Australian Long Course Championships: Aussie Whiz Kid Yolane Kukla Upsets World Champion Marieke Guehrer

SYDNEY, Australia, March 17. DAY two action came to a close at the Australian Swimming Championships in Sydney with Queensland teenager Yolane Kukla causing the latest major upset, leaving World Champion Marieke Guehrer in her wake in the 50m butterfly final, while Olympic stars Hayden Stoeckel and Leisel Jones returned to major competition in style.

Women's 50m butterfly
Brisbane whiz kid Yolane Kukla became one of Australia's youngest National champions at 14 years of age when she defeated World Champion Marieke Guehrer to win the 50m butterfly final. Kukla, a former gymnast, clocked 25.92 to beat Guehrer (26.28) and Emily Seebohm (26.47).

Men's 50m backstroke
Just three one hundredths of a second separated the podium finishers in the 50m backstroke final with Olympic bronze medallist Hayden Stoeckel, celebrating his arrival at the AIS winning and a return from shoulder surgery to clock 25.06 to nudge out NSW rookies Daniel Arnamnart (25.08) and Ben Treffers (25.09).

Women's 50m breaststroke
After a year away from major competition, Olympic golden girl Leisel Jones is back in the winners circle winning the 50m breaststroke in 30.87, in a blanket finish from Southport QLD 18-year-old Leiston Pickett (31.06) who just edged out and Rome bronze medallist Sarah Katsoulis (31.12).

Men's 200m freestyle
Southport Qld's Olympic 800m relay bronze medallist Nick Ffrost broke through for his first open National title, clocking 1:47.50. Ffrost, born in Mackay who moved from the AIS to Glenn Baker on the Gold Coast beat 18-year-old rising star Thomas Fraser-Holmes (1:47.66).

World Championship finalist Kenrick Monk finished third in 1:47.83, after trailing the field for the first three laps. Ffrost, the smallest swimmer in the field and swimming in lane one, timed his race to perfection, with early leader Tommaso D'Orsogna fading to finish fifth in 1:48.44.

Ffrost and Fraser-Holmes have booked automatic individual places on the Commonwealth Games team, with the final place to de decided after the Pan Pacs in August. It is a huge boost for the popular Fraser-Holmes, an ex junior surf lifesaving champion from Newcastle.

Defending champion and two-time Olympian finished fourth to secure a Games relay berth in 1:48.30. Wollongong's 400m winner from night one Robert Hurley finished sixth in 1:48.61, Ryan Napoleon was seventh in 1.48.82 with Olympian Kirk Palmer eighth in 1:49.62.

Semifinals
Geoff Huegill topped the semifinal heats of the men's 50 fly with a 23.60, with Andrew Lauterstein close behind in 23.89. Brenton Rickard checked in with a 1:00.80 in the men's 100 breast semifinals for the top seed, while Alicia Coutts earned the top seed in the women's 100 free finale with a 54.95. Emily Seebohm (55.01) and Yolane Kukla (55.06) finished second and third. Seebohm returned in the women's 100 back with a smocking time of 1:00.26, while Belinda Hocking picked up the second seed in 1:00.79.

Multi-class/Para Sport
Annabelle Williams won the women's 50 free para sport event in 29.65 out of the S9 division. Katrina Porter was listed first in the women's 50 back with a 41.71, while Michael Auprince was listed first in the men's 50 back with a 30.36. Kayla Clarke was listed first in the women's 200 IM with a 2:39.52, while Matthew Cowdrey topped the men's 200 IM in 2:16.05.

ASCTA Podcast
In today's show, we wrap up the day 1 finals with audio from Stephanie Rice and Nick D'Arcy, and look forward to tonight's finals. We have also have an exclusive interview with Simon Cusack, coach of Cate Campbell. Our Host Todd Balym also provides a summary of the two World Records that were swum on night 1 at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

Day 2 Podcast

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