The opening night of the 2013 Australian Short Course Championships, held at the Sydney Olympic Park, hosted just two races, but they were a big two.
In the non-Olympic women’s 1500 short course meters freestyle, 18-year old Laura Crockart broke the Commonwealth Record with a 15:45.89. That crushes the old record of 15:51.74 set by Great Britain’s Rebecca Cooke in May of 2005, as well as the Australian National Record set by Stacey Gurtrell with a 15:58.61 more than 20 years ago, in 1992.
The only remaining Australian record from pre-2000 is the men’s SCM 400 IM, which Matthew Dunn set in 1998 with a 4:04.2.
Crockart swam a very controlled, closing-heavy race. Her first 400 meters, where she split 4:13.57, actually saw her in a big hole to 14-year old Chelsea Gubecka (who also broke the old National Record in 15:54.69). Crockart’s first 400 meters, though, was her slowest 400 meters, as she was on about a 4:11 pace the rest of the way, including a 4:11.1 on her last 400.
In the only other final on day 1, 16-year old Mitchell Davenport-Wright was not close to the National Record, but he did win his first senior National Championship with an 8:02.82. Jacob Hansford from Atlantis in New South Wales closed in on him over the last 100 meters, but wound up 2nd in 8:03.31. Dylan Warren from Nunawading was 3rd in 8:05.41.
I guess the men’s 1,500 record will likely to last twice longer.
(hint: it is still the current longest standing WR, men or women, SCM or LCM, by quite a number of years).
If I’m not mistaken, there is a big mistype. 14:45 doesn’t seem right
That’s 15:45*.