Australian swimmers shine at the 2012 EnergyAustralia Swimming Championships – Part 16
The scintillating form of Jarrod Poort in the distant freestyle event was highly acknowledged by the audience and subsequently, everyone had their eyes affixed at the last two events of the championship, Men’s 50m backstroke, and Women’s 50m breaststroke.
Benjamin Treffers was the most favourite swimmer for the title of the event, as he dominated his way in the preliminary round and semi-final. The 20-year-old Treffers spoiled the party of his challengers as he cemented his place on the victory stand for gold medal by posting a time of 25.19 seconds.
His nerve-wracking pace remained 1.15 seconds slower from the world record of 24.04 seconds, set by Liam Tancock of Great Britain at the 2009 Rome World Championships.
He also missed the Australian record of 24.81 seconds, set by Ashley Delaney of Nunawading in March 2009.
The gold medallist was followed by Daniel Arnamnart, who remained 0.22 seconds slower from the champion and hit the wall with the timing of 25.41 seconds. The 22-year-old Arnamnart was trailed by Max Ackermann, who stayed nearly two strokes behind the silver medallist and emerged on the finishing end with the timing of 25.82 seconds.
The fourth finest spot of the event was obtained by Andrew Gillespie, who stayed just one stroke away from surpassing Ackermann’s effort and clocked a timing of 25.91 seconds. He remained just a touch ahead of his following swimmer, Joshua Beaver, who earned fifth fastest spot of the event by producing a time of 26.01 seconds.
The sixth spot of the discipline was secured by Bob Jovanovich, who stayed almost two strokes slower from his preceding swimmer and clocked a time of 26.19 seconds.
Following that, the spectators saw mind-blowing performance of Leiston Pickett in the Women’s 50m breaststroke final. The 20-year-old Pickett went full throttle in the single-lap breaststroke event and booked her spot in the Australian team to the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Pickett remained prominently ahead of her challengers and emerged on the victory stand for gold medal by clocking an effort of 30.68 seconds.
Her alluring effort remained nearly one second slower from the world record of 29.80 seconds, made by Jessica Hardy of USA in 2009. She was also 0.52 seconds slower from the Australian and Commonwealth Games record of 30.16 seconds, set by Sarah Katsoulis during 2009.
The champion enjoyed an advantage of 0.60 seconds over defending champion, Katsoulis, who failed to defend her title but succeeded in securing her berth to London Games, by finishing second in the event with the timing of 31.28 seconds.
The silver medallist was followed by 23-year-old Lorna Tonks, who remained just two strokes behind and reached the podium for third position by clocking a time of 31.56 seconds.
Other prominent performances of the event included forceful efforts of 19-year-old Samantha Marshall and Libby Forbes, who secured fourth finishing spot of the event by posting an identical time of 32.35 seconds. The sixth position of the discipline was gained by Amelia Dahlitz, who clocked a time of 32.60 seconds.
The championship ended after the completion of all listed events whereas the podium finishers received awards and accolades for their noteworthy efforts at the prize distribution ceremony of the championship. Furthermore, with the astonishing efforts of Australian swimmers in their exclusive events, it would be interesting to see how they perform at the upcoming Olympics.
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