2015 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships
- Dates: Friday, April 3 to Friday, April 10, 2015
- Times: prelims 9:30 am, semis/ finals 6:30 pm
- Location: Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre (GMT +11, or 15 hours ahead of N.Y., 18 ahead of L.A.)
- Live Results: Available
- Championship Central
Day Two of the 2015 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships got underway in Sydney, and Swimming Australia streamed the whole thing live on YouTube. The national championship is doubling as a selection meet for both the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia, and the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
This is a prelims/semis/finals meet (with the exception of 400 meters and above, as well as IPC events); 16 make it back for semis, while only 8 compete in the final. Day Two’s prelims include 50 free multi-class, women’s 100 back, men’s 100 back, women’s 100 breast, men’s 200 free, and women’s 1500.
Women 12 & Over 50 Freestyle Multi-Class
- Title Holder: 30.13 – Maddison Elliott, Novocastrian, 4/1/2014
Ellie Cole (S9) of Castle Hill, who won the 100 backstroke multi-class last night, produced the morning’s fastest qualifying time with 29.84. Richmond Valley’s Jacqueline Freney (S7) qualified second for tonight’s final with 32.69. 13-year-old Tiffany Thomas Kane (S6) of Ravenswood, who between prelims and finals of yesterday’s 100 back dropped over 5 seconds, qualified third in 36.04, a new PB.
Defending champion Maddison Elliott (S8) of NU Swim qualified fourth in 31.40. Corry Taylor (S14) of Nelson Bay just missed the “A” final with her 28.87 and will thus lead the qualifiers in the “B” final tonight.
Men 12 & Over 50 Freestyle Multi-Class
- Title Holder: 24.77 – Daniel Fox, Chandler, 4/1/2014
Mitchell Kilduff (S14) of Menai led the qualifiers in the men’s 50 free multi-class with 25.21, only .04 off his best time. Matthew Levy (S7) of Cranbrook EE qualified second, dropping .3 and coming to the wall in 28.47. Joshua Alford (S14) of Tuggeranong Vikings went a best time by .07 to qualify third for tonight’s final. Timothy Disken (S9) from PLC Aquatic dropped over .3 in prelims and earned the fourth spot for finals. Andrew Pasterfield (S10), who came in with the fastest seed time, went 24.72 and took the fifth qualifying spot.
There will be “A” and “B” finals for both the women’s and men’s 50 free multi-class.
Women 100 Backstroke – Prelims
- Australian: 58.23 – 7/28/2012 Emily Seebohm, Brothers
- Title Holder: 58.92 – 4/3/2014 Emily Seebohm, Nudgee Brothers
- FINA: 1:00.24
Second-seeded Madison Wilson of St Peters Western turned in the top time of the morning with 59.38, a best time by .4. Defending champion and Australian record-holder, Emily Seebohm of Brothers, cruised to a 1:00.28, qualifying second for tonight’s semi-final. Hayley Baker from Melbourne Vicentre was third in 1:01.36.
Men 100 Backstroke – Prelims
- Australian: 52.97 – 8/11/2008 Hayden Stoeckel, Norwood
- Title Holder: 53.46 – 4/2/2014 Mitch Larkin, St Peters Western
- FINA: 53.81
Defending champion Mitch Larkin of St Peters Western held his top seeding and went through to the semi-finals with 53.79. The second-fastest time out of prelims belonged to Robert Gerlach of Brothers, who improved his seed time by .6 for 54.63. Ashley Delaney of Nunawading went 54.92 to qualify third for tonight’s semis.
A big prelims drop sent Will Stockwell through at seventh, with 55.59. Stockwell, who swims with the Yeronga Club in Brisbane, is the son of Australian Olympian and former Florida Gator, Mark Stockwell, and Tracy Caulkins.
Women’s 100 Breaststroke – Prelims
- Australian: 1:05.09 – 3/20/2006 Leisel Jones, Commercial
- Title Holder: 1:07.31 – 4/5/2014 Lorna Tonks, Indooroopilly
- FINA: 1:07.12
Jennie Johansson of Sweden led the qualifiers in the women’s 100 breast with 1:07.31, beating her seed time by 4/100. Defending champion Lorna Tonks of Indooroopilly had the morning’s second-fastest time in 1:08.63. Just behind her was 17-year-old Georgia Bohl of Chandler and Taylor McKeown of Indooroopilly (1:09.01).
The top 8 were all under 1:10. With only 8 making it through to the final, tonight’s semi-final is shaping up to be quite a race. The other sub-1:10s included Leiston Pickett of Southport Olympic (1:09.03), Sally Hunter of Marion (1:09.19), Jessica Hansen of Nunawading (1:09.30), and Tessa Wallace of PWCAL (1:09.78).
