There were only two events that serve as selection events for the 2014 World Short Course Championships on Saturday in Adelaide, Australia. The 2014 Australian Championships continued to be a playground for Emily Seebohm as she earned her 3rd event title and fourth qualifying swim for Worlds.
This latest win came in the 200 IM, where she swam a 2:07.54 that is just over a second short of her own lifetime best in the event. Seebohm was lifetime bests in her three previous swims (100 back, 200 back, 100 IM), so while her win was commanding, the time might not be what it appears on the surface.
She was on pace for a lifetime best before pulling way back on the freestyle finish, however. Coming in 2nd to her was Ellen Fullerton in 2:09.84, which is also under the qualifying time for Worlds.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Australia has renewed its commitment to short course worlds, at least as a federation with many top swimmers absent in Adelaide this week. The team will take the top two swimmers in each Olympic distance from this week’s meet, presuming they make the qualifying times seen on the last page here. Assuming there’s room, and the medley relays are completed, then the 3rd and 4th best 100 and 200 freestylers go as well.
The standards are tough, but reasonable, for a country at the level of Australia to make the investment to send its athletes around the world. The tougher matter will be deciding which of the 20 will go, and that will be based upon the swimmers with the highest two-per-country rankings will go.
Not all swimmers in Adelaide this week have confirmed their intent to participate at the 2012 World Short Course Championships according to the team’s media manager Ian Hanson, so there’s still some moving and shifting that could happen.
Full, live results available here.
Other Individual Event Finals
Women’s 100 Breaststroke – Finals
Southport’s Leiston Pickett moved to two-for-two in the women’s breaststrokes, adding this 100 meter race to her earlier win in the 50 breaststroke. Pickett swam a 1:05.21 to beat out Sally Hunter’s 1:05.34.
Pickett built her lead through the first 75 of this race, and while the 200 specialist Hunter came back some on the closing 25, giving her good hope of the win in Sunday’s 200 breaststroke, Pickett’s lead was enough for her to hold on.
Nunawading’s Jessica Hansen was 3rd in 1:05.76, followed by Lorna Tonks (1:05.81) and the youngest swimmer in the final, 17-year old Georgia Bohl (1:05.90).
Men’s 50 fly – FINALS – NON SELECTION
The top three finishers in the men’s 50 fly all came within a tenth of a second of each other, led by Commercial teammates Jayden Hadler (23.06) and Tommasso D’Orsogna (23.13). Daniel Lester placed 3rd in 23.14.
TENTATIVE SWIMMERS ELIGIBLE
Below, we’ve listed those who have hit qualifying standards, though nobody’s invitation is official until swimmers start to double-up on events.
Another day of competition is complete, and things are starting to get very tight on the men’s side as the combined team of men and women is now over the cap for 20 There will be no men’s qualifying event finals on Saturday, so that roster will stay pat until Sunday The 3rd-and-4th place finishers in the relays are now all-but-eliminated from consideration.
The women’s roster remains fairly compact thanks to a lot of doubles so far. With Emily Seebohm swimming very well, and as the favorite in the 200 IM, expect it to stay that way through Saturday. The women’s 100 breaststroke will add two new swimmers in the other final, which should leave this squad at just 10 or 11 individual qualifiers heading into the final day on Sunday.
