Olympic champion Leisel Jones clocked a swift 1:05.85 over 100m breaststroke at New South Wales Championships in Australia, a month before trials for the Commonwealth Games in Sydney. The time confirms that Lethal Leisel is back where she left off in textile: at the helm of the annual world rankings.
Early days yet, of course - and more to come. Until now, the fastest 100m breaststroke this year had been a 1:07.81 by Sarah Katsoulis, Australian's upside-down summer long-course season dictating the likelihood that the early pace will be set by those in the southern hemisphere.
Among other swift efforts on day one of the NSW champs, were a 3:45.03 win over 400m free for Olympic champion Tae-hwan Park (KOR) ; a solid 1:56.82 by Nick D'Arcy over 200m 'fly; a 25.60 effort in the 50 'fly by Therese Alshammar; and a 4:40.37 from double Olympic medley champ Stephanie Rice in the 400m.
Her coach Michael Bohl revealed to local reporters that his charge is "really looking forward" to racing again just in time for Australian trials next month. Bohl said: "When they're (swimmers) looking forward to competing again, that's always a good sign that they're focused on what they're doing."
Rice is at NSW championships this week alongside temporary training partner Tae-hwan Park, of South Korea. "Getting in and doing three days of racing at this point in time, five weeks out of the meet is a good thing to do. No one's setting the world on fire, but they're reasonably healthy - touch wood - and training hard," Bohl told reporters.
Day 1 winners at NSW Champs:
MEN:
- 400m freestyle: Tae-hwan Park (KOR) 3:45.03
- 200m butterfly: Nick D'Arcy (Noosa Qld) 1:56.82
- 50m breaststroke: Brenton Rickard (Southport Olympic Qld) 28.51.
- 100m freestyle: Tae-hwan Park (Korea) 49.45.
- 50m Backstroke: Daniel Arnamnart (Aquaburn) 25.23
WOMEN:
- 50m butterfly: Therese Alshammar (SWE) 25.60
- 100m breaststroke: Leisel Jones (Nunawading Vic) 1:05.85
- 100m freestyle: Emily Seebohm (Borthers Qld) 55.39.
- 400m medley: Stephanie Rice (St Peters Western Qld) 4:40.37.
- 200m backstroke: Belinda Hocking (Albury) 2:08.36.
