Alexandra Purcell wins Women’s 50m freestyle heats – EnergyAustralia Swimming Championships
Alexandra Purcell of Southport Olympic Swimming Club won top spot in the preliminary rounds of Women’s 50m freestyle on day seven of the 2012 EnergyAustralia Swimming Championships at the South Australia Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Adelaide on Wednesday,
March 21.
Purcell stunned the aquatic crowd with her immaculate effort in the qualification round as she seized the top qualification spot of the discipline.
The 16-year-old Purcell smothered hopes of her challengers by occupying top finish in the single lap freestyle event with the timing of 25.05 seconds. With her impressive performance, she remained just 0.01 seconds ahead of Therese Alshammar of Sweden, who
qualified into the semi-final as second best swimmer with the timing of 25.06 seconds.
The 34-year-old Alshammar was chased by Libby Trickett of Chandler, who suffered a loss of only 0.06 seconds from her former finisher and qualified into the final as third finest swimmer with an effort of 25.12 seconds.
Subsequently, Cate Campbell of Indooroopilly remained 0.04 seconds slower from her preceding swimmer as she hit the finishing end with an effort of 25.16 seconds. The 19-year-old Campbell stayed 0.13 seconds ahead of her team-member, Bronte Campbell, who
reached the semi-final as fifth fastest swimmer by completing her race in a time of 25.29 seconds.
The sixth spot of the event was obtained by Yolane Kukla of St Peters Western Swim Club, who stayed just an inch away from overpowering her former swimmer and clocked a time of 25.34 seconds.
The 16-year-old Kukla stayed just 0.01 seconds faster from Olivia Halicek of University of New South Wales, who secured seventh position of the discipline by posting a time of 25.35 seconds. Marieke Guehrer of Melbourne occupied eighth position of the event
as she finished her race by producing an effort of 25.39 seconds.
Britta Elmslie and Alice Tait qualified as ninth and tenth position holders with timings of 25.48 and 25.49 seconds, respectively.
The crowd appreciated remarkable sprints of all contestants in the first round of 50m discipline while these swimmers will contest each other in the semi-final, where top eight finishers will secure their place in the playoff.
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