Matthew Targett powered to a best time of 21.98sec to deliver a knockout blow in a bout with world-champion 4x100m free teammates Matt Abood and James Magnussen as the action wrapped up at South Australia State titles in Adelaide.
Targett's previous best had been a 22.09 since world titles in July last year. In morning heats in Adelaide, he had given warning with a 22.27 SA All-comers record, a standard he cracked with an axe in the final. Abood, on 22.15, and Magnussen, on 22.41, took the minor spoils, while Targett was still catching his breath not long after the freestyle dash as he returned to the fray for a 23.74 victory in the butterfly dash.
Targett said: "I want to have the best preparation possible, the reason I’m here is to test out the pool and after that result [in the 50m freestyle] my confidence is now through the roof,” he said.
In other action, Blair Evans completed a fine three days of racing with a 2:12.20 win in the 200m medley, while Emily Seebohm touched out Sophie Edington 1:00.74 to 1:00.80 in the 100m backstroke.
Results at a glance:
- Women’s 800m freestyle:
- Jessica Ashwood, 18, 8:40.97
- Leah Cutting, 19, 8:54.52
- Kate Hofmeyer, 16, 8:59.14
- Men’s 100m breaststroke:
- Nicholas Schaffer, 19, 1:03.10
- Joshua Palmer, 20, 1:03.12
- Craig Tucker, 29, 1:06.79
- Women’s 200m IM:
- Blair Evans, 20, 2:12.20
- Jessica Pengelly, 20, 2:17.05
- Jackie Staples, 22, 2:18.12
- Men’s 400m freestyle:
- Robert Hurley, 23, 3:57.55
- Luke Curtis, 21, 4:05.21
- Ethan Owens, 15, 4:07.21
- Women’s 50m butterfly:
- Jackie Staples, 22, 27.84
- Ellysia Oldsen, 16, 28.25
- Ebba Rosenquist, 22, 28.52
- Men’s 200m backstroke:
- Hayden Stoeckel, 27, 2:01.48
- Daniel Tranter, 20, 2:03.31
- Ben Edmonds, 20, 2:04.35
- Women’s 100m backstroke:
- Emily Seebohm, 19, 1:00.74
- Sophie Edington, 27, 1:00.80
- Jenni O’Neil, 19, 1:02.94
- Men’s 50m freestyle:
- Matt Targett, 26, 21.98
- Matt Abood, 25, 22.27
- James Magnussen, 20, 22.15
- Women’s 200m breaststroke:
- Hannah Mullen , 18, 2:36.42
- Jessica Pengelly, 20, 2:36.96
- Amelia Dahlitz, 18, 2:39.16
- Men’s 50m butterfly:
- Matt Targett, 26, 23.74
- Jayden Hadler, 18, 24.10
- Hamish Rose, 21, 25.08
- Women’s 100m freestyle:
- Kelly Stubbins, 27, 55.73
- Emily Seebohm, 19, 55.96
- Blair Evans, 20, 56.18
