Aussie Age Championships, Day One: Nederpelt Wins Two, Lauterstein Just Misses Own Record

PERTH, W. Australia, April 14. AUSTRALIAN Championship backstroke bronze medallist, Andrew Lauterstein looked powerful and impressive in his demolition of the 16 years 100 metre backstroke final, marginally missing his own Australian Age group record set under a fortnight ago by just 0.14 to stop the clock in a time of 55.59.

“Its good to come back to Age after swimming at trials because you can race all your mates and the atmosphere is nice and relaxed especially racing guys you’ve grown up swimming with,” he said.

“I didn’t have too big expectations as I haven’t done that much training during the ten days since Sydney, more like an extended taper,”

“I was looking forward to having another good hit out tonight because I felt pretty comfortable in the morning, I’m happy with that time, it was good to get out another quality effort.”

Toongabbie’s, Grant Brits put in a gutsy swim to take silver in 57.51 with Cranbrook’s, David Schnabl rounding out the podium placegetters in a time of 59.67.

The standard of swimming continued to shine on pool deck courtesy of Albany Creek 15 – year-old Bronte Barratt who proved she will be one to look out for in the future after taking out the 200 metres individual medley final in a quality performance of 2:17.93, a little over a second outside the eight year record held by Emma Johnson. Second placegetter, Stephanie Rice wasn’t far off the pace, capping off a very successful opening night for the Commercial, Queensland teenager in a time of 2:18.18.

A strong Great Britain team produced some top swims on day one highlighted by the talented 14-year-old, Francesca Halsall who grabbed two gold in both the 100 metres butterfly (1:01.78) and 50 metres freestyle (26.15).

It was a brilliant swim by West Coast 14-year-old, Garth Kates in the 100 metres butterfly final with the Perth local just missing the Australian Age record held by Nic Donald by just 0.17 of a second. Queenslander, Michael Buchanan (57.79) took silver with Daniel Arnamnart of New South Wales rounding out the podium placing’s in a time of 58.97.

Chandler 18-year-old, Briody Murphy proved her consistent distance freestyle talent with an impressive win in the 400 metre event. The Australian championships finalist clocked a quality swim of 4:15.55 to take the gold ahead of fellow Queenslader, Melissa Gorman (4:17.27) and all round specialist and Athens Olympic medley swimmer, Lara Carroll (4:20.03).

The men’s 18 years 400 metres freestyle final witnessed the first glimpse at Western Australian Olympic team member, Travis Nederpelt who timed his run home on the final lap to take victory in a time of 3:55.39 ahead of Brisbane’s, Andrew Thompson (3:56.19).

It wasn’t long before Nederpelt was back in the pool in his Olympic event the men’s 400 metre individual medley taking his second gold of the evening in a time of 4:26.68. But the Athens bound Olympian didn’t have the race all his own way after pushed to the wall by fellow Western Australian, Stephen Holmes who clocked a massive personal best of 4:28.64 to grab silver.

Nunawading 14 year–old, Kimberly Chanter led from start to finish to take the victory in the 20m breast in a time of 2:39.31 while in the men’s 200 metre event it was Tom Wood of Carey Aquatic who triumphed in 2:26.61.

–Courtesy, Australian Swimming

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