Schlanger steals victory from local girl Evans
Swimming Western Australia
Published: Jan 23, 2013 11:47:05 AM
London Olympian Melanie Schlanger has overcome a star-studded field to win the women’s 200m freestyle at the 2013 Swimming WA State Championships this evening.
Sclanger, who remained in Perth after the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series made her move in the third lap, taking a lead she wouldn’t surrender from the eventual silver medalist Blair Evans (1:59.08).
Schlanger and Evans went stroke for stroke, with no more than 0.7 separating the two over the four laps, with Schlanger’s final time of 1:58.23 claiming the gold.
“I was really happy with my race. I haven’t been swimming as fast as I would like to have leading into this week. It’s a second faster than I’ve swum in the 200m all season, so it’s an encouraging sign for the rest of the meet”, Schlanger said.
“It’s good to have some competition to race against. With Blair training with me now it’s great to push each other along, and to bring that into the racing pool will be good for both of us”.
Swimming out of lane two, Brianna Throssell (2:01.60) was never far off the pace. The Australian Short Course gold medalist finished in third position but due to the visitor’s rule will take home the State Championship title.
In other events…
Men’s 100m Butterfly
Olympic debutant Christopher Wright has claimed his maiden West Australian visitor’s title, winning the men’s 200m butterfly in a time of 2:00.84, almost two seconds slower than his third place-getting time at the recent BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series.
Wright made his intentions clear when he pushed out to a two body length lead by the half way point, a lead attributed to by the Australian Short Course medalist’s sensational underwater work.
The newly crowned state age medalist in this event Nicholas Brown was in form on night two, claiming his second gold medal of the meet and the official tile of State Champion in 2:05.49, ahead of visiting Malaysian State Champion Veronon Lee (2:06.24).
Justin Van Nieuwberg (2:07.25) and Luke Pardini (2:10.87) tried to keep up with the pace but had to settle for second and third respectively.
Men’s 100m backstroke
Trans Tasman bronze medalist in this event Matt Meinema stamped his authority on the men’s 100m backstroke hitting the wall in 58.45, half a second faster than his semi final time.
Meinema and second place getter Malaysia’s Ian James Barr (58.45) went stroke for stroke for stroke, with only a glide to the wall separating hysteria from heartbreak.
Official state silver medalist Dylan Bodey (1:01.20) put in a gallant effort to hold off backstroke specialist Lyndon Goldsmith (1:01.38) who was awarded the bronze.
Women’s 400 individual medley
World Short Course competitor Jessica Pengelly has claimed her first gold medal of the championships, taking out the women’s 400m individual medley in 4:48.18.
The Perth City swimmer was quick off the blocks and established a commanding lead ahead of Malaysian Cai Lin Khoo (4:59.53) who finished over ten seconds behind the dominating Pengelly.
14-year-old Tamsin Cook (5:10.50)held her own against an experienced field, claiming the official silver medal, with Hanna Joerlund (5:10.50) rounding off the top three and a Perth City clean sweep of the medals.
Women’s 50m fly
The final of the women’s 50m butterfly proved to be a turbulent tussle with Swan Hill’s Holly Barratt overcoming unsettled waters to take home the title and an unofficial state record in 26.84.
Swan Hills’ Barratt was pushed all the way by Commonwealth Games gold medalist Kukla (27.59) to finish 0.03 seconds under the 14-year-old state record
Gianna Leone kept up with the pace to take home the bronze in 27.87.
Women’s 100m breaststroke
London Olympian Leiston Pickett has confirmed her status as this week’s breaststroke queen, eclipsing the field and collecting her first victory of the meet.
Commonwealth gold medallist in this event Pickett (1:09.15) upstaged a strong field to take the win ahead of local girls Sigrid de Vries (1:12.40),Justine Spurr (1:13.40) and Jemma Saxton (1:14.76).
Men’s 50m freestyle
Olympic trials finalist Hamish Rose has claimed his fourth consecutive 50m freestyle State Championship, slamming into the wall in 53.51.
Amongst a field of breaststroke specialists, Rose took out the ‘splash and dash’ race ahead of Tommy Sucipto (23.56) and Olympian Brenton Rickard (23.67).
Men’s 200m Individual Medley
Junior Pan Pacific Championships competitor Lennard Bremer has clinched the men’s 200m individual medley in a time of 2:07.57.
Rockingham’s Austin McAleese (2:12.41) and Bunbury’s Jordan Kendall (2:15.29) were left to do battle for the minor placings, with McAleese coming out on top.
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