Pickett leads Loh into breaststroke final
Swimming Western Australia
Published: Jan 22, 2013 02:57:30 PM Updated: Jan 22, 2013 09:11:05 PM
Ahead of tonight’s 100m breaststroke final, Leiston Pickett has enjoyed a welcomed warm up in the women’s 50m freestyle heats. A speedy start from Pickett (32.09) saw the Commonwealth Games gold medalist in this event take the lead early and remain in front until the final touch.
Looking to upset Pickett’s possible breaststroke double win is Malaysian record holder in this event Christina Loh (34.12). Perth City’s Kate Bird has rounded out the top three for tonight’s semi final.
Women’s 400m Individual Medley
Fresh off the back of her appearance at the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series over the weekend, Jessica Pengelly (4:56. 96) has staked her claim in heats of the 400m individual medley.
The sole athlete to break the 5-minute-mark, Pengelly’s flawless technique and versatility projected her into top spot heading into tonight’s semifinals. Hot on her heels will be Malaysian State Champion in this event Erika Kong (4:08.45), and Olympian Cai Lin Khoo (5:03.73) who’s 800m freestyle endurance has transferred nicely over to the 400m I.M.
Men’s 50m Breaststroke
London Olympian Brenton Rickard is slightly off the pace, finishing in 29.67, 1.62 slower than the time that earned him third position at the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series on the weekend.
Peel Aquatic’s Robert Evans (29.53) and Sukma record holder Shaun Yap (29.54) have relegated the World Championship medalist Rickard to third fastest qualifier for tonight’s 50m breaststroke semi final.
Men’s 100m butterfly
Olympic debutant Christopher Wright’s outstanding underwater work has propelled the Australian Short Course Bronze medalist into the prime position for tonight’s semi-final of the men’s 100m butterfly. Like Southport Olympic teammate Pickett, Wright (55.13) will aim to secure wins in all three distances, contesting the 200m butterfly final tonight.
Ryan Steencamp (56.84) hit the wall in second place and will be chasing Wright all the way to the wall in tonight’s semi final. Malaysia’s Jian Han Tern (57.38) kept up with the fast pace set by Wright to take third place heading into tonight.
Women’s 200m backstroke
With a very full race schedule this week, Jessica Pengelly was back in the water following her successful heat swim in the 400m individual medley to record the fastest time in the women’s 200m backstroke heats.
South African born Pengelly will face a tough challenge from her younger peers Kirsten Pannekoek (2:25.42) and Caitlin Shepard (2:24.69) who will look to book a spot in their first open final of the meet.
Men’s 200m backstroke
The heats of the men’s 200m backstroke saw the WA Country record holder in this event Lyndon Goldsmith (2:11.23) just edge out Commonwealth Youth Games competitor Jian Han Tern (2:11.43) to go through to the semi finals ranked first.
Tern’s Malaysian teammate Ian James Barr (2:13.22) will take third spot tonight and Jack Osborne will also advance through to the next round in a time of 2:14.19.
Women’s 100m butterfly
London Olympian Yolane Kukla recorded the fastest time for the 100m butterfly heats. It was a splash and dash to the wall with Kukla too strong for the rest of the field.
Stopping the clock at 1:02.97, Kukla will have fellow 50m finalists Gianna Leone (1:03.19) and Holly Barratt (1:03.55) to contend with in tonight’s semi final.
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