2016 HANCOCK PROSPECTING AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TRIALS)
- Thursday April 7th-Thursday April 14th
- SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre – Adelaide
- Prelims – 11 am local (9:30 pm EDT previous evening); Finals – 7:45 pm local (6:15 am EDT)
- Australian Olympic Qualifying Criteria
- Psych Sheets
- Program of Events
- Live stream
- Live results
There are two highlight events during the day 6 prelims session of the 2016 Australian Olympic Trials. The first comes in the men’s 50 free, where James Magnussen looks for redemption after missing an individual qualification in the earlier 100 free.
The other comes in the 200 backstroker, where Emily Seebohm is the defending World Champion and presumed favorite, but a deep backstroke group will try and hold off the young 15-year old Minna Atherton for the second spot behind her.
Women’s 200 IM MC – Prelims
14-year old Tiffany Thomas-Kane, the 2015 Swammy Award Winner for Female Para-Swimmer of the Year, burst through the world last year by winning four medals at the 2015 IPC World Championships, including gold in a World Record in the SB6 100 breaststroke.
She’s expanded her range to the 200 IM, now, taking the top qualification into Tuesday’s final with a 3:11.94.
Note: Swimmers are ranked in the para events according to points, with points being assigned by taking a swimmer’s time and comparing it to the World Record in that particular event for their class.
Top 8 Finishers:
- Tiffany Thomas-Kane, 3:11.94
- Katherine Downie, 2:34.80
- Madeleine Scott, 2:39.69
- Lakeisha Patterson, 2:49.72
- Taylor Corry, 2:34.33
- Prue Watt, 2:38.44
- Paige Leonhardt, 2:39.79
- Kayla Clarke, 2:37.35
Men’s 200 IM MC – Prelims
Last year’s bronze medalist Jeremy Tidy will be the top qualifier in the 200 IM tonight with 2:18.21. Liam Schluter came in close behind with 2:18.68, followed by Sean Russo in 2:19.23.
Schluter, a 17-year-old, was the only one of the trio to come in faster than his entry time, dropping three seconds.
Note: Swimmers are ranked in the para events according to points, with points being assigned by taking a swimmer’s time and comparing it to the World Record in that particular event for their class.
Top 8 Finishers:
- Jeremy Tidy: 2:18.21
- Liam Schluter: 2:18.68
- Sean Russo: 2:19.23
- Jacob Templeton: 2:20.46
- Joshua Alford: 2:22.10
- Timothy Disken: 2:22.17
- Brenden Hall: 2:22.61
- Mitchell Kilduff: 2:23.51
Men’s 50 Free – Prelims
- Australian record: Ashley Callus, 21.19
- Olympic qualifying time: 22.02
Two-time Olympic medalist James Magnussen posted a 22.39 to lead the field in the 50 free. After putting up a fourth-place finish in the 100 free yesterday, swimming a second and a half off his best time, he’s punched his ticket to the Rio Games, but he’s still searching for that individual slot. His time wasn’t quite fast enough to crack the world rankings.
The fifth-place finisher in the 100 yesterday, Matthew Abood, grabbed the second seed going into semis with 22.54, while yesterday’s champ Cameron McEvoy scored third with 22.60.
David Morgan came in just behind McEvoy with 22.61, closely followed by Hamish Rose, Andrew Abood, Benjamin Lindsay, and William Stockwell. Only .13 seconds separated third from eighth.
Top 8 Finishers:
- James Magnussen: 22.39
- Matthew Abood: 22.54
- Cameron McEvoy: 22.60
- David Morgan: 22.61
- Hamish Rose: 22.65
- Andrew Abood: 22.66
- Benjamin Lindsay: 22.72
- William Stockwell: 22.73
Women’s 800 Free – Prelims
- Australian record: Jessica Ashwood, 8:18.41
- Olympic qualifying time: 8:26.96
Australian record-holder Jessica Ashwood will be the top seed in the 800 free, after swimming an easy 8:31.60 to come in five seconds from the Olympic qualifying time and thirteen seconds from her best time.
