Matt Welsh Sets World Record in 50m Back on First Day of Aussie Short Course Champs

By Maggie Ellis, Phil Whitten and Stephen J. Thomas

MELBOURNE, September 2. MATT Welsh, Australia's 2001 world champion in the 100 meter backstroke, added another notch to his belt tonight when he set a world record in winning the 50 meter backstroke on the first day of competition at the Telstra 2002 Australian Short Course Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

Welsh's time of 23.31 seconds erased the USA's Neil Walker's global standard of 23.42, set at the 2000 Short Course World Championships in Athens.

The world short course champion from Moscow this year over the 50 and 100 meter dorsal events felt he had something to prove, clocing an Australian and Commonwealth record 23.56 in the semifinal early in the evening to give notice of his intentions before lowering that time still farther in the finals.

Welsh had left Yokohama after the Pan Pacs a little disappointed he did not get to race the final of the 100 back after being DQ'ed in the semifinal, although he still came home from Japan with two silver medals – the 200 back and 400 medley relay.

If he was disappointed in Japan, Welsh was "absolutely over the moon" with his swim heqre. The scintillating swim put to rest Welsh's disappointment after being disqualified in the 200m in Manchester and the 100m in Yokohama.

Speaking after the race, Welsh said he felt great after the semifinal and decided to go for it in the final.

"As soon as the gun went I got a good reaction and a really good start and thought I could feel it [the record] was there," said Welsh.

"The race just got better and better. As soon as I saw the time I thought 'Yes!', but then thought I'd better not celebrate too much as I've had a habit recently of being disqualified!"

But the judges gave the WR the all-clear and Welsh was able to savor another magical moment in his career.

The race brought the stadium alight and Welsh said he was delighted to be back in Australia and racing before a home crowd.

His sights are now set on the 100m and 200m backstroke and the planned assault on the 4 x 100m medley relay on Thursday night. "This is the first world record of the meet and maybe we'll get another one then," he said.

Silver went to rising star Ashley Anderson of Queensland in 24.77, and bronze went to Telstra Dolphin Ethan Rolff with a time of 25.26.

Earlier, the much anticipated return of Michael Klim in the men's 200m freestyle lived up to expectations, with Klim duelling it out with Commonwealth Games relay gold medalist Jason Cram through the first 75m.

Klim established a narrow lead at the half-way mark and held on over a fast-finishing Cram to touch in 1.45.71 to take victory in his first race since undergoing back surgery in February.

The Victorian was very pleased with the result. "The back's good, I haven't felt it. Training has been perfect, and I'm really enjoying racing again. I'd like to swim faster than before, and do personal bests," said Klim, who is set to continue his return to peak form.

The winning time would have placed Klim third at the world short course championships and Cram's time makes him the sixth fastest all-time Australian. Klim will contend the 100m later in the week.

World champion Petria Thomas led from start to finish to defend her title in the women's 200m butterfly final in 2.06.90 ahead of fellow Telstra Dolphin Felicity Galvez, who took silver in 2.08.07. Bronze went to Campbelltown's Lara Davenport in 2.09.09. Work-horse Thomas has four further events on her schedule this meet.

The men's 400m IM began as a close contest between West Australian Adam Lucas and AIS squad member Trent Steed. Steed took the lead in the backstroke leg before being challenged by Mitchell Bacon, who took the lead with 50m to go.

The young South Australian held on to win his first national title in 4.14.36 ahead of Lucas, who took silver in 4.15.37, and Steed who touched in 4.15.55 for the bronze.

In the women's 400m IM Victoria's Lori Munz, Commonwealth and Pan Pac champion Jennifer Reilly, and Pan Pac team member Jessica Abbot fought a close contest over the first two stroke disciplines.

Reilly established a lead in the breaststroke leg and extended the lead in to the freestyle to win decisively in 4.38.72. Abbot came home second in 4.42.97, and South Australia's Tamara Leane stormed home to take bronze in 4.44.27.

Reilly was very happy with the win. "It's been a pretty exciting couple of months, and I'm really happy to come out here and swim well," she said.

In the men's 50m breaststroke veteran Phil Rogers of South Australia took gold in 27.75, three one-hundredths ahead of Telstra Dolphin and long-course title holder Jim Piper of Campbelltown, who touched in 27.78 for silver. Bronze went to Victoria's Nathan Crook in 28.12.