Men’s 200 Freestyle – Prelims
- Australian: 1:44.06 – 7/25/2001 Ian Thorpe, SLC Aquadot
- Title Holder: 1:45.46 – 4/1/2014 Cameron McEvoy, Palm Beach
- FINA: 1:47.31
Tonight’s men’s 200 free looks as if it will be another tight semi-final. Chandler’s David McKeon notched the fastest prelims time (1:47.72), but only by 1/100 over Daniel Smith of Miami (1:47.73). Defending champion Cameron McEvoy of Palm Beach went 1:48.31 to qualify third for semis. Regan Leong went a best time in the morning to place fourth with 1:48.40, while Thomas Fraser-Holmes of Miami went 1:48.49 for fifth. Ned McKendry of Chandler was sixth with 1:48.64, Mack Horton of Melbourne Vicentre, seventh (1:48.83), and Bobby Hurley of Ravenswood improved his seed time by .7 to qualify eighth.
Women’s 1500 Freestyle – Prelims
- Australian: 16:01.53 – 8/21/2010 Melissa Gorman, Redcliffe League
- Title Holder: 16:17.36– 4/6/2014 Laura Crockart, Ryde-Carlile
New Zealand’s Lauren Boyle just tore through the prelims of the 1500, holding 1:04s throughout and finishing just 11 seconds off her entry time, in 16:06.72. Boyle finished nearly 100 meters before the next-fastest competitor.
Only the top 8 out of prelims will dispute the title on Sunday night. In addition to Boyle, qualifiers include Chelsea Gubecka of Kawana Waters (16:54.59), Kareena Lee of Mountain Creek Mooloolaba (17:09.62), her teammate Phoebe Hines (17:09.86, a half-second drop), 14-year-old Molly Batchelor of Melbourne Vicentre (17:19.88, best by .5), 15-year-old Madeleine Gough of Sawtelle (17:20.36, best by 11.3), 14-year-old Laura Davy of CA Tritons (17:23.08, best by 18.5), and Nerice Smith of Nunawading (17:27.27, best by 14.4).
DanJohnRob,
I don’t think you would want to be vacationing in Bali with a bunch of Aussies who want let their hair down.
Seriously. This is coming from someone who have lived in Bali, traveled frequently to Bali and has affinity towards the Aussies.
Or, on a second thought, maybe you like it…..
Well, winning the Medley Relay at Worlds just got a LOT easier because AUS won’t have a men’s breaststroker! LOL! Their backstroke champion, Larkin, didn’t make their “F” standard in finals either; do you think they’ll let him go to Worlds because he made the time in semi’s? Somehow I think they’ll be sending at least 1 backstroker and breaststroker for the men, but the US boys will be more rested because they won’t have to swim prelims and finals like the Aussies!
Also, their best female 200 IM swimmer this season, Seebohm, didn’t make the F time either. Does that mean they don’t send ANYBODY? What, the country would be too embarrassed if their athlete doesn’t make finals, so… Read more »
The AUS women’s butterfliers sure did well though, and Rafael is right, Coutts placed 3rd, so she’s off the World Team. Emma McKeon and Maddie Groves were both under 57.5! In fact, AUS had 4 women under 58! Geez, fast!
It’s still semis for men’s 100 back. Larkin and the others will have chance tomorrow.
Even if qualified for 200 IM, I doubt Seebohm will swim 200 IM in Kazan. She qualified for final in Barcelona and withdrew to focus on 100 back. The sad thing is, Kotuku Ngawati who’s still quite young and can only improve, swam a time that would have finished 8th in Barcelona’s prelims. And yet she’s not going. Krazy.
USA will never have such a stupid selection criteria. Its Kazan Worlds team have been selected anyway (from last year Nats and Pan Pacs). For USA, it’s always been anyone who finish top two in their events and under FINA A, and you’re set to go.… Read more »
Oh sorry, you’re right about the men’s 100 back, my bad! Still, I’d like this clarified: if an athlete comes in top 2 and doesn’t swim the F time in finals but did swim it in an earlier round, does that count?
I think calling the standard an F time makes sense, becaue if you don’t make it you’re F@#$%d!
Maybe the Brits will cry but Aussies will think -ok Bali here I come!
By “Bali” I assume you mean vacation? Well, that sounds great to me too, but how does that improve the AUS team?
I don’t think that is on their minds . 🙂
OK, I understand now. Well then sign me up for a vacation in Bali with the AUS swimmers who don’t make F cuts! I can’t imagine a better group to have fun in the sun with me! 🙂
Due to this rule no australian on 100 men breast And women 200im! Seebohn out!
On 100 fly mckeon and groves. Coutts out!
Until now no one reached men 100 back and women 100 breast times!
