Across the country from the New South Wales Championships that drew most of the Australian eyes last weekend, the Brisbane Senior Metropolitan Championships had a few very solid swims, especially from their young female sprinters.
With the depth and talent in the Australian women’s freestyle ranks right now, it will be a tall order to tip them in the 400 free relay for quite some time.
In the women’s 50 free heats, Indooroopilly’s Cate Campbell improved her world-leading time from a 24.46 in January to a 24.35 at this meet: breaking the 2004 Meet Record set by the great Alice Milles. Her 18-year old sister, Bronte Campbell, was 2nd best also under the old Meet Record in 25.24. That ranks her 6th in the world. Neither swimmer stuck around for the final of that event.
They would take 1st and 2nd in the 100 free as well, including a stunning 53.33 from Cate. That again knocks just over a tenth from her previous season best and world leader; nobody else has been under 54 seconds in 2013. Bronte was a 54.68 in this race for 2nd place in the final.
14-year old Shayna Jack, with the Australian Age Championships coming up in three weeks, looked very, very fast to win the Campbell-less 50 free open final in 25.81, which just misses her personal best. In the 100 free final, she was a personal best of 55.47 for 3rd place.
Jack swam quite a few races on the weekend, with separate competitions in the “Open” and 14-year old divisions, so her speed held up through enough races to give her good international promise going forward. She also won the 200 free among 14-year olds with a 2:01.85 and the 100 back in 1:03.62.
A pity she was sick in London.
I had tipped her to win bronze in 50 free, repeating Beijing.
If she’s healthy in Barcelona, she’ll give Ranomi a run for her money.
24.3 & 53.3 .
That would get lane 4 I any race on the planet .
Way to go Cate.