Rogers, a member of the Pan Pac team and triple Olympian, has been on the national squad since 1989. The win was his sixth national title in the event.

The women's 50m breaststroke saw Australian record holder and fastest qualifier Brooke Hanson hold a narrow lead over Queensland's Jade Edmiston to touch in 30.93 and win gold, just .22 outside her national record.

"I'm really happy with that time, it's great to be back here in front of a home crowd and get the national title," she told the audience. Edmiston took silver in 31.38 and bronze went to Telstra Dolphin Tarnee White in 31.65.

Two Australian club records were set. The men's 4x100m free relay mark fell to Nunawading of Victoria in 3:15.80, thanks to a come-from-behind 47.53-second effort by anchor Andrew. Nunawading needed all of that, as it just edged Yeronga Park, Queeensland, at 3:15.84.

Queensland's Chandler Swim Club clocked 8:01.32 in the women's 4x200m free relay to record another national club mark. Chandler boasted two national team members: leadoff swimmer Alice Mills (1:59.57) and anchor Jodie Henry (1:58.86).

2002 Telstra Australian Short Course Championships

Melbourne, Australia.
September 2-5, 2002

25 meter pool

RESULTS
DAY ONE: September 2

Women's 200m Butterfly – Final

1 THOMAS, Petria
Ginninderra SC
NSW, AUS
2:06.90

2 GALVEZ, Felicity
Wilkinson SC
NSW, AUS
2:08.07

3 DAVENPORT, Lara
Campbelltown ASC Inc.
NSW, AUS
2:09.09

4 CROSSINGHAM, Charnelle
Vikings Swim Team
NSW, AUS
2:10.85

5 CRAWFORD, Heidi
Hunter SC Inc.
NSW, AUS
2:11.65

6 CORKRAN, Kate
Yeronga Park SC Inc
QLD, AUS
2:12.78

7 HUNTER, Nicole
Tattersalls Aquatic
TAS, AUS
2:12.84

8 SCHIPPER, Jessicah
Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton SC Inc
QLD, AUS
2:13.13

Men's 200m Freestyle – Final

1 KLIM, Michael
Miami SC Inc
QLD, AUS
1:45.71

2 CRAM, Jason
S.L.C. Aquadot
NSW, AUS
1:45.99

3 PENFOLD, Stephen
Miami SC Inc
QLD, AUS
1:46.48

4 MATKOVICH, Antony
City of Perth
WA, AUS
1:46.86

5 WILLIAMS, Nic
Telopea ASC
NSW, AUS
1:48.34

6 KROGH, Joshua
Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton SC Inc
QLD, AUS
1:48.62

6 MEWING, Andrew
Yeronga Park SC Inc
QLD, AUS
1:48.62

8 FLOUCH, Casey
Commercial SC Inc
QLD, AUS
1:50.13

Men's 400m Individual Medley – Final

1 BACON, Mitchell
Norwood
SA, AUS
4:14.36

2
LUCAS, Adam
West Coast
WA, AUS
4:15.37

3 STEED, Trent
Campbelltown ASC Inc.
NSW, AUS
4:15.55

4 HIGGINS, Michael
Carlile ASC Inc.
NSW, AUS
4:18.03

5 RICHARDS, Andrew
Smithfield ASC
NSW, AUS
4:20.13

6 NEDERPELT, Travis
City of Perth
WA, AUS
4:21.38

7 MONTGOMERIE, Peter
Campbelltown ASC Inc.
NSW, AUS
4:23.00

8 TAYLOR, Nathan
Nunawading
VIC, AUS
4:27.99

Women's 400m Individual Medley – Final

1 REILLY, Jennifer
Victoria Park
WA, AUS
4:38.72

2 ABBOTT, Jessica
Hurstville Aquatic SC Inc.
NSW, AUS
4:42.97

3 LEANE, Tammy
Unley
SA, AUS
4:44.27

4 CROSSINGHAM, Charnelle
Vikings Swim Team
NSW, AUS
4:44.33

5 CARROLL, Lara
Fremantle Port
