MELBOURNE, Australia, August 30. RISING star Kylie Palmer and veteran performer Matt Welsh were the chart busters on a record-breaking second night of the Telstra Australian Short Course Championships at the Melbourne Sports And Aquatic Centre. Special thanks to David Lyall of Swimming Australia for providing the following report.<\/p>\n
In what may be his last major competitive meet in his home town, dual Olympian Matt Welsh set the pool alight.<\/p>\n
Welsh (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) won his ninth consecutive Australian Short Course 100m backstroke title, his 53rd overall National crown but more importantly crashed through his own Commonwealth record with a stunning swim of 50.71.<\/p>\n
Later in the night Beijing hopeful Kylie Palmer (Albany Creek, QLD) has clocked 8:14.11 to crush the Commonwealth record in the 800 meters freestyle.<\/p>\n
Welsh, the triple Olympic medalist set the former mark in 2002 and amazingly continues to improve almost a decade after winning his first Australian short course crown \u2013 and now the 30-year-old is determined to win a third Olympic berth next year.<\/p>\n
He has put together a solid block of training in a bid to return to the form he displayed before falling ill with a virus in 2004.<\/p>\n
"That's why I probably haven't had a break for so long, because it's just so hard to get back," Welsh said. "I've had the break and now I feel a lot better. I'm now able to do probably a third more training since I've been back. Probably since the start of 2004. When I had that virus at the end of 2004, 2005, although I got over the virus, I don't think my body ever really kicked back in. I was always starting one step back. What I do know is that I feel a lot better and a lot more confident leading into Trials next year. And that's really going to be my focus."<\/p>\n
Pushing Welsh all the way was Robert Hurley (Wests Illawarra Aquatic, NSW) who clocked 51.47 \u2013 a massive improvement from the 53.36 that was his best just 24 hours ago.<\/p>\n
Hurley's time moved him to second on the Australian all-time list, while bronze medalist Ashley Delaney (52.42, PB) moved up to equal fourth.<\/p>\n
The pair train together under coach Vince Raleigh at the AIS and the veteran mentor no doubt has a duo of contender for Beijing on his hands.<\/p>\n
Incredibly, Hurley, 18, went to the AIS earlier this year as a middle distance freestyler but has been turned into a backstroker with remarkable success.<\/p>\n
Welsh welcomed the contest, noting he has had several challengers over the years but also said Australia will need a new breed in the future.<\/p>\n
"The challengers have always been there. It started off with Josh (Watson), and I had Thorpey going at me for a while there," Welsh said. "Whether I make the (Olympic) team or not, one day I'm not going to be there, and we still need very strong people.<\/p>\n
Seventeen-year-old Palmer, who was the youngest member of the Australian team at last year's Commonwealth Games, erased Amanda Pascoe's five- year-mark and was only three seconds shy of French legend Laure Manaudou's world record.<\/p>\n
Finishing with the silver was Melissa Gorman (Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton, QLD) in 8:25.60, while Lorren Sellwood (St Peters Western, QLD) won bronze (8:36.99).<\/p>\n
Palmer's personal best had stood at 8:23.31 and the Year 12 student at Brisbane's Grace Lutheran College was understandably shocked at just how fast she had actually swum coming off the back of the Japan International Meet last week where she finished third in the same event behind two Japanese swimmers.<\/p>\n
"It feels great. Coming into this meet I didn't know how I'd go after Japan," Palmer said. "There was a bit of hesitation but my coach had faith in me. I am shocked about the time though. I didn't think I could go that fast."<\/p>\n
The record was the third Commonwealth mark in two months for veteran mentor John Rodgers' Albany Creek squad after fellow teen Bronte Barratt set the short course and long course 400m freestyle marks.<\/p>\n
Palmer and Barratt will face off in the 400m tomorrow.<\/p>\n