Marieke Guehrer wins Women’s 50m freestyle title: Second day – 2011 Australian University Games
The 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Marieke Guehrer of Australia won gold medal in Women’s 50m freestyle on the second day of the 2011 Australian University Games. The session ended on Wednesday, September 28, at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre,
Queensland.
Guehrer, who stands 35th on the overall Federation International de Natation (FINA) rankings table, clinched the title of 50m event in a sterling time of 25.73 seconds. Her effort was 0.52 seconds slower than her best effort of 25.21 seconds,
which she posted earlier in 2011. Nevertheless, the gold medallist was 0.01 seconds under her own Games Record of 25.73 seconds, set by Guehrer in 2009.
With her outshining effort, the Australian Universiade veteran remained 0.94 seconds ahead of her team-member, Jessica Morrison, who produced a notable effort of 26.67 seconds for silver medal. Morrison was chased by Griffith University’s swimmer, Ashleigh
McCleery, who was only 0.15 seconds slower than her former finisher and secured the podium for bronze medal with a deserving effort of 26.82 seconds.
Fourth spot of the swim was obtained by Macquarie University’s Melissa Rudgley, as she was 0.07 seconds behind McCleery and completed her swim in a time of 26.89 seconds. Rudgley was 0.05 seconds faster from her closest competitor, University of Sydney’s
Mel Houghton, as she appeared on the finishing wall with a fifth fastest time of 26.94 seconds.
In the meantime, the crowd witnessed Karina Leane of Flinders University, who obtained sixth finest spot of the event and concluded her swim in 27.31 seconds. Leane was 0.27 seconds earlier than Bond University’s Jade Neilsen, who ended her sprint in 27.58
seconds for seventh position. Ultimately, Houghton’s team-mate, Emma Gray settled as the eighth position holder on the other end of the pool by clocking a time of 27.72 seconds.
Guehrer was excited with her victorious effort in 50m freestyle category, but Australia has a long way to go before it elevates to a higher position in the world’s 50m rankings chart. The Australian is all set to compete in the FINA organised World Cup Series,
which will commence on October 7, in Dubai.
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