Emily Seebohm notched up another couple of wins a day after clocking a swift 59.25 in the 100m backstroke at the NSW Championships in Australia. After winning the 50m back in 28.53, she took down Olympic champ Stephanie Rice in the 200m medley with a solid 2:11.80, ahead of Natalie Wiegersma, on 2:12.73, with Rice on 2:13.22.
If Seebohm's 100m backstroke time was faster than the world record that stood on the eve of the shiny suits era, then the 200m medley effort would have ranked 12th best ever before shiny suits came along, with Rice the only Australian to have swum faster in textile, on 2:11.42. In the 2009 circus, Seebohm's effort (not comparable, of course) would have ranked her 21st.
The NSW champs mark the last warm-up meet for Australians heading to trials for 2010 internationals in Sydney next month.
Ellen Gandy, Australia-based Brit, hung on the shoulders of Samantha Hamill and Felicity Galvez before making her move down the last 50m of the 200m butterfly to take the race in 2:09.18, to 2:09.67 for Hamill and 2:10.28 for race leader up to that last lap, Felicity Galvez.
Among men, Ashley Callus won the 50m free in a solid 22.22, just 0.03sec outside his all-time textile best, from 2006, Craig Calder found himself ahead of world 100m champ Brenton Rickard in the 200m breaststroke, 2:13.90 to 2:15.14, and Andrew Lauterstein kept Nick D'Arcy at bay in a 100m fly scrap settled in 53.25 to 53.55.
Results at a glance:
Women
- 200m free: Bronte Barratt, 1:58.67; Stephanie Rice, 1:59.10
- 50m backstroke: Emily Seebohm, 28.53; Emily Thomas, 28.76
- 50m breaststroke: Leisel Jones, 31.10; Sarah Katsoulis 31.38
- 200m butterfly: Ellen Gandy, 2:09.18; Samantha Hamill, 2:09.67; Felicity Galvez, 2:10.28
- 200m medley: Seebohm, 2:11.80; Natalie Wiegersma, 2:12.73; Rice, 2:13.22
Men
- 50m free: Ashley Callus, 22.22; Cameron Prosser, 22.49
- 1,500m free: Ryan Cochrane (CAN), 15:19.02; Wally Eggleton, 15:36.74.
- 100m back: Hayden Stoeckel, 54.57; Daniel Arnamnart, 54.96
- 200m breast: Craig Calder, 2:13.90; Brenton Rickard, 2:15.14
- 100m butterfly: Andrew Lauterstein 53.25; Nick D'Arcy 53.55
- 400m medley: Roberto Pavoni (GBR) 4:22.38; Mitcell Larkin, 4:22.99
