Backstroke boys fighting for first

Swimming Australia
Published: Dec 15, 2012 10:56:20 AM Updated: Mar 19, 2013 09:32:31 AM

Australia will go into tonight’s final session at the FINA World Short Course Championships in Istanbul with four finalists fighting for a podium finish.

With a total of two Australian records to his name from the meet so far Robert Hurley will head into the final of the men’s 50m backstroke as one of the favourites after qualifying in equal first with Russian sprinter Stanislav Donets.

With little separating the top eight, the race will come down to the touch, but it will be a battle for bragging rights between the Australian boys with teammate Ashley Delaney also through to the final.

Following a blistering medley relay swim last night, Sarah Katsoulis is in with a chance to collect her third medal of the meet. The 28-year-old’s breaststroke leg in the silver medal winning relay would have seen her take a clear lead going into tonight’s 100m breaststroke final.

The last event of the morning saw the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team of Sally Foster, Angie Bainbridge, Brianna Throssell and Marieke Guehrer in this morning’s heats put Australia in second position in a time of 3:35.26 just behind the USA (3:34.27) for the final tonight.

After a successful morning of heats Australia will also send seven swimmers through to semi-finals tonight.

Silver medallists from the women’s medley relay, Rachel Goh (26.86) and Grace Loh (27.21), will fight for a finals berth in the 50m backstroke semis with the girl’s currently sitting in third and seventh spot after respectively.

Dual relay medallists from the meet, Tommaso D’Orsogna and Kyle Richardson will be looking to progress through tonight’s 100m freestyle semi-final for a chance at an individual medal on the final night.

The sprinters both hit the wall in 47.64 and will go through to the semis tonight in equal sixth position.

Kenneth To could have a chance at a medley redemption if he makes it through the 100m individual medley semi-final tonight. The pint-size powerhouse is currently sitting in second place, just behind short course world record holder in the 200m individual medley Ryan Lochte (51.75) in a time of 52.58.

While the women’s 50m freestyle heats saw short course specialist Marieke Guehrer (24.64) and London Olympic breaststroker Sally Foster (24.90) cruise through to the semi-finals to round out a successful morning for the team.

The heats will continue from 1:00am AEDST leading into live finals 4:00am AEDST on ONE HD.

For a full list of results go to http://www.fina.org.au or http://wscistanbul2012newsservice.com for more information

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