Australian swimmers shine at the 2012 EnergyAustralia Swimming Championships – Part 1
The Australian Selection Trials for the 2012 London Olympic Games witnessed scintillating performances of their national stars on initial day of the 2012 EnergyAustralia Swimming Championships at the South Australia Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Adelaide
on Thursday.
The championship is an eight-day swimming event that included two sessions a day and was subject to finalise the Australian team for the London Games.
The morning session of the championship featured preliminary rounds while semi-finals and playoffs were scheduled in the evening session. The first day of the championship marked finals of 400m IM and 400m freestyle while the semi-finals of 100m breaststroke,
50m backstroke and 50m butterfly in Men and Women’s category.
Australia’s great Stephanie Rice, who just recovered from a shoulder surgery, demonstrated her gruelling efforts, and snared gold medal of her pet event, Women’s 400m Individual Medley (IM) with an effort of 4 minutes and 33.45 seconds. She was followed
by Blair Evans and Samantha Hamill, who clocked 4:37.80 and 4:42.69 minutes for second and third position, respectively.
Subsequently, Thomas Fraser-Holmes confirmed his place in the Australian team by pocketing gold medal of the Men’s 400m IM in 4 minutes and 11.81 seconds. His impressive swim remained prominently ahead of Daniel Tranter and Mitch Larkin, who claimed silver
and bronze medals with timings of 4:16.38 and 4:18.38 minutes, respectively.
The third highlighting performance of the event included epic swim of David McKeon, who captured gold medal of the Men’s 400m freestyle by posting a time of 3 minutes and 46.36 seconds. Ryan Napoleon and Robert Hurley stayed marginally slower from McKeon
and ended their races with timings of 3:47.93 and 3:48.60 minutes for second and third place, respectively.
Afterwards, Jessicah Schipper dominated the Women’s 100m butterfly semi-final, where she hit the wall with the timing of 58.26 seconds. Her fastest qualification effort was chased by Alicia Coutts, who ended second in a time of 58.30 seconds. Britta Elmslie
seized third fastest qualification spot of the event with an effort of 59.01 seconds.
In the meantime, Brenton Rickard showered his expertise in the Men’s 100m breaststroke semi-final and snared the top qualification by posting 1 minute and 00.36 seconds. Christian Sprenger clocked a time of 1 minute and 00.56 seconds and stood as the second
best finisher behind Rickard. Nikola Pregelj finished her swim in third place as she tapped the wall with an effort of 1 minute and 01.70 seconds.
Similarly, Emily Seebohm proved her mettle in the Women’s 50m backstroke by hitting the wall with the timing of 27.97 seconds. Her fastest qualification effort was chased by Sophie Edington, who secured second fastest place of the event by producing 28.41
seconds. Tayliah Zimmer remained dominant for the third position and reported a time of 28.91 seconds.
Finally, Geoff Huegill conquered Men’s 50m butterfly semi-final, where he posted a time of 23.58 seconds. He was followed by Christopher Wright, who seized second position with the timing of 23.81 seconds. Subsequently, Ryan Pini submitted a time of 24.01
seconds and transpired as the third position holder of the event.
In addition, the arena acknowledged forceful efforts of all participants in their respective disciplines while the position holders received medals and accolades for their notable efforts at the prize distribution ceremony after the session.
To be continued in Part 2.
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