Magnussen Makes It Look Easy In Perth

James Magnussen provided a touch of class to the third day of competition at the 2014 Swimming WA State Open and Age Championships this morning.

The 22-year-old world 100m freestyle champion cruised through his heat to qualify fastest for tonight’s semi final of the 200m freestyle in 1:53.43, well outside his best time.

Magnussen was a towering force on pool deck ahead of his first run out at the five-day meet and looked comfortable throughout his opening swim.

The Sydneysider was one of the fastest off the blocks, taking the first 50m in 24.94 and extending his lead by more than a body length after the first 100m (54.02).

He extended his lead going into the final turn on 1.24.21 before easing off to take out the final heat. His closest rival going into the semis is Perth City’s Andrew Donaldson, who took a second off his PB in the heats to clock 1:55.46, and Westside’s Tom England (1:56.01).

The men’s semi-finals will start around 6.20pm tonight with Magnussen expected to race around 6.40pm.

Meanwhile, Olympic bronze medallist Tommaso D’Orsogna won by almost a body length in his heat of the men’s 50m butterfly.

D’Orsogna touched the wall in 24.45 ahead of Bay View’s Garth Kates and Western Sprint’s Andrew Walker but will go into tonight’s semis second fastest behind Sydney University’s Ben Lindsay, who posted the fastest time of 24.22, with fellow teammate Nathaniel Romeo qualifying third fastest after winning his heat in 24.72.

Paralympic gold medallist Kat Downie – now swimming for Westside – had a comfortable win in the women’s multi class 400m freestyle, clocking 5:04.86.

In the men’s 400m individual medley Perth City teammates Raife Sillence and Callum Lauriston battled it out side by side to push either other to State titles.

Sillence just had the touch over Lauriston, winning the 13 years title in 4:54.87 while Lauriston clocked 4:55.66 to win the 14 years age.

West Coast’s Alex Milligan took out the 15 years title, winning in 4:42.34, the 16 years title went to Rockingham’s Austin McAleese in 4:44.07 and Perth City’s William Rollo was crowned State champion in the 17 year age after clocking 4:41.12.

In the men’s 16 and under 4x100m freestyle relay Perth City claimed the State title in 3:40.38 beating out Southside (3:44.74) and West Coast (3:45.30)

This report is a press release from Swimming WA