New South Wales Open Championships: Ellen Gandy, Stephanie Rice Post World-Best Times

SYDNEY, Australia, February 13. THE final day of long course meter action at the New South Wales Open Championships featured quite a few stellar swims as the meet drew to a close in Sydney.

Great Britain's Ellen Gandy put up the swim of the meet in the women's 200 fly with a winning time of 2:05.90. That performance far surpassed her previous top time this year of 2:08.02 set last month, and would have placed her second in the world for all of last year behind only Jiao Liuyang's 2:05.46. Canada's Mackenzie Downing placed second in 2:09.57, while Stephanie Rice placed third in 2:10.51.

Rice returned in the women's 200 IM to clock a world pacesetter of her own with a 2:12.79. Natalie Wiegersma finished second in 2:12.89 as the two became the first swimmers under 2:13 this year. The previous best time had belonged to Kirsty Coventry, who posted the early bellwether mark last month with a 2:13.40. Canada's Julia Wilkinson placed third tonight in 2:15.75.

Leisel Jones charted the second-fastest time of the young year in the women's 50 breast with a 31.27. That swim just missed the world best of 31.25 posted by Moniek Nijhuis last month. Natasha Waitzer finished second in 31.58, while Olivia Halicek touched third in 32.15.

Bronte Barratt clocked the second-best time in the world in the women's 200 free with a 1:57.98. The swim moved her behind Camille Muffat's 1:56.63 for the top swim in the world this year. Angie Bainbridge finished second in 1:58.35, while Jade Neilsen earned third in 1:58.62. Those two times are also among the top five in the world this year.

Grace Loh hit the wall in 28.31 to win the women's 50 back, and improve her second-ranked season best from a previous 28.34. Only Aleksandra Herasimenia has been faster with a 28.06. Belinda Hocking took second in 28.51, while Rachel Goh finished third in 28.80.

In an exciting finish, Matt Abood touched out Matt Targett, 22.30 to 22.31, in the men's 50 free as the duo moved to second and third in the world this year behind only Alain Bernard's 22.14. Kyle Richardson placed third in 22.55. Abood later clocked a 49.36 in a men's 400 free relay leadoff to tie for second in the world in the men's 100 free.

Craig Calder moved to third in the world rankings in the men's 200 breast with a 2:12.76. Only Eric Shanteau (2:12.12) and Naoya Tomita (2:12.31) have been faster so far this year. Japan's Kazuki Utsonomiyta (2:16.44) and Kohei Goto (2:16.70) finished second and third.

Andrew Lauterstein touched out Joseph Carty, 53.65 to 53.69, for the men's 100 fly victory. Sam McConnell claimed third-place honors in 54.77. Mitch Larkin won the men's 400 IM in 4:20.51, while Dan Tranter took second in 4:20.84. Japan's Ryo Murakawa placed third in 4:22.18.

Ashley Delaney earned the men's 100 back title in 54.38, while Hayden Stoeckel took second in 55.77. Gareth Kean wrapped up the top three with a 55.91. Ryan Cochrane of Canada won the men's 1500 free in 15:08.59, while Japan's Yuto Sato took second in 15:17.22. Japan's Ayatsugu Hirai earned third in 15:27.35.

In multi-disability events, Mitchell Kilduff was listed first in the men's 100 free with a 57.10. Jacqueline Freeney was listed first in the women's 100 free with a 1:10.02.

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