Amazing Hackett 1:47:42 if he can keep it he Will probably be in!
I kept underestimating Hackett. His results so far have been beyond fantastic. 3:46 and 1:47 are just crazy.
Denis Cotterell has outdone himself as well.
My questions to the Australians:
Why is there a “FINA F” times on the live results?
It seems it is the slowest time to final for 2013 Barcelona, which are far far tougher than FINA A qualifying times.
For example, FINA A time for women 400 free is 4:12.47, while the FINA F as listed by australian swimming in the live result is 4:06.02
Do australian swimmers need to go under these so called FINA F times? if they do, then this is very stupid.
the first two finishers in women 400 free are Jessica Ashwood (4:05.58) and Leah Neale (4:06.84)
If Australia stick to FINA A, both swimmers will go to Kazan, but if they… Read more »
Found the answer.
http://www.swimming.org.au/visageimages/1_SAL/HPU_Selection_Criteria/2015%20World%20Champs%20-%20Selection%20Criteria%20-%20Athlete%20-%20FINAL%20200215.pdf
Yes the aussies have to beat Barcelona’s finals times to qualify for Kazan
Now I can say that the Swimming Australia have gone insane.
It is a ridiculous policy but it has been in place for a number of years now.
Oh, I thought it was new. Was it in place before London?
No, these standards are new.
In 2012 Olympics trials you had to go FINA A
Sorry, I worded my comment above wrong. Tougher qualifying standards by Australian Swimming are not new, but I am hard-pressed to recollect the last time the qualifying standards were this tough.
I know Australia wants its swimmers to win more medals in international championships, and I know setting up tough qualifying standards gives athletes a high target to shoot for, but I agree with Aswimfan, all these superlative qualifying times are ridiculous! Athletes train hard and come to the qualifying meet and do their best. Having a higher standard will prevent them from missing semi’s, but not improve performance; to improve performance you must change training! I think the experience young Leah Neale (for example) would get from competing at Worlds would be the absolute BEST motivation to train harder and achieve more in the future! Ugh, the world’s gone mad!
Oh they will let them in. It has been a quiet domestic season after a busy 2014. Some might be better off just staying home , training & getting some school/uni /work done & build up for next year.
Even if selected ,only those ready to bring an A game should accept a spot. I have to warn the females & some of the guys, there is nothing for them there in Kazan. Unlike London ,no use deliberately bombing out in heats & thinking of going shopping coz the mall has gone -the whole 5 acres block burnt down 2 weeks ago . That is it girls !
For any boozos Kazan is the capital of the Tartar… Read more »
To be fair , they are not really Ghengis Unlimited ,they did exist prior . Ghengis just brought persuasive ideas about assimilation.
The athlete is required to swim the FINA time listed in the live results detail. These same times can be found on the Australian Swim page under Athletes – Selection Criteria. However there are clauses that allow for selection otherwise but the only safe swim is the swimmer that swims on or under the qualifying time.
We have the same problem in Britain – Although we tend to fill our squad after the event with 2nd place finishers.
A few British Swimming qualification standards (women winning);
50FR – 24.3
100FR – 53.4
200FR – 1.55.9
400FR – 4.04
800FR – 8.21
Relay combined times;
400FR – 3.34.4
800FR – 7.45.5
400MR – 3.55.6
To qualify automatically finishing 2nd you need to go faster than the winner, example is 24.01 for 50FR!!!
Saving grace is that selectors are doing this so they can ensure the squad size doesn’t exceed the amount of swimmers they can take – So post trials, event slots will be filled by selectors. Still, quite silly if you ask me.
It’s silly because it creates a LOT of uncertainties and the swimmers’s fate depend much on the selectors’ kindness. Will open many doors for appeal etc.
DEE, Silly is too nice a word, if you ask me! I don’t think getting on the team should be subjective. I guess it’s better to know the champion gets to go, but then you’re not giving a potentially younger, or less experienced athlete the experience of swimming in the “big meet”. Isn’t it bad enough to only be able to send 2 athletes from a whole country!
the british time cut in the free for the men are insane !
50 m 21.25
100 m 48.13
200 m 1.45.63
400 m 3.44.58
1500 m 14.51.06
4×100 free relay 3.12.63
4×200 free relay 7.04.40
Grant Hackett qualifies 3rd in 200 free with a 1:47.42
I got to watch prelims via a YouTube livestream… but I can’t watch finals? This is stupid… only Australians can watch finals?
Hackett is not (yet) mentioned in the article. He went 1:49.09 to qualify for 10th good for him. He needs to improve on his time cause the field looks really tough. I also saw James Magnussen on the list; He swam 1:50.90 and placed 19th.
This 200m final will be a ripper! Looking for Tommy Fraser-Holmes to really put his foot down in it.