In the lone women’s “open” final of the day at the 2013 Queensland State championships, Australian World Champion Cate Campbell showed that even the world’s greatest can pick up new tricks. Campbell won the women’s 50 LCM freestyle in a very strong 24.36, but it was how she did it that was quite notable.
Tweeting with American sprint counterpart Anthony Ervin after her swim, Campbell revealed that she had met a challenge placed upon her by Ervin: she swam the 50 with no breaths. This was a challenge accomplished by the 21-year old Campbell, and maybe one that she’ll stick with after going a phenomenal in-season time, the best of what is technically a new long course season so far.
Campbell and Ervin toured together for much of the FINA World Cup series this year, and obviously bonded. The bonds formed on this circuit may be the true special part of the World Cup series that is underrated by many swimmers who decline to participate: with months of global travel and more self-led training, athletes have the opportunity to learn from their peers around the world.
Cate’s sister Bronte took 2nd in that race in 24.85, followed by Brittany Elmslie (25.18), Emma McKeon (25.22), and Shayna Jack (25.61). That top 5, a very fast top 5 for a mid-December meet, averaged under 19 years old in age.
In the men’s 50 free, Tommaso D’Orsogna took the win in 22.72, bettering Kenneth To (22.84) and South Korea’s Tae Hwan Park (23.02). D’Orsogna’s win gave a sweep to the Simon Cusack’s Commercial Swimming Club.
18-year old Blake Jones was 4th in 23.18.
In the 17-18 girls’ 200 IM, Taylor McKeown won in 2:15.21, bettering Nudgee Brothers’ Mikkayla Sheridan in 2:16.21. Tomas Elliott took the boys’ 17-18 race in 2:03.50.
Other notable results in the ae group races:
- Jesse Coplick won the girls’ 13 year olds 200 fly in 2:19.71
- Samuel Young took the boys’ 16-year olds 200 free in 1:52.46, beating Max Carleton’s 1:53.50.
- Alanna Bowles won the girls’ 16-year olds 200 free in 2:00.90.
