By Maggie Ellis, Phil Whitten and Stephen J. Thomas <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Speaking after the race, Welsh said he felt great after the semifinal and decided to go for it in the final. <\/p>\n
"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.<\/p>\n
"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!"<\/p>\n
But the judges gave the WR the all-clear and Welsh was able to savor another magical moment in his career.<\/p>\n
The race brought the stadium alight and Welsh said he was delighted to be back in Australia and racing before a home crowd.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
"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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
\n2002 Telstra Australian Short Course Championships<\/p>\n
Melbourne, Australia.
\nSeptember 2-5, 2002<\/p>\n
25 meter pool<\/p>\n
RESULTS
\nDAY ONE: September 2<\/b><\/p>\n
Women's 200m Butterfly – Final<\/p>\n
1 THOMAS, Petria
\n Ginninderra SC
\n NSW, AUS
\n 2:06.90<\/p>\n
2 GALVEZ, Felicity
\n Wilkinson SC
\n NSW, AUS
\n 2:08.07<\/p>\n
3 DAVENPORT, Lara
\n Campbelltown ASC Inc.
\n NSW, AUS
\n 2:09.09<\/p>\n
4 CROSSINGHAM, Charnelle
\n Vikings Swim Team
\n NSW, AUS
\n 2:10.85<\/p>\n
5 CRAWFORD, Heidi
\n Hunter SC Inc.
\n NSW, AUS
\n 2:11.65<\/p>\n
6 CORKRAN, Kate
\n Yeronga Park SC Inc
\n QLD, AUS
\n 2:12.78<\/p>\n
7 HUNTER, Nicole
\n Tattersalls Aquatic
\n TAS, AUS
\n 2:12.84<\/p>\n
8 SCHIPPER, Jessicah
\n Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton SC Inc
\n QLD, AUS
\n 2:13.13<\/p>\n
Men's 200m Freestyle – Final<\/p>\n
1 KLIM, Michael
\n Miami SC Inc
\n QLD, AUS
\n 1:45.71<\/p>\n
2 CRAM, Jason
\n S.L.C. Aquadot
\n NSW, AUS
\n 1:45.99<\/p>\n
3 PENFOLD, Stephen
\n Miami SC Inc
\n QLD, AUS
\n 1:46.48<\/p>\n
4 MATKOVICH, Antony
\n City of Perth
\n WA, AUS
\n 1:46.86<\/p>\n
5 WILLIAMS, Nic
\n Telopea ASC
\n NSW, AUS
\n 1:48.34<\/p>\n
6 KROGH, Joshua
\n Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton SC Inc
\n QLD, AUS
\n 1:48.62<\/p>\n
6 MEWING, Andrew
\n Yeronga Park SC Inc
\n QLD, AUS
\n 1:48.62<\/p>\n
8 FLOUCH, Casey
\n Commercial SC Inc
\n QLD, AUS
\n 1:50.13<\/p>\n
Men's 400m Individual Medley – Final<\/p>\n
1 BACON, Mitchell
\n Norwood
\n SA, AUS
\n 4:14.36<\/p>\n
2
\n LUCAS, Adam
\n West Coast
\n WA, AUS
\n 4:15.37<\/p>\n
3 STEED, Trent
\n Campbelltown ASC Inc.
\n NSW, AUS
\n 4:15.55<\/p>\n
4 HIGGINS, Michael
\n Carlile ASC Inc.
\n NSW, AUS
\n 4:18.03<\/p>\n
5 RICHARDS, Andrew
\n Smithfield ASC
\n NSW, AUS
\n 4:20.13<\/p>\n
6 NEDERPELT, Travis
\n City of Perth
\n WA, AUS
\n 4:21.38<\/p>\n
7 MONTGOMERIE, Peter
\n Campbelltown ASC Inc.
\n NSW, AUS
\n 4:23.00<\/p>\n
8 TAYLOR, Nathan
\n Nunawading
\n VIC, AUS
\n 4:27.99<\/p>\n
Women's 400m Individual Medley – Final<\/p>\n
1 REILLY, Jennifer
\n Victoria Park
\n WA, AUS
\n 4:38.72<\/p>\n
2 ABBOTT, Jessica
\n Hurstville Aquatic SC Inc.
\n NSW, AUS
\n 4:42.97<\/p>\n
3 LEANE, Tammy
\n Unley
\n SA, AUS
\n 4:44.27<\/p>\n
4 CROSSINGHAM, Charnelle
\n Vikings Swim Team
\n NSW, AUS
\n 4:44.33<\/p>\n
5 CARROLL, Lara
\n Fremantle Port
\n WA, AUS
\n 4:45.94<\/p>\n
6 RODIER, Yvette
\n Nu Swim
\n NSW, AUS
\n 4:48.16<\/p>\n
7 MUNZ, Lori
\n Carey Aquatic
\n VIC, AUS
\n 4:48.21<\/p>\n
8 BATES, Lisa
\n Aqua Attack
\n WA, AUS
\n 4:54.66<\/p>\n
Men's 50m Breaststroke – Final<\/p>\n
1 ROGERS, Phil
\n Sydney University
\n NSW, AUS
\n 27.75<\/p>\n
2 PIPER, Jim
\n Campbelltown ASC Inc.
