Rickard finds his second wind to take first state title
Swimming Western Australia
Published: Jan 24, 2013 02:35:18 PM Updated: Jan 24, 2013 09:17:08 PM
Olympian Brenton Rickard (28.68) has upstaged a strong local field in the final of men’s 50m breaststroke at the 2013 State Open and Age Championships at Challenge Stadium tonight.
After his bronze visitor’s medal winning performance in last night’s 50m freestyle final, Rickard led from the beginning and refused to forfeit his advantage, holding off fast-finishing Robert Evans.
“I swam well in the semi and went 28.2 but I probably rushed it and tried a bit hard tonight”, Rickard said
“I’m a bit fatigued after a busy weekend at the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series and a few races over the past couple of days”.
Evans (28.88) came back hard at the Commonwealth Games gold medalist in the last 25m however it was a case of too little too late for the Peel Aquatic swimmer who touched 0.2 seconds behind Rickard to claim the WA gold medal.
Junior Pan Pacific Championships swimmer Tommy Sucipto couldn’t keep up with the blistering pace of the Olympian but collected the silver in (29.83), while Bay View Saints coach Adrian Davini (30.13)swapped stop watches for speedos to claim the bronze.
In other events…
Men’s 400m Individual Medley
Australian record holder Damian Fyfe has stepped off the plane from the Australian Youth Olympic Festival and straight into his first open gold medal for the meet.
Fyfe showed no signs of fatigue as he cruised through the 8 laps to clinch the title and a personal best time in 4:35.70 – over four seconds clear of his nearest rival.
Malaysia’s Ian James Barr (4:39.80) took home the visitor’s silver medal while William Rollo (4:40.43) and Jordon Kendall (4:41.30) battled for minor medals with Rollo stealing the silver in 4:40.43, leaving Kendall with bronze in 4:41.30.
Women’s 200m backstroke
Kirsten Pannekoek has claimed her maiden state open title in the women’s 200m backstroke. After going stroke for stroke with Claudia Etherington (2:23.55) throughout the whole race, Pannekoek (2:23.55) relegated Etherington to the silver medal position before claiming the gold.
Westside Christchurch’s Caitlin Shepard rounded out the top three place-getters in 2:26.03.
Men’s 200m backstroke
Australian Age Championship finalist and favourite heading into the race Matthew Meinema was forced to play catch up in the men’s 200m backstroke final. A speedy start by Jacson Robb kept Meinema on his toes throughout the first 100m before Robb backed off and Meinema (2:10.36) settled into his stroke.
Meinema couldn’t relax as challengers Lyndon Goldsmith (2:10.85) and Jian Han Tern (2:11.00) surged late in the race to claim the silver and visitor’s bronze respectively. All Saints’ James Hansford was awarded for his efforts with the bronze (2:14.00).
Women’s 50m breaststroke
Last night’s 100m gold medalist Leiston Pickett showed superior speed in the women’s 50m breaststroke final to claim the breaststroke double in a fast 31.99.
Commonwealth gold medallist in this event Pickett stole the visitor’s gold medal ahead of Malaysian champion Christina Loh (33.57) who was forced to settle for the visitor’s silver. After being pushed by the experienced visitors, Swan Hill’s Justine Spurr finished in 33.90 to take the state gold, followed by silver and bronze medalist’s Kate Bird (34.39) and Kate Chaisty (34.62).
Women’s 100m Butterfly
Recent WA import Yolane Kukla has officially claimed her first WA open title in the women’s 100m butterfly. Olympian Kukla (1:01.36) was unlucky to miss out on the gold in last night’s 50, but was back for retribution tonight.
Last night’s bronze medalist Gianna Leone went one better tonight, securing the silver medal ahead of young Darian Murray (1:03.77)
Men’s 100m Butterfly
Olympian Christopher Wright has won his second visitor’s gold medal in as many nights, this time taking out the 100m butterfly in 53.52.
Australian title holder in this event Wright turned at the 50m mark only 0.4 ahead of retired Perth prodigy Garth Kates (56.60) before gaining a body length lead ahead of charger Ryan Steencamp (56.12). Garth Kates and breaststroker Tommy Sucipto (57.17) rounded off the podium finishers.
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