The 2014 McDonald Queensland Championships began this past saturday and will be running through until Friday night local time.
Individual events began on Sunday starting with the 200 freestyle, a tough battle between two of Australia’s best freestyle swimmers: Brittany Elmslie and Emma McKeon.
Elmslie posted a very fast 200m freestyle to touch in at 1:56.69. Right behind her was McKeon in 1:57.19. Kylie Palmer finished third behind them in 1:59.18 followed by Bronte Barratt in 1:59.32.
Thomas Fraser-Holmes who had an outstanding 2013-2014 season rocked a 1:48.28 en route to a victory i the 200m freestyle final. This took down Daniel Smith who was a 1:48.89.
Coming in hot in the 200m breaststroke final was Tessa Wallace. She was only a 2:32.04 in prelims but managed to drop some serious time to post a 2:25.33 in the finals. 19-year-old Taylor McKeown was second in 2:25.93. Wallace was just four one-hundredths off her personal best time in the event.
With some of Aussie’s top breaststrokers absent it was Buster Sykes who won the men’s 200m breaststroke final in 2:13.51. Joshua Tierney snuck in for the silver in 2:14.88.
Emma McKeon came back from her silver in the 200m freestyle to win the gold in the 100m freestyle. She posted another solid time with a 58.49 to come first ahead of Madeline Groves who was a 58.58. 200m freestyle winner Brittany Elmslie was third in 58.71.
Tommaso D’Orsogna won the men’s 100m fly in 52.71. He just came off a bronze medal in the 100m fly at short course worlds with a 49.60 performance.
Second in the men’s 100m fly was Jayden Hadler in 52.23.
Following day two, day three was underway and kicked off with the women’s 100m backstroke final. There was no stopping Emily Seebohm who ripped a 59.41 to win the event and be the only woman under one minute. Fourteen-year-old Minna Atherton was second in 1:01.77.
Ben Treffers who had somewhat of a breakout 2013-2014 season was first in the men’s 100m backstroke with a 55.42. Second behind him was Robert Gerlack of East Brisbane with a 56.22.
New Zealand’s Lauren Boyle was present in the women’s 400m freestyle and finished with a very quick 4:08.59. That time beat second place finisher Jessica Ashwoof who touched second in 4:10.73 and third place finisher Kylie Palmer. it was quite the tough field with Leah Neale finishing fourth and Bronte Barratt fifth. Emma McKeon also swam, finishing seventh in 4:16.52.
Winning another one was Thomas Fraser-Holmes in 3:53.21. He took control of the race from the get-go taking out the first 100 in 52.76 and never let up. Jack McLoughlin was second overall in 3:54.14.
Seventeen-year-old Georgia Bohl won the 100m breaststroke final in 1:07.91 over 29-year-old Sally Hunter. Hunter dropped a 1:08.19 to finish second behind her and keep her lead over Tessa Wallace who rounded out the top three in 1:08.57.
Tommy Sucipto was the winner of the men’s 100m breaststroke holding off Buster Sykes by two tenths of a second. Sucipto finished first in 1:01.66 followed by a 1:01.86 effort by Sykes. Both were out first in 29.02 (Sucipto) and 29.17 (Sykes) however it was Sucipto who managed to have the slightly faster last 50 and hold on for the win.
Bronte Campbell made an appearance in one of the fastest races of the competition, the women’s 100m freestyle final. She was a 53.95 to take the win ahead of Brittany Elsmlie who clocked in at 54.08 for the silver medal. Melanie Wright was third in 54.41.
Rising sprint star Cameron McEvoy swam in the men’s 100m freestyle only to take second to Tommaso D’Orsogna. D’Orsogna and McEvoy turned together however on the final 50 D’Orsogna created the slightest of leads to win 49.11 to 49.21.
The most notable age group swim of the night as a Queensland All-Comers record of 2:13.46 for Minna Atherton in the girls 14-year-old 200m backstroke final. She won the race by over seven seconds.
For full meet results click here.