Morgan Beats Out Simpson In 50 Fly To Open Aussie Short Course Championships

2023 AUSTRALIAN SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2023 Australian Short Course Championships kicked off today from Sydney Olympic Aquatic Centre, with the competition spanning four days.

Right off the bat, Olympian Maddie Gough made her presence known, owning the women’s 1500m freestyle race from start to finish. The 24-year-old put up a solid time of 15:45.69 to get to the wall over 45 seconds ahead of the next-closest competitor.

Gough of Carlile has been as quick as 15:31.19 in her career, a time she logged at the 2020 Short Course Championships. Her performance this evening checks in as her 4th fastest effort.

The men’s 100m breaststroke saw one swimmer dip under the 58-second barrier, courtesy of 19-year-old Haig Buckingham. Buckingham stopped the clock in a result of 57.85, opening in 27.13 and closing in 30.72. Next was Nash Wilkes who earned silver in 58.01 while Yannik Zwolsman also landed on the podium in 59.16 as the bronze medalist.

David Morgan and Cody Simpson dueled in the men’s 50m fly, with the pair ultimately separated by just .08 when all was said and done. 29-year-old Olympic Morgan touched in 22.85 while Griffith University ace Simpson settled for silver in 22.93. They were the only competitors to get under the 23-second threshold in the final.

Cruiz Swim Club athlete Abbey Webb topped the women’s 200m free podium in a time of 1:55.43, beating the field by well over a second. The men’s edition had Joel Ivory as its winner, with the Knox Pymble swimmer notching 1:45.41 to knock .32 off of his previous personal best in the 2free event.

In para swimming, Jack Ireland crushed a new World Record in the S14 class of the 200m free. His time of 1:51.55 bested his previous PB of 1:52.49 by nearly one minute.

Additional Winners

  • Melbourne Vicentre’s Tara Kinder hit a time of 1:06.78 to take the women’s 100m breaststroke event.
  • Marion’s 27-year-old Ellysia Oldsen was the top 50m flyer for the women, posting 26.56 for the gold.
  • Two women dipped under the 1:00 barrier in the 100m back, led by 16-year-old Mackenzie Burns. The teen punched an effort of 59.48 for a monster personal best by 2 seconds while Nunawading’s Jessica Wilson, also 16, produced 59.85. That’s her first-ever foray under 1:00 as well.
  • The men’s 100m back saw All Saints’ Thomas Hauck get it done in 52.50 but he was pressured by Kai Van Kool and Hayden Hoang. 21-year-old Van Kool of Griffith touched just .20 later in 52.70 while 17-year-old Hoang was also under 53 with a mark of 52.90.

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Oceanian
1 year ago

So hard to find Aussie SC thread when fronnt page is full of 50 stories about ‘New Shower Cleaner Lady at Gator Pool’ lol

Not world-shattering times but still decent swims from C2 and Cody.

Troyy
1 year ago

I just noticed some swift swims from 19 yo Joshua Collett from a meet in England a month ago that I think went unreported. All breaststroke: 27.50/1:00.44/2:13.71. That makes him about on par with Buckingham who’s the same age.

Oceanian
1 year ago

Bit of a low-key meet as we don’t take SC swimming too seriously, but always interested to see the young guns taking a step up and hoping they can translate it into 50m lengths later in the season.

Troyy
Reply to  Oceanian
1 year ago

Not many of the best juniors are there either.

SNygans01
1 year ago

That would seem to be a really good swim by Buckingham, though not sure of his SC PB.

Note also that MacKenzie Burns swam significantly faster in her heat (sub-59). Only 16yo – another of that vintage (after Jaclyn Barclay) in the backstroke that looks a v good prospect.

Samboys
1 year ago

You missed the men’s 800 free.

Sweet Sweet Peter Rosen
1 year ago

Cody doing pretty good!

Owlmando
Reply to  Sweet Sweet Peter Rosen
1 year ago

Really rooting 4 him to make Olympic team

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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