QUALIFYING-STANDARD SWIMS, TOP 2
Men
- Cameron McEvoy, PBC: 200 free – 1:43.09
- David McKeon, Chandler: 200 free – 1:43.43, 400 free – 3:38.17
- Mitch Larkin, St. Peter’s Western: 100 back – 49.25
- Bobby Hurley, Trinity Grammar: 100 back – 50.20
- Travis Mahoney, Nunawading: 400 IM – 4:04.96
- Jared Gilliland, Nudgee Brothers: 400 IM – 4:08.26
- Jake Packard, Indooroopily: 100 breast – 57.92
- Tommy Sucipto, Leasurepark Lazers: 100 breast – 58.33
- David Morgan, TSS Aquatic: 100 fly – 50.77
- Jordan Harrison, Miami: 500 free – 3:39.27
- Thomas Fraser-Holmes, Miami: 200 IM – 1:54.86
- James Justin, Mackay: 200 IM – 1:55.29
Women
- Brianna Throssell, Perth City: 200 fly – 2:04.73, 800 free – 8:16.19
- Keryn McMaster, Waterworx: 400 IM – 4:29.24
- Ellen Fullerton, Nudgee Brothers: 400 IM – 4:31.15
- Emily Seebohm, Nudgee Brothers: 100 back – 55.47, 200 back – 2:01.87
- Madison Wilson, St. Peter’s Western: 100 back – 56.97, 200 back – 2:01.75
- Jessica Ashwood, Chandler Swim Club: 800 free – 8:16.77
- Emma McKeon, Chandler Swim Club: 100 free – 51.83
- Bronte Campbell, Commercial: 100 free – 52.14
- Leiston Pickett, Southport: 100 breast – 1:05.21
- Sally Hunter, Marion Swim Club: 100 breast – 1:05.34
POTENTIAL RELAY SWIMMERS, IF THERE’S ROOM
Men
- Daniel Smith, Miami: 200 free – 1:43.50
- Kurt Herzog, Southport: 200 free – 1:43.58
Women
- Brittany Elmslie, St. Peter’s Western: 100 free – 52.66
- Marieke D’Cruz, Southport: 100 free – 52.97
Semi-Finals, Relay Finals
- Emily Seebohm has set herself up for another victory in Adelaide, before her 200 IM win, she swam to the top seed in the 50 backstroke with a 26.37, beating out Madison Wilson in 26.71. Those two have had a great battle in the backstrokes all week, though Seebohm has been better in the sprints. She might go after the National Record of 25.98 in this race with no important selection events for her on the meet’s final day on Sunday.
- Cameron McEvoy leads the way into another sprint free final after a 47.00 in the 100 free semis. Tommasso D’Orsogna (47.28), who is still looking for even a potential invite to the Short Course World Championships, is the second qualifier, and 50 free champion Matthew Abood is 3rd in 47.62.
- Bronte Campbell topped the women’s 50 free semis in 23.96, which puts her within two-tenths of a second of the Australian All-Comers Record. Brittany Elmslie is 2nd in 24.27 and Marieke D’Cruz is 3rd in 24.45.
- Emma McKeon, arguably the Swimmer of the Meet through four days, is in position to take yet another title after a 56.56 in the 100 fly semi-finals. Nobody was close to her on Saturday, but Brittany Elmslie (57.69), Marieke D’Cruz (57.96), and Brianna Throssell (58.25) all seem capable of breaking under 57 and making this final a battle. McKeon’s siwm ties her for 5th on the all-time list in Australia.
- Daniel Lester, primarily a butterflier, swam a very fast 100 IM in the semi-finals to be the top qualifier in 53.69. Jack Gerrard is 2nd in 54.34 and Justin James is 3rd in 54.40.
- Joshua Palmer took the top seed in the men’s 50 breaststroke in what should be another very tight final. Jake Packard is the 2nd qualifier in 27.14, and Polish National Michal Zawadka is 3rd in 27.16.
A lot of talk on Chalmers but Matt Wilson, 15, think late Dec turns 16 has put in some high quality swims100/200 breast 1 flat/2:08 plus a 4:15 400 IM.
Given the state of Aust 200 breast he is a more than decent chance to be a bolter for rio given his 2:14 LCMs breast at junior pan packs. Probably too early next year to make the worlds team but junior worlds would give him an international platform before stepping up with the big boys.
Emma McKeon, by far the swimmer of the meet, will add tomorrow the 100 fly and the 200 free to her collection of titles this week. Too bad the 200 free is after the 100 fly because I think she could have broken the Pellegrini’s world record. We’ll see.
Kyle Chalmers in 48.65 in the 100 free semi-finals. Not qualified for the final.