Belinda Hocking wins Women’s 200m backstroke semi-final – EnergyAustralia Swimming Championships
Belinda Hocking of Albury dominated the Women’s 200m backstroke semi-final on sixth day of the continued 2012 EnergyAustralia Swimming Championships at the South Australia Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Adelaide on Tuesday, March 20.
Hocking, who qualified into the semi-final final as the fastest swimmer, met expectations of her supporters by sustaining her position in the second round of the event. With her alluring efforts, the 21-year-old Hocking remained in a comfortable lead over
her challengers and earned first position of the discipline by posting 2 minutes and 07.79 seconds.
She was chased by St Peters Western Swim Club’s Meagen Nay, who was almost two seconds behind and clocked a timing of 2 minutes and 09.30 seconds to enter the playoff. The 23-year-old Nay also enjoyed an advantage of almost two seconds over Chandler’s Mikka
Sheridan, who ended her sprint in a time of 2 minutes and 11.12 seconds.
Amy Forrester of Clayfield snatched fourth finest qualification spot into the playoff as she posted 2 minutes and 13.33 seconds. She was trailed by Sheridan’s team-member, Ellen Fullerton, who posted 2 minutes and 13.47 second for fifth position.
Next was the Men’s 50m breaststroke semi-final, where Christian Sprenger restored order and upset the defending champion, Southport Olympic Swimming Club’s Brenton Rickard with his nerve-wrecking 27.66 seconds effort. Rickard remained almost 0.50 seconds
slower and reported a time of 28.24 seconds.
He was chased by Max Ireland, who dropped to third best qualifying position by posting 28.42 seconds on the bulletin board.
Subsequently, Jessicah Schipper of Chandler’s spoiled the party of her opponents by seizing top spot of the Women’s 50m butterfly. The 25-year-old Schipper submitted a time of 26.59 seconds for first position.
Her immaculate effort placed her in a lead of 0.02 seconds over City of Perth’s Brianna Throssell, who hit the wall with the timing of 26.61 seconds. Similarly, the 23-year-old Stephanie Rice obtained third qualifying position of the discipline as she clocked
an effort of 26.98 seconds.
The session ended after the conclusion of all scheduled events whereas these finalists will race each other in their respective finals.
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