James Magnussen Sweeps Sprint Frees at Victorian Open

Photo Courtesy: Joao Marc Bosch

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Just three races in following shoulder surgery and a nine month break from competing, former world champion James Magnussen will leave the Victorian Open Championships with both the 50 and 100m freestyle titles to his name. The 24-year-old posted impressive early season times and will be able to take confidence from his form this weekend.

In the 50m freestyle tonight at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, Magnussen out-touched his American training partner William Copeland (22.57) to grab gold in 22.51 with Daniel Hunter (22.66) rounding out the top three.

Magnussen had a positive outlook on the year ahead but downplayed his results over the weekend saying his international rivals wouldn’t be too worried just yet.

“They probably wouldn’t be too worried with those times just yet,” Magnussen joked.

“I’m hoping to get a swim in Perth and get more racing experience before the lead into trials. I was just 21-years-old at the London Olympics and in Rio I’ll be 25 and probably at the peak of my career. So I am trying to do everything to get back to my best.”

In the men’s backstroke, no one could get close to Mitch Larkin who took the 50, 100 and 200 backstroke trifecta with his win in the 100m final tonight.

Larkin, who also won the 200m individual medley this weekend, was half a body length ahead as he touched the wall in a time of 52.85, fast enough to set a new Victorian all-comers record, lowering Aaron Peirsol’s 52.98 from the world championships in 2007.

The 22-year-old was surprised with his time and said he was aiming for around 53-mid.

“I had to ask Bohly (Coach, Michael Bohl), is it okay that I keep swimming this fast in season?” Larkin said.

“A 52 point in season time is really good for me, sort of right on the money and I’m surprised, but good surprised.”

The silver medal went to Joshua Beaver from Nunawading in 54.02 with Ben Treffers third in 54.60

Rising star Georgia Bohl continued her run of success in the women’s breaststroke events, picking up the win in the 50m final ahead of World Champion in this event Jennie Johansson and Australian Dolphin, Lorna Tonks.

Bohl was too quick, completing the one lap dash in 30.92 with Johansson second in 31.16 and Tonks third in 31.45.

Olympian Alicia Coutts announced her return to form with a win in the women’s 200m individual medley. Coutts dug deep to hold off a chase from fellow London Olympic teammate Blair Evans (2:12.58) and take first place in a time of 2:12.05 with both girls only just off the Olympic A qualifying time of 2:11.39. Third place went to Kotuku Ngawati in 2:14.28.

The women’s 200m freestyle was a battle between St Peters Western training partners Emma McKeon and Bronte Barratt. McKeon was too strong and took the win at the wall in a time of 1:56.29 with Barratt settling for second in 1:56.66. Third place went to Sydney Olympic Park swimmer Mikkayla Sheridan in 1:59.80.

Top three results…

Women’s 1500m Freestyle

  1. Moesha Johnson, BURAQ, 16:40.36
  2. Molly Batchelor, Vicentre, 17:07.75
  3. Sophie Caldwell, Nunawading, 17:18.84

Men’s 200m IM Multi Class

  1. Timothy Disken, PLC, 2:21.88
  2. Jeremy Tidy, Nunawading, 2:19.32
  3. Jack Thomas, Wales, 2:18.77

Women’s 200m IM Multi Class

  1. Nikita Howarth, New Zealand, 3:02.98
  2. Mary Fisher, New Zealand, 3:02.01
  3. Madeleine Scott, Canberra, 2:41.98

Women’s 200m Butterfly

  1. Brianna Throssell, Perth City, 2:09.49
  2. Georgia Barton, St Peters Western, 2:13.95
  3. Samantha Lee, New Zealand, 2:14.14

Men’s 100m Butterfly

  1. Chris Wright, Southport, 53.07
  2. Daniel Lester, Lawnton, 53.38
  3. Justin James, Mackay, 53.59

Women’s 50m Breaststroke

  1. Georgia Bohl, St Peters Western, 30.92
  2. Jennie Johansson, Sweden, 31.16
  3. Lorna Tonks, Yeronga Park, 31.45

Men’s 200m Breaststroke

  1. Matthew Wilson, SOPAC, 2:13.37
  2. Lennard Bremer, West Coast, 2:14.26
  3. Ryan Roche, SOPAC, 2:16.53

Women’s 200m Freestyle

  1. Emma McKeon, St Peters Western, 1:56.29
  2. Bronte Barratt, St Peters Western, 1:56.66
  3. Mikkayla Sheridan, SOPAC, 1:59.80

Men’s 100m Backstroke Multi Class

  1. Samuel Greatorex, Nunawading, 1:02.87
  2. Jeremy Tidy, Nunawading, 1:05.81
  3. Aaron Moores, Wales, 1:05.59

Women’s 100m Backstroke Multi Class

  1. Sophie Pascoe, New Zealand, 1:08.07
  2. Taylor Corry, Nelson Bay, 1:11.32
  3. Airi Ike, Japan, 1:13.09

Men’s 50m Freestyle

  1. James Magnussen, Ravenswood, 22.51
  2. William Copeland, USA, 22,57
  3. Daniel Hunter, HPKCO, 22.66

Women’s 200m IM

  1. Alicia Coutts, Redlands, 2:12.05
  2. Blair Evans, UWSC, 2:12.58
  3. Kotuku Ngawati, Vicentre, 2:14.28

Men’s 400m IM

  1. Travis Mahoney, Nunawading, 4:20.56
  2. Xavier Mohammed, Wales, 4:21.22
  3. Tomas Elliott, SOPAC, 4:25.23

Women’s 50m Backstroke

  1. Madison Wilson, St Peters Western, 28.17
  2. Hayley Baker, Vicentre, 28.66
  3. Paige Flynn, Southport, 29.44

Men’s 100m Backstroke

  1. Mitch Larkin, St Peters Western, 52.85
  2. Joshua Beaver, Nunawading, 54.02
  3. Ben Treffers, Burley Griffin, 54.60

Men’s 100m Freestyle Multi Class

  1. Joshua Alford, Tuggeranong Vikings, 54.74
  2. Rowan Crothers, Yeronga Park, 52.78
  3. Timothy Disken, PLC Aquatic 57.92

Women’s 100m Freestyle Multi Class

  1. Taylor Corry, Nelson Bay, 1:01.34
  2. Sophie Pascoe, New Zealand, 1:01.19
  3. Mary Fisher, New Zealand, 1:11.90

Men’s 1500m Freestyle

  1. Daniel Jervis, Wales, 15:10.87
  2. Ryan Cochrane, Canada, 15:12.02
  3. Mack Horton, Vicentre, 15:17.10

Swimming Australia contributed this report.

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