The 100 freestyle was expected to be the big story on Friday at the New South Wales Championship. Most thought it would be the men’s race and James Magnussen, but as it turns out, it was the women’s race that steals the headlines in the first day’s prelims.
Melanie Schlanger took the top seed in 54.60, but more significantly, Libby Trickett had by far the best race of her comeback with a 54.87 for the 2nd overall seed. That is about 8-tenths faster than she’s been since coming out of retirement. That would have tied her for 8th in the Australian National Rankings last year, and only two tenths out of the top 6, and a potential spot in the Olympics. If she can drop even a couple-of-tenths, get ready for some big-time buzz to begin for a swimmer who many had written off.
In the men’s race, Magnussen put up a modest 49.14 for the top seed, though expect him to be much faster in this evening’s finals session. Cameron McEvoy is the 2nd seed in 49.74.
Korean star Tae Hwan Park, who is training in Australia, took the top seed in the men’s 400 free with a 3:50.0. David McKeon chased him with a great morning swim of 3:50.9. That’s within two seconds of his best from all of last year.
More recaps after tonight’s finals.
49.02……he did it again john26, interesting thing is that this is one second slower then he swam 2 weeks ago at Adelaide.
is the 11th qualifier for women’s 100 free Melissa Mitchell who made the 2004 olympic team? Her age seems about right… from memory she made the team in the 200 free but did not swim and was not really heard of since
probably the last time we will see a 49 from Magnussen in over a year.
Go, Libby, Go!