sullivan Back In The Fast Lane as Stephanie Rice Flies to Second Gold

By Ian Hanson

SYDNEY, Australia, March 19. FORMER world record holder Eamon Sullivan has become the first swimmer under 49 second for 100m freestyle this year at the Australian Swimming Championships, clocking 48.52 but probably more remarkable for the fact that he has hardly done any kick sessions after his fifth hip operation.

Triple Olympic champion Stephanie Rice was the other early winner, taking the 100m butterfly ahead of Felicity Galvez who left World Championship silver medallist Jessicah Schipper in third.

Women's 100m butterfly
Stephanie Rice claimed her second gold medal of the championships, breaking through to win the 100m butterfly – the event she pulled out of at last year's FINA World Championships. Rice timed her finish to perfection to clock a time of 57.71, just a touch outside her best time, with Felicity Galvez (58.20) second and World Championship silver medallist in the event Jessicah Schipper (58.41) third. Such is the depth in this event, Schipper will now have to qualify for the Commonwealth Games through the Pan Pacs with the first two finishers agreed of automatic selection for Delhi.

Men's 100m freestyle
Commonwealth record holder Eamon Sullivan has continued to surprise himself, his coach Grant Stoelwinder and everyone else at the SOPAC pool with his win in the 100m freestyle in 48.52 – an the first man in 2010 to crack 49 seconds. That's saying something in this day and age but for Sullivan, who has been on the verge of righting off this year after yet another hip operation, it is a major break through. "I just take things day by day," he said on the eve of the meet. Well the last two days have been good days…49.06 and 48.52. Let's hope tomorrow and the day after are just as good when the former world record holder lines up in the 50m freestyle. Sullivan was smoking down the first 50m in 23.02 and it was a caser of put down your glasses as Tommaso D'Orsogna (49.35) and new boy James Magnussen (49.43) filled the podium, with Kyle Richardson fourth in 49.55. The disappointment was Andrew Lauterstein sixth in 49.62 and Matt Abood seventh (49.73).

Men's 400 IM
Thomas Fraser-Holmes claimed the title in 4:16.81, clearing the time Stephen Parkes used to win last year of 4:18.64. Jayden Hadler finished second in 4:20.79, while Mitch Larkin placed third in 4:21.54.

Women's 800 freestyle
Katie Goldman topped the distance race with an 8:22.83, while Blair Evans finished second in 8:25.74. Evans won last year with a time of 8:30.96. Kylie Palmer took third overall in 8:29.57.

In semi-final action, Rome World Champion over the 100m Brenton Rickard is the fastest qualifier for tomorrow night's 50m breaststroke, clocking 28.02 ahead of arch rival Christian Sprenger (28.28) and Karl Wurzer (28.49)…..Emily Seebohm will go chasing gold medal number three after easily qualifying first in the women's 50m backstroke in 28.11, ahead of Grace Loh (28.67) and Belinda Hocking (28.71) with Commonwealth record holder Sophie Edington next on 28.75….Olympic champion Leisel Jones cruised through to the final in 1:07.76 from Samantha Marshall (1:07.85pb) and Sarah Katsoulis (1:08.82).

ASCTA Podcast
Our fourth podcast of the week features the audio from Yolane Kukla and Geoff Heugill's press conferences. Our host, Todd Balym has an exclusive chat with City of Perth Coach Matt Magee and also looks forward to tonight's racing from Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

Day 4 Podcast

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