Coutts takes 50 butterfly and 100 freestyle on first night of New South Wales Championships

Men’s 400 freestyle

18 year old Kosuke Hagino of Japan found himself third at the 200 meter mark where David Mckeon led the race turning in a time of 1:52.10, but the second half belonged to Hagino who over took the lead finishing in a time a time of 3:46.89. Hagino’s time is the fastest swum this year by more than two seconds.

Mckeon was second finishing in a time of 3:47.14 with 17 year old Jordan Harrison finishing third in a time of 3:48.43.

Women’s 50 butterfly

Olympic medalist Alicia Coutts took the first women’s event on the program in a time of 26.36 she was followed by her Olympic teammate Brittany Elmslie who finished second in a time of 26.81.

Yuka Kato of Japan finished third in a time of 26.81.

Men’s 200 butterfly

Olympic bronze medallist Takeshi Matsuda led the event from from start to finish turning at the 100 meter mark in a time of 55.51 and winning the event in a time of 1:56.68, which is the fastest in the world this year.

The race for second place was a good one between 17 year old Mitchel Pratt and Yuta Kimura of Japan. Kimura led Pratt at the 100 meter mark by just under a second in the third 50 Pratt swam a 30.13 compared to Kimura’s 31.62 to take over the second spot. Pratt continued to hold on finishing second in a time of 1:58.47 with Kimura finishing third in a time of 1:58.90.

Women’s 100 breaststroke

At the halfway point Sally Foster found herself in sixth position more than a second behind Samantha Marshall. Foster worked her way through the pack on the second 50 winning the event in a time of 1:08.16. Marshall was second posting a time of 1:08.82 followed by Alicia Coutts who finished in a time of 1:09.08.

Men’s 50 freestyle Multi-Class

Mitchell Kilduff won the event in a time of 25.82 with Matthew Levy finishing in a time of 28.94 followed by Patrick Donachie who finished in a time of 27.25.

Women’s 50 freestyle Multi-Class

Taylor Corry won the event in a time of 28.91 with Jacqueline Freney finishing second in a time of 32.40 followed by Maddison Elliott who finished third in a time of 31.69.

Men’s 50 breaststroke

The men’s 50 breaststroke was a closely contested race which saw Max Ireland finish first in a time of 28.32 followed by Akihiro Yamaguchi who posted a time of 28.45.

Olympic legend Kosuke Kitajima finished third in a time of 28.50.

Women’s 100 freestyle

After winning the 50 butterfly and finishing third in the 100 breaststroke Alicia Coutts took the top spot in the women’s 100 freestyle posting a time of 54.73.

Coutts was challenged the entire race by 16 year old Ami Matsuo who finished in a time of 54.95.

Emma Mckeon and Yolane Kukla tied for third both finishing in a time of 55.11.

Men’s 100 freestyle

James Magnussen won the men’s 100 freestyle, a race that saw four out of the six 4 x 100 freestyle Olympic relay teammates that have found themselves in hot water for their behaviour pre-Olympics. Magnussen won the event in a time of 48.61.

Cameron McEvoy, one of Magnussen relay teammates finished second in a time of 49.31 followed by World Cup Champion Kenneth To who finished in a time of 49.44.

Tommaso D’Orsogna and James Roberts who were also members of the Olympic relay team finished fourth and sixth respectively.

Women’s 400 IM

Samantha Hamill took control of the women’s 400 IM from start to finish winning the event in a time of 4:44.31. Keryn McMaster finished second in a time of 4:47.60 followed by Namiki Ueda who finished third in a time of 4:48.18.

Women’s 200 backstroke

Olympic teammates Meagen Nay and Belinda Hockings had an incredible battle in what turned out to be the most exciting event of the evening. Nay went out in the first 100 meters in a time of 1:03.88 in what would have appeared to be an insurmountable lead over Belinda Hocking who turned in a time of 1:05.99.

Hocking stormed back in the second 100 meters to challenge Nay for the win, but came up just short. Nay won the event in a time of 2:08.41 followed by Hocking who finished second posting a time of 2:08.55.

Hayley Baker was third finishing in a time of 2:12.45.

Men’s 50 backstroke

Australian Olympian Daniel Arnamnart took the 50 backstroke in a time of 25.17. Double Olympic medallist Ryosuke Irie finished second in a time of 25.42 followed closely by Ben Treffers who posted a time of 25.47.