Ian Thorpe qualified for the first long course final of his comeback on day two of the Victorian Open State Championships, and in the final he marked another important criteria by improving his time in that final.
In the men’s 200 free, Thorpe swam a 1:50.79, improving off of a 1:51.08 in the prelims. That’s still a long way from a time that will qualify for the Olympics (it would’ve ranked 18th in 2011), but is just another stepping-stone en route to a successful comeback.
The winner of that race was 20-year old Jarrod Kiley in 1:48.28. That’s the best time of his career. Nicholas Ffrost was 2nd in 1:49.20, and Cameron McEvoy was 3rd in 1:49.25. The 800 free relay was Australia’s only one that didn’t medal in Shanghai at the World Championships, but there is a lot of young talent (including Kiley) that is waiting to break out.
Among other notable swims on day two was a 57.96 in the women’s 100 fly from Briton Ellen Gandy. That’s a great time for her at this point of the season, while one of her main British competitors (Jemma Lowe) put up a similarly strong time in the US at the Austin Grand Prix (58.18).
In this race, Australia’s top 100 butterflier Alicia Coutts took 2nd in 58.99, that was a solid improvement off of her swim in prelims. In 6th-place, another comeback swimmer Libby Trickett posted the best time of her comeback in 1:00.83.
The men’s 50 fly was won by former Auburn sprinter Matt Targett in a blazing 23.51. That swim should hang around in the world’s top-10 all year, especially in an Olympic season where this 50 is used more as a training tool for sprint freestylers/100 butterfliers.
The women’s 50 free was won by 16-year old Alexandra Purcell, who swims for the Southport Olympic club that is churning out tons of young talent (McEvoy included). Her mark of 25.35. That’s within a few tenths of her best time from last year. Marieke Guehrer finished 2nd in 25.46, and 100 champion Melanie Schlanger placed 3rd in 25.47.
Full, live results available here.
http://theswimmerscircle.com/blog/thorpe-drops-time-places-5th-in-200-free-final/
Ellen Gandy is blazing fast in this meet, especially if she’s not rested. She’s going to be superfast in 200 fly in London.
Solid swim for Thorpe.
Does anyone else suspect that many of the British swimmers are rested for these meets?