Robert Gerlach, Stevie Nibbs triumph at 15 to 16 years Swimming events – 2011 Arafura Games, day 3
Robert Gerlach of Queensland while Stevie Nibbs of NT triumphed at the 15 to 16 years age group swimming events on day 3 of the ongoing 2011 Arafura Games.
The session included the preliminary rounds of the 100m backstroke and 50m breaststroke for the Girls and Boys of 15 to 16 years age category.
The session began with the Girl’s 100m backstroke, where Stevie Nibbs of NT appeared as the fastest swimmer to qualify into the finals by touching the wall first in 1:12.06 minutes. Nibbs was almost one second away from her following swimmer, Deborah Cronsteadt
of New Caledonia, who touched the wall for second fastest qualification, producing a time of 1:13.17 minutes. Cronsteadt was only 0.07 seconds ahead of her closest rival, Hannah Dato, who secured the third fastest qualification spot, producing a time of 1:13.24
minutes.
The next was the equivalent event in Boy’s category, where Queensland’s Robert Gerlach once again proved his fastest qualification into the finals. Gerlach, who has already pocketed a gold medal at the championship, met the expectations of his fans by touching
the wall first in 1:01.54 minutes. His time was considerably away from his closest rival, Arthur Funfschilling of New Caledonia, who escaped his following swimmers for the second fastest qualification spot by touching the wall in 1:05.70 minutes. They were
followed by Benjamin Fuller of NT, who transpired as the third fastest swimmer into the finals, posting a time of 1:06.46 minutes.
The third event of the session was Girl’s 50m breaststroke, where the WA-sp’s Renee Black earned the crowd’s respect by occupying the fastest qualification spot into the finals. Black, who touched the wall first in a time of 37.43 seconds, was almost three
seconds away from the second finisher. Black was followed by West Australia’s Danae Okulics and NT’s Kiah Hazel, who surfaced as the second and third fastest swimmers with a timing of 40.81 and 41.10 seconds respectively.
The last event of the session was Boy’s 50m breaststroke, where the Queensland swimmers occupied top two qualification spots. Mark Ragel of Queensland claimed the fastest spot for the event with his 32.62-second effort. He was followed by his team member,
Robert Gerlach and New Zealand’s Archer Roelants, who qualified as the second and third fastest sprinters in a time of 33.88 and 34.03 seconds respectively.
The finals of the same events will take place in the second session, where these swimmers will once again face each other to claim the titles of their events.
Tags: