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Hocking High: 2:06.88 200 Back Record
Apr 7, 2011 - Craig Lord
Sydney, Australian Championships, day 7 finals and semi-finals:
The penultimate day of trials at Sydney Olympic Park produced an Aussie record for Belinda Hocking, on 2:06.88 in the 200m backstroke, and brought Geoff Huegill his 16th national title - but no instant ticket to Shanghai world titles.
Women's 200m backstroke
Belinda Hocking, of Albury, kept the crown in a cracking Australian record of 2:06.88 off splits of 30.53, 1:02.27 and 1:34.34. That kept at bay Commonwealth champion Meagen Nay, on 2:08.08 and also inside the cut for Shanghai world titles. The bronze went to a name for the future, 16-year-old Mikka Sheridan, on 2:09.82.
Hocking's effort fell 0.22sec shy of the 2009 Commonwealth record held by Gemma Spofforth (GBR). Only two wone, however, have gone faster since a return to textile-only suits: Zhao Jing (CHN), 2:06.46 and Elizabeth Simmonds GBR), on 2:06.79 last year. Nay, who pipped Simmonds for gold in Delhi last year, had held the Australian record at 2:07.41 since 2009.
“That’s my first Australian record but for me tonight was not only about getting the record but also keeping the title,” Hocking told reporters. "I’ve kept it for three years now so it’s looking good for next year."
How they measure up
Best AUS podium result at world titles: silver - in 1982 in Guayaquil, Georgina Parkes finished second 5.07sec behind Cornelia Sirch (GDR) as the champion set a world record of 2:09.91 at a time of systematic doping in the German Democratic Republic, steroids used as fuel for a political game that left legions of athletes nursing lifelong medical problems and robbed a legion more of their rightful place in sporting history.
Men's 100m butterfly
Geoff Huegill, 32, held off a strong challenge from Sam Ashby and Joe Carty, to take the crown in 52.36. Coached by Grant Stoelwinder in Sydney, Huegill was just ahead at the turn, on 24.44, to 24.51 for Carty and 24.86 for Ashby. It was Ashby who had the best return, on 27.62 for a 52.48 finish, the bronze to Carty in 52.91, Daniel Lester locked out on 52.98 as the last man inside 53, Adam Pine, 35, on 53.06 ahead of 17-year-old 200m champion Jayden Hadler, on 53.22.
For Huegill it was national title No16 and his first title in the 100m butterfly since 2004. Australian Swimming Championships and adds to the momentum the 32-year-old continues to build ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games.
No swimmer got inside the 52.25 cut for Shanghai, though any who make the team on one swim can race in secondary events. Huegill must wait until the end of nationals to see if he has made the grade.
"I’ll wait earnestly like everyone else but it’s one of those things, benchmarks are set and once they go through and pick the team and see what results are left over, you wait and see from there,” Huegill told reporters. "Long term I am really happy tonight even though it would have been good to sneak under 52 seconds. It’s been seven years since I won my last 100 fly and I’m really going to enjoy this one."
How they measure up
Best AUS podium result at world titles: gold - Michael Klim in Perth 1998, one gem in a terrific seven-strong haul of four gold medals (200m free, 100m 'fly, 4x200m free, 4x100m medley), two silvers (100m free, 4x100m free) and shared bronze (50 free).
Women's 50m butterfly
World champion Marieke Guehrer, of Melbourne, took the crown by 0.01sec in 26.42 ahead of Alice Mills, the bronze going to backstroke ace Sophie Edington, in 26.67. Yolane Kukla did not defend her crown.
How they measure up
Best AUS podium result at world titles: gold, twice - Danni Miatke in 2005 and Marieke Guehrer in 2009
Women's 800m freestyle
Katie Goldman, coached by Denis Cotterell at Miami on the Gold Coast, retained the crown in 8:28.49 ahead of Melissa Gorman, 8:30.85, and Blair Evans, on 8:33.71, with 17-year-old kidJessica Ashwood on 8:36.20. The cut for Shanghai was 8:26.96.
How they measure up
Best AUS podium result at world titles: gold, twice - Jenny Turrall in 1975; Tracey Wickham in 1978, her 8:24.94 standing as the championship record until Janet Evans (USA) clipped it in 1991.
Semi-finals:
Women's 50m breaststroke
Leiston Pickett clocked 30.67 and will race in lane 4, either side of her Natashaq Waitzer, on 31.13, and Leisel Jones, on 31.22.
Women's 50m freestyle
Bronte Campbell, 16, is swimming in the strokes of her big sister Cate and took lane 4 for the final in 24.97. Yolane Kukla, 15, and Olivia Halicek will race either side of the 16-year-old, with cate Campbell, 18 and on 25.10, made the final in 4th.
Men's 50m backstroke
Hayden Stoeckel took lane 4 in 25.59, with Ashley Delaney, on 25.93, and Andrew Gillespie, on 25.98, either side of him.
