Swimming Australia has announced their final roster for the 2014 Pan Pac Championships, that will be hosted in the Gold Coast, Australia, and there’s some very significant changes.
For starters, Ellen Gandy has pulled out of the meet due to “personal reasons,” according to a release by Swimming Australia. Gandy swam just average by her lofty standards at the Commonwealth Games – her first major international team representing Australia after changing her citizenship from British.
Gandy was 8th in the 100 fly (58.93), 7th in the 200 fly (2:09.51), and 10th in the 400 IM (4:51.54). While none of those are bad times internationally speaking, none are near her bests either.
In addition, Christian Sprenger is listed as “subject to fitness” for the Commonwealth Games. Midway through the final of the men’s 200 breaststroke on the first day of the Commonwealth Games, he aggravated a shoulder that derailed attempts at any individual medals. Unfortunately, with Australia not having another pure breaststroker on the roster, that meant a silver medal for them in the medley relay as well.
As a backup, the Australians have called up Jake Packard to join the team. He was the lone call-up from an Australian travel squad that went to the LA Invite about two weeks ago to prove their mettle. Packard won that race in a new Meet Record of 1:00.65 in the 100 breaststroke after being 2nd at Australia Trials.
In addition to him, Australia has advance on 8 more swimmers who hit the requisite internal qualifying times at the Commonwealth Games. Matthew Abood, Alanna Bowles, Jayden Hadler, Sally Hunter, Travis Mahoney, Keryn McMaster, Lorna Tonks and Chris Wright will join the swimmers from the Commonwealth Games to make a 43-swimmer roster
“Our plan was always to offer athletes a chance to gain selection onto the team for the Pan Pacs, and it’s especially pleasing to see some of the rookies from this year stepping up in Glasgow and earning selection onto the team for the Gold Coast,” said Swimming Australia Performance Director Michael Scott.
The full Australia roster for the 2014 Pan Pac Championships is below. The meet will run from August 21st-25th.
Men (23): Matthew Abood (NSW), Josh Beaver (VIC), Tommaso D’Orsogna (QLD), Thomas Fraser-Holmes (QLD), Jayden Hadler (NSW), Jordan Harrison (QLD), Mack Horton (VIC), Simon Huitenga (WA), Mitch Larkin (QLD), Matson Lawson (VIC), Travis Mahoney (VIC), James Magnussen (NSW), Rhys Mainstone (WA), Cameron McEvoy (QLD), Ned McKendry (QLD), David McKeon (NSW), Jake Packard (QLD), Jarrod Poort (NSW), Christian Sprenger (QLD)*subject to fitness, Kenneth To (NSW), Daniel Tranter (NSW), Ben Treffers (NSW), Chris Wright (QLD)
Women (20): Jessica Ashwood (NSW), Bronte Barratt (QLD), Alanna Bowles (QLD), Cate Campbell (QLD), Bronte Campbell (QLD), Alicia Coutts (QLD), Brittany Elmslie (QLD), Remy Fairweather (QLD), Madeline Groves (QLD), Chelsea Gubecka (QLD), Belinda Hocking (VIC), Sally Hunter (SA), Kareena Lee (QLD), Emma McKeon (NSW), Taylor McKeown (QLD), Keryn McMaster (QLD), Melanie Schlanger (QLD), Emily Seebohm (QLD), Lorna Tonks (QLD), Jessica Walker (QLD)
