SYDNEY, Australia, March 18. DURING the second night of finals at the Australian Long Course Championships, Marieke Guehrer clocked a Commonwealth record in the women's 50 fly. Additionally, several other national records took a fall as well.
Guehrer opened the finals session with a Commonwealth record time of 25.60 to win the women's 50 fly, just off the world record of 25.46 set by Sweden's Therese Alshammar in 2007. Libby Trickett clinched the second spot in 26.02, while Jessicah Schipper took third in 26.21. Ashley Delaney clocked an Australian record of 24.81 in the men's 50 back for the win, while Ben Treffers (25.15) and Hayden Stoeckel (25.36) took second and third.
In the women's 50 breast finals, Sarah Katsoulis touched out Tarnee White, 30.65 to 30.75, while world-record holder Jade Richards (formerly Edmistone) finished fourth in 31.45. Leiston Pickett finished third in 30.90. Patrick Murphy picked up the men's 200 free title in 1:46.85, while Kenrick Monk (1:47.27) and Tommaso D'Orsogna (1:48.10) touched second and third. Robert Hurley (1:48.17), Nicholas Ffrost (1:48.20) and Kirk Palmer (1:48.22) were among the top six.
In semis, Andrew Lauterstein topped qualifying in the men's 50 fly in 23.30 for the Australian record. Matt Targett took second in 23.31, while Matt Jaukovic qualified third in 23.65. Christian Sprenger paced the men's 100 breast in 1:00.37 with Brenton Rickard (1:02.03) and Karl Wurzer (1:03.09) touching second and third. In the women's 100 free, Trickett earned the top seed in 53.89 with Guehrer (54.46) and Sally Foster (54.56) right behind. Surprisingly, Australian sprint prodigy Cate Campbell had an off day due to battling a hip injury that could require surgery, finishing 13th in 56.39 to miss finals. Belinda Hocking (1:00.42), Sophie Edington (1:00.43) and Emily Seebohm (1:00.45) will look to create a thrilling finish in the women's 100 back after qualifying 1-2-3 for finals.
In multi-disability events, Ellie Cole won the women's 50 back in 34.64, while Sean Russo topped the men's 50 back in 29.74. Prue Watt clinched the women's 200 IM title in 2:32.54, while Matt Cowdrey brought home the men's 200 IM crown in 2:15.97.