Eamon Sullivan was the story of the preliminaries on the fifth day of the 2014 Australian Swimming Championships. Sullivan posted a time of 22.20, which currently ranks seventh in the world, to lead to the qualifiers in the men’s 50 freestyle.
The 28 year old was a bit of a surprise entry into the meet as there were reports that he was still battling a shoulder injury.
James Magnussen, whose season’s best of 21.88 currently ranks second in the world, was the next fastest qualifier putting up a time of 22.29. Matthew Abood had the third fastest time of the morning posting a 22.44 followed by his brother Andrew who recorded a 22.58 and 100 freestyle national champion Cameron McEvoy who qualified in a time of 22.79.
Men’s 200 backstroke
Mitch Larkin, who won the 100 backstroke earlier in the competition, was the fastest qualifier in the men’s 200 backstroke recording a time of 1:58.86. He was followed by Josh Beaver who qualified second in a time of 1:58.89 and Matson Lawson who posted a time of 1:59.89.
Both Beaver (1:57.67) and Lawson’s (1:57.77) season’s best are currently ranked in the world’s top 10.
Women’s 50 backstroke
Emily Seebohm lead the way in the women’s 50 backstroke qualifying in the top spot with a time of 28.56. Madison Wilson qualified second in a time of 28.78 followed by Belinda Hocking who posted a 28.79.
Earlier in the meet Seebohm won the women’s 100 backstroke in the world fastest time recording a 58.92.
Women’s 200 butterfly
Brianna Throssell qualified first in the women’s 200 butterfly in a time of 2:11.22. Ellen Gandy qualified second in a time of 2:11.87 followed by Madeline Groves who posted a 2:11.87.
Groves (2:06.81) and Gandy (2:07.02) entered the meet ranked first and second in the world in the 200 butterfly.
Men’s 1500 freestyle
18 year old Jordan Harrison, who has recently recovered from wrist surgery after a bicycle accident, was the fastest qualifier in the men’s 1500 freestyle recording a time of 15:27.50. Harrison’s Miami teammate Matthew Levings was the second fastest qualifier posting a 15:29.17 followed by Mack Horton who posted a 15:33.38.
Men’s 200 IM Multi-Class
South Australian swimmer Jesse Aungles maintained a strong lead in the men’s 200m IM SM8 Para Sport this morning earning the number one spot in the final tonight touching the wall in 2:47.33. Aungles will be up against 15-year-old Jordan Dessent who finished in 2:35.13 and Blake Cochrane as they swim for a spot on the 2014 Commonwealth Games team.
Women’s 400m Freestyle Multi-Class
It was smooth sailing for Taylor Corry in the women’s 400m freestyle Multi-Class has she goes through to the final tonight in first place hitting the wall in 4:52.15. Reigning champion Amanda Fowler clocked 5:00.25 taking her through in second place with up and comer Lakeisha Patterson (5:28.39) in third.
Women’s 50m Butterfly Multi-Class
Kayla Clarke will race her rivals in the women’s 50m butterfly Multi-Class finals tonight in an effort to win her third gold medal for the meet. Clarke goes through in first place after hitting the wall in 30.82, with Madeleine Scott in second place finishing in 32.49 and Taylor Corry (31.80) in third.
Men’s 50m Butterfly Multi-Class
Eighteen-year-old Mitchell Kilduff will look to continue his successful meet so far tonight as he shoots through to the final of the men’s 50m butterfly Multi-Class in lane four after finishing in a personal best time of 26.82. With several world records under his belt so far Daniel Fox (27.79) cruises through in second place and South Australian Matthew Cowdrey in third hitting the wall in 28.06.
Love the old school sweeds he’s wearing.
This comment makes me feel sad/old. They looked normal to me.
I mean Sullivan
It will be tough for cielo to get a gold at pan pacs with cielo and adrian. But he could win it at the commonwealth games
Apparently Sullivan was 21.65 in the semis.
Very interesting. Sullivan has never won an individual gold at a major international meet. Depending on how well he does in the final, he could have a pair of very strong medal opportunities at Pan Pacs and Commonwealths.
Pan Pacs is pretty much depending on Facing Cielo and Adrian.. and I would not put Sullivan as a favorite on this race
I’m glad that Sullivan can finally put up great 50 free (in textile). Some people think Sullivan was a rubber suit swimmer a la Rafa Munoz because he scored 21.28 and 47.05.
These people forgot that 2007-2008 was the only full year where he has zero health issues and trained uninterrupted and the results showed.
My prediction is that the aussies coaches will select Sullivan to be in the free relay, knowing that Sullivan has great relays track record.