\n NSW, AUS
\n 27.78<\/p>\n
3 CROOK, Nathan
\n Carey Aquatic
\n VIC, AUS
\n 28.12<\/p>\n
4 RICKARD, Brenton
\n Brothers SC Inc
\n QLD, AUS
\n 28.14<\/p>\n
5 VAN DER ZANT, Rob
\n Yeronga Park SC Inc
\n QLD, AUS
\n 28.22<\/p>\n
6 MCBRIEN, Steven
\n The Hills SC
\n NSW, AUS
\n 28.23<\/p>\n
7 RILEY, Mark
\n Commercial SC Inc
\n QLD, AUS
\n 28.25<\/p>\n
8 BEASLEY, James
\n Knox Pymble SC
\n NSW, AUS
\n 28.33<\/p>\n
Women's 50m Breaststroke – Final<\/p>\n
1 HANSON, Brooke
\n Nunawading
\n VIC, AUS
\n 30.93<\/p>\n
2 EDMISTONE, Jade
\n Southern Crawl
\n QLD, AUS
\n 31.38<\/p>\n
3 WHITE, Tarnee
\n Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton SC Inc
\n QLD, AUS
\n 31.65<\/p>\n
4 KASOULIS, Sarah
\n Carey Aquatic
\n VIC, AUS
\n 31.72<\/p>\n
5 JONES, Leisel
\n Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton SC Inc
\n QLD, AUS
\n 31.73<\/p>\n
6 FOSTER, Sally
\n Central Aquatic
\n WA, AUS
\n 32.57<\/p>\n
7 COLLINS, Lauren
\n Melton
\n VIC, AUS
\n 32.88<\/p>\n
8 TOMLINSON, Louise
\n Swan Hills
\n WA, AUS
\n 33.23<\/p>\n
Men's 50m Backstroke – Final<\/p>\n
1 WELSH, Matt
\n Melbourne Vicentre
\n VIC, AUS
\n 23.31 WORLD RECORD<\/p>\n
2 ANDERSON, Ashley
\n CQ Aquajets SC Inc
\n QLD, AUS
\n 24.77<\/p>\n
3 ROLFF, Ethan
\n Kingscliff ASC
\n NSW, AUS
\n 25.42<\/p>\n
4 TAYLOR, Joshua
\n Forresters Beach Indoor SC Inc.
\n NSW, AUS
\n 25.44<\/p>\n
5 WATSON, Josh
\n Kingscliff ASC
\n NSW, AUS
\n 25.60<\/p>\n
5 SPICER, Matthew
\n Victoria Park
\n WA, AUS
\n 25.60<\/p>\n
7 DE KRETSER, Rahmin
\n Haileybury Waterlions
\n VIC, AUS
\n 25.69<\/p>\n
8 SHORT, Liam
\n Norwood
\n SA, AUS
\n 25.87<\/p>\n
Men's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay – Final<\/p>\n
1 NUNAWADING, VIC A
\n —
\n 3:15.80 AUSTRALIAN CLUB RECORD
\n splits
\n CLARKE, Jared
\n 49.45
\n TAYLOR, Nathan
\n 49.64
\n COHEN, Jason
\n 49.18
\n DYSON, Andrew
\n 47.53<\/p>\n
2 YERONGA PARK QLD A
\n —
\n 3:15.84<\/p>\n
3 WEST COAST WA A
\n —
\n 3:19.85<\/p>\n
4 CITY OF PERTH WA A
\n —
\n 3:22.03<\/p>\n
5 COMMERCIAL QLD A
\n —
\n 3:22.09
\n6. HAILEYBURY WATERLIONS, VIC A
\n —
\n 3:27.82<\/p>\n
7 MELBOURNE VICENTRE, VIC A
\n —
\n 3:29.00<\/p>\n
8 NORWOOD, SA A
\n —
\n 3:29.05<\/p>\n
Women's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay – Final<\/p>\n
1 CHANDLER QLD A
\n —
\n 8:01.32 AUSTRALIAN CLUB RECORD
\n splits
\n MILLS, Alice
\n 1:59.57
\n HUNT, Cassie
\n 2:01.69
\n LOOF, Nadine
\n 2:01.20
\n HENRY, Jodie
\n 1:58.86<\/p>\n
2 CAREY AQUATIC, VIC A
\n —
\n 8:08.39<\/p>\n
3 CHANDLER QLD B
\n —
\n 8:16.21<\/p>\n
4 REDCLIFFE LEAGUES LAWNTON QLD A
\n —
\n 8:22.94<\/p>\n
5 SLC AQUADOT, NSW A
\n —
\n 8:28.26<\/p>\n
6 SWAN HILLS WA A
\n —
\n 8:28.45<\/p>\n
7 WEST COAST WA A
\n —
\n 8:30.67<\/p>\n
8 BURNSIDE, SA A
\n —
\n 8:32.90<\/p>\n
Women's 1500m Freestyle – Timed Final<\/p>\n
1 PASCOE, Amanda
\n Campbelltown ASC Inc.
\n NSW, AUS
\n 16:18.35<\/p>\n
2 WILSON, Belinda
\n Toongabbie SC Inc.
\n NSW, AUS
\n 16:38.56<\/p>\n
3 WARE, Catherine
\n Burnside
\n SA, AUS
\n 16:38.80<\/p>\n
4 KALLU, Sarah
\n Smithfield ASC
\n NSW, AUS
\n 16:47.64<\/p>\n
5 AFFLECK, Jessica
\n Gardens SC Inc
\n QLD, AUS
\n 16:48.49<\/p>\n
6 GEORGE, Katherine
\n Burnside
\n SA, AUS
\n 17:03.77<\/p>\n
7 GORMAN, Melissa
\n Redcliffe Leagues Lawnton SC Inc
\n QLD, AUS
\n 17:04.95<\/p>\n
8 MORGAN, Melissa
\n Burnside
\n SA, AUS
\n 17:07.24<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-zzzzzzzzz"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\r\n