Ashwood Has Another Strong Day At The NSW State Championships

After having a fantastic performance in the 800 freestyle on Friday night, Jessica Ashwood returned to the pool on the second night of competition at the New South Wales State Championships in Sydney winning the women’s 400 freestyle in an impressive fashion.

On the first night of competition Ashwood took the 800 freestyle in a time of 8:19.76, setting a new Australian record. In tonight’s events she did quite accomplish the same feat, but did win the women’s 400 freestyle posting a time of 4:05.01, becoming the fourth fastest Australian swimmer of all time in the event.

A member of the 2013 World Championships team, Ashwood did not qualify to swim the 400 freestyle in Barcelona, but her winning time today would have been good enough for fifth.

16 year old Remy Fairweather finished third in a time of 4:07.79 followed by Kylie Palmer who finished third in a time of 4:09.38.

In the men’s 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle world champion James Magnussen, looked like he may of thought he had entered the shorter event, taking out the first 50 meters in a time of 23.89, more than a second faster than the field. He held onto that lead until the 150 meter mark which is when Park Tae Hwan and Cameron McEvoy took over.

Park swam the final 50 meters in a time of 26.98, finishing first in a time of 1:46.05 while McEvoy finished second in a time of 1:46.83. Magnussen held on for third touching in a time of 1:47.69.

This was another very strong in season swim for Park. In 2012 the fastest time that the South Korean put up before arriving in London was a 1:46.09.

Olympic star Alicia Coutts and Madeline Groves had an intense battle for the women’s 100 butterfly. Groves took the early lead turning first at the 50 meter wall in a time of 26.82, but could not hold off the fast moving Coutts who won the event in a time of 57.62. Groves finished second in a time of 57.76 just off her lifetime best time of 57.43, which she posted at just over a month ago at the Victorian Open Championships.

Emma McKeon finished third in a time of 59.36.

On the first day of competition world championships silver medalist Belinda Hocking destroyed the field in the women’s 200 backstroke winning the event by almost four seconds, the 100 backstroke was a different story. Emily Seebohm, who finished third in the 200 backstroke, held the lead in the 100 meter distance from start to finish, eventually taking the event in a time of 59.80.

Hocking was just able to get past Madison Wilson to finish second in a time of 1:00.28 while Wilson finished third in a time of 1:00.32.

Two Japanese women stole the show in the women’s 200 breaststroke. Kanako Watanabe took the event in a time of 2:22.46. 13 year old Runa Imai had an impressive performance finishing second in a time of 2:24.73 which beats her lifetime best time of 2:25.13.

Taylor McKeown finished third in a time of 2:25.48.

Ben Treffers took the men’s 50 butterfly in a time of 24.15 followed by Nathaniel Romeo and Mitchell Patterson who tied for second hitting the wall in a time of 24.20.

Ashley Delaney and Mitch Larkin battled for the title for the men’s 200 backstroke with Delaney eventually winning the even in a time of 1:58.86, eight one-hundredths of a second ahead of Delaney, who finished in a time of 1:58.94. Josh Beaver finished third in a time of 1:59.16.

Ippei Watanabe took the men’s 100 breaststroke in a time of 1:01.89. He was followed by Kohei Goto who finished second recording a time of 1:02.04 and Jake Packard who finished third in a time of 1:02.44.

Yolane Kukla won the women’s 50 freestyle in a time of 25.15. Brittany Elmslie finished second posting a 25.40 followed by Alicia Coutts who finished third in a time of 25.42.

Daniel Tranter was the only men to break the two minute barrier in the 200 IM, winning the event in a time of 1:59.06. Justin James finished second recording a time of 2:00.91 followed by Kenneth To who hit the wall in a time of 2:01.49.

Full results can be found here