Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kylie Palmer has obliterated the Australian record in the women’s 200m freestyle final in the race of the night at the 2011 Telstra Australian Swimming Championships in Sydney.
Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kylie Palmer has obliterated the Australian record in the women’s 200m freestyle final in the race of the night at the 2011 Telstra Australian Swimming Championships in Sydney.
The crowd at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre came to life as the 21-year-old Queenslander battled two-time Australian champion, former Australian record holder and good friend Bronte Barratt down the final 50 metres, before edging her out by just 0.01 of a second.
Palmer’s time of 1:55.73 not only broke the current Australian record by 0.87 of a second but ranked her as the tenth quickest swimmer of all time over the distance and second fastest ever in a textile suit.
Barratt (1:55.74) set the 11th quickest time in history in second place, while 19-year-old Jade Neilsen from the Gold Coast finished third in a personal best time of 1:57.20.
Palmer was speechless after the race and said her meet had gone perfectly.
“I’m just so happy,” Palmer said. “In previous Australian championships I’ve only ever won one title and that was in 2008 in the 800m.”
“I’m really happy with how it has all gone and with my preparation leading in, and it has all paid off now.
“I’ve never been more excited to race before. Moving coaches a year and a half ago has really improved my speed and the little things have really started to work.”
The fuse has been lit in the men’s blue ribband 100m freestyle with five swimmers dipping below the 49 second barrier in the semi finals. Victorian sprinter Matt Targett was the sharpest of the pack, stopping the clock at 48.66.
Targett , a world championship silver medallist in the 50m butterfly, will need to be at his best cum tomorrow night with the NSW quartet of Matt Abood (48.69), James Magnussen (48.71), James Roberts (48.74) and Eamon Sullivan (48.87) all vying for the top spot on the dais.
The 25-year-old Targett was happy with his swim but predicted a quicker time will be needed to win gold in tomorrow night’s final.
“I’m definitely happy with the time, but I really want to get to the low 48’s tomorrow night,” Targett said.
“Tomorrow night I’m going to deliver the best race that I can.”
Current Australian record holder Sullivan, who has dominated in the event ever since claiming the title from Ian Thorpe in 2007, was quick to acknowledge that the final will be a hard fought race.
“I think I’ll be calling on all of my experience to stay calm and just have fun tomorrow night,” Sullivan said.
“For the crowd it (the final) is going to be amazing.”
In other finals…
Men’s 200m Butterfly Final
Commonwealth Games tyro 17-year-old Jayden Hadler has claimed his first Australian title with a solid win in the men’s 200m butterfly final. Hadler (1:56.28) finished just 0.03 seconds ahead of five-time Australian champion Travis Nederpelt (1:56.31) and well ahead of NSW swimmer Lachlan Staples, who was third in 1:58.98.
Men’s 800m Freestyle Final
Queenslander Ryan Napoleon has claimed his second title of the Telstra Australian Swimming Championships, winning the men’s 800m freestyle in 7:55.20. The 20-year-old drew on his Commonwealth Games experience to finish ahead of 2010 Australian champion Robert Hurley (8:00.94) and the Denis Cotterell coached Matthew Levings (8:02.74).
Men’s 50m Breaststroke Final
Queensland world record holder Brenton Rickard never looked in trouble as he cruised home to claim his 18th Australian title, winning the men’s 50m breaststroke in 27.60. Rickard, who in the process won his 8th consecutive title, held off a fast finishing Christian Sprenger (28.02), while James Stacey rounded out the top three in 28.53.