Ashwood finished 20th in the 800 free in London back in 2012, but she has been rising through the distance freestyle ranks ever since. She currently sits second in the world in both the 400 free and the 800 free, in both solidly in between Katie Ledecky and Brittany MacClean. Her season-best in the 800 is an 8:19.59 from the NSW State Open in March.
Tamsin Cook came in over five seconds back with 8:36.84, followed closely by Kiah Melverton in 8:37.13.
Top 8 Finishers:
- Jessica Ashwood: 8:31.60
- Tamsin Cook: 8:36.84
- Kiah Melverton: 8:37.13
- Kareena Lee: 8:39.94
- Moesha Johnson: 8:42.78
- Mikayla Messer: 8:43.99
- Leah Neale: 8:44.02
- Chelsea Gubecka: 8:44.35
Men’s 100 Fly – Prelims
- Australian record: Andrew Lauterstein, 50.85
- Olympic qualifying time: 51.51
The top eight swimmers in the prelims of the men’s 100 fly all came in within .6 seconds of one another, led by 2012 Olympian Christopher Wright. Wright was still over a second off the Olympic qualifying time, and a few tenths off the time needed to make the world rankings.
Grant Irvine was very close behind in 52.77, followed by USC’s David Morgan in 52.85.
Morgan is currently the only Australian in the top 25 world rankings, after swimming a 52.33 in December that scored him 18th.
Top 8 Finishers:
- Christopher Wright; 52.73
- Grant Irvine: 52.77
- David Morgan: 52.85
- Ryan Pini: 52.86
- Tommazo D’Orsogna: 52.97
- Nathaniel Romeo: 53.15
- Glenn Sutanto: 53.33
- Edward Marks: 53.33
Women’s 200 Back – Prelims
- Australian record: Emily Seebohm, 2:05.81
- Olympic qualifying time: 2:09.16
The 200 backstroke is a very crowded field on the international level, and this final has the potential to be one of the most exciting of the week. Currently, five Australian swimmers sit in the world top 25, with four of them taking over the top 10.
Belinda Hocking, currently #9 in the ranks, swam the fastest in prelims this morning, clocking a 2:09.31, just a tenth of her season-best from the Victorian Open.
Madi Wilson, third in the world right now, came in second in 2:09.40, over two seconds off her season best from the Victorian Open, a 2:07.18.
But, the world’s current #1 200 backstroker, ahead of Katinka Hosszu, Wilson, Missy Franklin, Hilary Caldwell, and Maya DiRado, took the third slot this morning. Emily Seebohm swam the event in 2:10.90, taking it easy, a full four seconds from her season-best 2:06.94 from the FINA World Cup meet in Dubai.
Sian Whittaker is the fourth qualifier in 2:10.95, and world #8 Minna Atherton, a fifteen-year-old, scored fifth in 2:11.97.
Top 8 Qualifiers:
- Belinda Hocking: 2:09.31
- Madison Wilson: 2:09.40
- Emily Seebohm: 2:10.90
- Sian Whittaker: 2:10.95
- Minna Atherton: 2:11.97
- Mikkayla Sheridan: 2:12.03
- Amy Forrester: 2:12.06
- Ellen Fullerton: 2:13.45
Women’s 50 Back MC – Prelims
Taylor Corry was the top qualifier in the women’s 50 backstroke multi-class prelims posting a time of 32.40 collecting 931 points. Corry was followed by 15 year old Madeline McTernan who recorded a time of 34.08 earning 800 points and Elizabeth Slack who put up a time of 36.68 which equates to 771 points.
- Taylor Corry – 32.40
- Madeline McTernan – 34.08
- Elizabeth Slack – 36.68
- Nicole Miro – 35.45
- Katja Dedekind – 35.45
- Nicole Fielden – 36.28
- Jaime-Lynn Getson – 36.54
- Amy Cook – 37.01
Men’s 50 Back MC – Prelims
Men 50 Breast – Prelims*
The top three men in the 50 breaststroke prelims finished one one-hundredth after each other. Jake Packard, who will be swimming the 100 breaststroke in Rio, was the top qualifier in the men’s 50 breaststroke posting a time of 27.93. Packard has a best time in the event of a 27.59 at the New South Wales State Championships in March.