WA, AUS
4:45.94

6 RODIER, Yvette
Nu Swim
NSW, AUS
4:48.16

7 MUNZ, Lori
Carey Aquatic
VIC, AUS
4:48.21

8 BATES, Lisa
Aqua Attack
WA, AUS
4:54.66

Men's 50m Breaststroke – Final

1 ROGERS, Phil
Sydney University
NSW, AUS
27.75

2 PIPER, Jim
Campbelltown ASC Inc.
NSW, AUS
27.78

3 CROOK, Nathan
Carey Aquatic
VIC, AUS
28.12

4 RICKARD, Brenton
Brothers SC Inc
QLD, AUS
28.14

5 VAN DER ZANT, Rob
Yeronga Park SC Inc
QLD, AUS
28.22

6 MCBRIEN, Steven
The Hills SC
NSW, AUS
28.23

7 RILEY, Mark
Commercial SC Inc
QLD, AUS
28.25

8 BEASLEY, James
Knox Pymble SC
NSW, AUS
28.33

Women's 50m Breaststroke – Final

1 HANSON, Brooke
Nunawading
VIC, AUS
30.93

2 EDMISTONE, Jade
Southern Crawl
QLD, AUS
31.38

3 WHITE, Tarnee
Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton SC Inc
QLD, AUS
31.65

4 KASOULIS, Sarah
Carey Aquatic
VIC, AUS
31.72

5 JONES, Leisel
Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton SC Inc
QLD, AUS
31.73

6 FOSTER, Sally
Central Aquatic
WA, AUS
32.57

7 COLLINS, Lauren
Melton
VIC, AUS
32.88

8 TOMLINSON, Louise
Swan Hills
WA, AUS
33.23

Men's 50m Backstroke – Final

1 WELSH, Matt
Melbourne Vicentre
VIC, AUS
23.31 WORLD RECORD

2 ANDERSON, Ashley
CQ Aquajets SC Inc
QLD, AUS
24.77

3 ROLFF, Ethan
Kingscliff ASC
NSW, AUS
25.42

4 TAYLOR, Joshua
Forresters Beach Indoor SC Inc.
NSW, AUS
25.44

5 WATSON, Josh
Kingscliff ASC
NSW, AUS
25.60

5 SPICER, Matthew
Victoria Park
WA, AUS
25.60

7 DE KRETSER, Rahmin
Haileybury Waterlions
VIC, AUS
25.69

8 SHORT, Liam
Norwood
SA, AUS
25.87

Men's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay – Final

1 NUNAWADING, VIC A
—
3:15.80 AUSTRALIAN CLUB RECORD
splits
CLARKE, Jared
49.45
TAYLOR, Nathan
49.64
COHEN, Jason
49.18
DYSON, Andrew
47.53

2 YERONGA PARK QLD A
—
3:15.84

3 WEST COAST WA A
—
3:19.85

4 CITY OF PERTH WA A
—
3:22.03

5 COMMERCIAL QLD A
—
3:22.09
6. HAILEYBURY WATERLIONS, VIC A
—
3:27.82

7 MELBOURNE VICENTRE, VIC A
—
3:29.00

8 NORWOOD, SA A
—
3:29.05

Women's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay – Final

1 CHANDLER QLD A
—
8:01.32 AUSTRALIAN CLUB RECORD
splits
MILLS, Alice
1:59.57
HUNT, Cassie
2:01.69
LOOF, Nadine
2:01.20
HENRY, Jodie
1:58.86

2 CAREY AQUATIC, VIC A
—
8:08.39

3 CHANDLER QLD B
—
8:16.21

4 REDCLIFFE LEAGUES LAWNTON QLD A
—
8:22.94

5 SLC AQUADOT, NSW A
—
8:28.26

6 SWAN HILLS WA A
—
8:28.45

7 WEST COAST WA A
—
8:30.67

8 BURNSIDE, SA A
—
8:32.90

Women's 1500m Freestyle – Timed Final

1 PASCOE, Amanda
Campbelltown ASC Inc.
NSW, AUS
16:18.35

2 WILSON, Belinda
Toongabbie SC Inc.
NSW, AUS
16:38.56

3 WARE, Catherine
Burnside
SA, AUS
16:38.80

4 KALLU, Sarah
Smithfield ASC
NSW, AUS
16:47.64

5 AFFLECK, Jessica
Gardens SC Inc
QLD, AUS
16:48.49

6 GEORGE, Katherine
Burnside
SA, AUS
17:03.77

7 GORMAN, Melissa
Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton SC Inc
QLD, AUS
17:04.95

8 MORGAN, Melissa
Burnside
SA, AUS
17:07.24

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