Sibling success for the campbell sisters

Sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell started the sixth evening of the 2013 EnergyAustralia Swimming Championships with some excitement finishing one, two in the women’s 100 freestyle. Cate, who put up a world best of 52.83 in the semi-final won the event in a time of 52.92 while Bronte, who swam a lifetime best of 53.72 in the semi-final finished second in a time of 53.85.

“The reward is all that sweeter, I’m on the team to Spain and I’ve got my sister on the seat next to me,” Cate Campbell told news.com.au.

“That is absolutely the best scenario. I was just hoping to possibly have her on a relay team with me. To have her as an individual swimmer with me is just beyond my wildest dreams.”

“Bronte said (to me after the race) I can’t believe it and she is not often lost for words. That was a pretty big moment.”

“I was watching Cate in the stands at the Olympics and it was an amazing feeling when Australia won,” Bronte told the Australian.

“I was crying and I don’t cry very often, and I was just thinking how amazing it would be to be a part of that and be able to share that with my sister as well.”

After having to pull out of the 100 freestyle at the Olympics due to illness Cate talked light heartedly about preventative measures her family may take so that her health will not be an issue in Barcelona, “”So you know what I think that I’m due for a bit of luck,” she said. “I think that my father will try and bubble wrap me.”

Alicia Coutts picked up her fourth medal of the meet finishing third in a time of 54.09 followed by Emma McKeon who posted a time of 54.17.

In the women’s 200 breaststroke Sally Foster took control of the race from start to finish, posting a best time of 2:23.94 to win the event. Foster’s previous best of 2:24.65, which she swam in 2011, ranked third in all time performances by Australian swimmers, her winning time is the third ranked time in the world this year and moves her ahead of Sarah Katsoulis to become the second fastest Australian of all time next to “Lethal” Leisel Jones.

16 year old Jenna Strauch finished second in a time of 2:26.47 followed by Taylor McKeown who finished third posting a time of 2:28.24.

At the halfway point of the men’s 200 backstroke Mitch Larkin led  Ashley Delaney by over half a second and Matson Lawson by almost a full second . Going into the final 50 he still had a substantial lead over Lawson, but in the last 50 meters Lawson swam a 28.99 compared to the 30.58 put up by Larkin.

Lawson won the event in a time of 1:56.59 with Larkin coming second in a time of 1:56.79.Delaney, the  Australian record holder in the event, finished third in a time of 1:57.58.

Buster Sykes won the men’s 200 breaststroke after trailing Jeremy Meyers by over a second at the 100 meter mark. Meyers turned at the halfway point in a time of 1:02.70 while Sykes swam a 1:03.97, Sykes made up that difference and more winning the event in a time of 2:13.25 followed by Meyers who posted a time of 2:13.78.

Sykes was the only one of the two men to finish under the FINA B standard of 2:12.78 and will therefore be the only Australian competing in the event in Barcelona.

Nicholas Schafer finished third in a time of 2:14.45.

In the men’s 100 butterfly semi-final Christopher Wright  qualified in top spot for the final swimming a 51.77, the third fastest time done in the world this year. He was followed by Tommaso D’Orsogna who posted a 52.52 and Kenneth To who finished in a time of 52.74.

Matt Targett qualified first for the men’s 50 freestyle final posting a time of 21.92. He was followed by brother Matthew and Andrew Abood who recorded times of 21.98 and 22.04 respectively.

Belinda Hocking posted the fastest time in the women’s 200 backstroke touching in a time of 2:08.58. She was followed by Meagan Nay who finished in a time of 2:10.06 and Emily Seebohm who recorded a time of 2:10.83.

Alicia Coutts qualified first for the women’s 50 butterfly final finishing in a time of 26.17. Marieke D’Cruz qualified second recording a time of 26.44 followed by Brianna Throssell who qualified third in a time of 26.62.

Taylor Corry (S14) picked up her fourth gold medal of the competition winning the women’s multi-class 100 freestyle in a time of 1:01.62.

Daniel Fox (S14) won the men’s multi-class 100 freestyle in a time of 54.39.

Full results can be found here