Bronte Barratt captures Women’s 200m freestyle gold: Day three – 2012 NSW State Open Championship
Olympic gold medallist and Australian 200m freestyle specialist, Bronte Barratt defended her national title by capturing gold medal of the Women’s 200m freestyle on day three of the 2012 New South Wales State Open Championships at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on February 12.
Barratt confronted a strong contest from Melanie Schlanger and Angie Bainbridge in the first two laps of the swim, but with her noteworthy struggles, she took a lead over her rivals and cemented her place on the victory stand for gold medal.
The 25-year-old Schlanger emerged as the fastest swimmer in the first lap, where she clocked a time of 27.45 seconds. She was trailed by Barratt, who was just a touch slower from her and covered her initial lap with an effort of 27.61 seconds while Bainbridge posted 27.94 seconds and remained third fastest swimmer.
The 22-year-old Bainbridge turned out as a serious threat to her challengers in the second lap, where she ended her first round in a finest time of 57.32 seconds. She was chased by Schlanger and Barratt, who enveloped the equivalent distance with an effort of 57.34 and 57.48 seconds, respectively.
The tables turned in the third lap, where the 23-year-old Barratt elevated her efforts and concluded 150 metres of the race in a time of 1 minute and 27.36 seconds. She was trailed by Schlanger and Bainbridge, who wrapped up the same distance in 1:27.56 and1:27.85 minutes, respectively.
Barratt continued her eye-catching pace in the final lap and hit the finishing wall in a fastest time of 1 minute and 56.92 seconds for gold medal. She remained only 0.40 seconds ahead of Schlanger, who secured second position by clocking 1 minute and 57.32 seconds.
The third spot of the race was seized by Bainbridge, who remained 0.61 seconds slower from her foregoing competitor and reported 1 minute and 57.93 seconds.
The three-day NSW event saw blistering performances of national swimmers in their respective events but the crowd went wild with the breathtaking efforts of Barratt. In addition, the podium finishers collected their medals at the prize distribution ceremony of the championship.
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