Tommy Sucipto, who finished second in the event at last year’s championships had the second fastest qualifying time of 27.94 followed by Joshua Palmer who hit the wall in a time of 27.95.
- Jack Packard – 27.93
- Tommy Sucipto – 27.94
- Joshua Palmer – 27.95
- Buster Sykes – 28.02
- Matthew Treloar – 28.07
- James McKechnie – 28.15
- Matthew Wislon – 28.46
- Grayson Bell – 28.52
Women’s 50 Fly – Prelims*
With some of the country’s top butterfly swimmers, including last year’s gold and silver medalists Brittany Elmslie and Emma McKeon, not entered in 50 butterfly it leaves the event fairly wide open. Sara Saal was the top qualifier recording a time of 26.87. Holly Barratt had the next fastest time of the morning touching in a time of 27.03 followed by Gemma Cooney who posted a 27.13.
- Sara Saal – 26.87
- Holly Barratt – 27.03
- Gemma Cooney – 27.13
- Christopher Licciardi – 27.24
- Marieke D’Cruz – 27.30
- Mikaela Cornelissen – 27.36
- Abby Duncan – 27.45
- Brianna Throssell – 27.47
* – Non Olympic qualifier
Mcevoy reminds me of VDH, great 100 & 200, big candidate for the gold and maybe a “surprise” medal in the 50. Just like VDH did in Sydney. Really something special, not much swimmers that can produce such times across the whole 50 – 200 range!
David Morgan?
Could he step up in the 100 fly
Exquisite timing in the 100 Fly by McEvoy who qualifies 16th. The debate about a potential Fly leg in the medlay relay can continue …
McEvoy needs to swim at least a second quicker then the next best flyer to make it worthwhile. Hoping for someone to swim out of their skin tonight. Amazing with the good freestylers the Aussies have they can’t produce a flyer that comes within 2 seconds of Phelps.
You are exaggerating of course.
Phelps’ textile PB is 50.45 from last year. D’orsogna and Hadler swam 51.9 last year and Wright has swum 51.7
The problem with D’orsogna, Hadler and Wright is something that can be explained acutely by commonwombat.
Well it is difficult to follow in the fine footsteps of Geoff’s cocaine , Nick’s bone crunching jabs & Miller’s pill express.
Auntie Gina,
I love how you always try to provide “in the grand scheme of things” perspectives!
(by the way, I totally got your wisdom about Olympics gold and Muffat’s death)
D’osrsonga & Hadler not swimming at same standard to a sub 52 & I agree with Commonwobat with these 2. Wright is getting older, hopefully someone will step up & limit the damage!!!!
Why 14-year-old McKeown didn’t swim the 200 back? She swam a great 2.10.07 at Australian age group championships 2 weeks ago.
She finished 6th in the 100 back at these olympic trials in 1.00.64.
Could be sick or maybe run down after doing Age Nationals then this meet straight afterwards ? Or maybe with those issues in mind, her coaches felt that she was not likely to be contending for selection and she’s already had a taste of Olympic Trials rather than “run her into the ground”. Next year, there may be a few retirements, she’ll be a year older and maturer, and potentially a legitimate contender for Worlds selection.
Probably had to go back to school!
I was wondering about this too.
Also, how on earth Hayley Baker got DQed in the prelims?
She could have played everything safe and would have qualified easily to semis (she’s swum 2:08 last year).
Now it will only be Hocking, Wilson and Atherton for the second spot. Baker could have made it more interesting.
See the splits from Atherton and Seebohm – strong first and last 50 and very comfortable middle 100. They will be the ones to watch in finals tomorrow night. What happened to Hayley Baker?