Dream ending for Evans
Swimming Western Australia
Published: Jan 26, 2013 06:59:32 PM Updated: Jan 30, 2013 07:00:10 PM
Olympic medalist Blair Evans has finished off her State Championship campaign by taking out the women’s 400m freestyle visitor’s medal. Recent WA export Evans is not eligible for the state title, however the Commonwealth Gold medalist saved her best for last, boasting a two body-length lead by the half way mark and finishing in 4:12.59.
Malaysian Olympian Cai Lin Khoo (4:21.56) tried to lift her pace and stay with Evans, however it wasn’t enough to close the gap set by the Southport Olympic swimmer.
After claiming gold in the girl’s 14 years 1500m freestyle earlier today, distance specialist Grace Hull (4:25.71) had enough left in her tank to secure the gold medal and state title. 1500m freestyle winners in their individual age groups Sacha Downing (4:26.53) and Anna Murray were forced to settle for silver and bronze respectively.
In other events..
Men’s 50m Butterfly Multi Class
Swan Hill’s Liam Smith has added another gold to his medal collection from this week with a win in the men’s 50m multi-class butterfly final.
Smith went stroke for stroke with Paralympian Joshua Hoffer (39.81) before edging out the IPC World Games representative to claim gold. Hoffer settled for a well-deserved silver.
Men’s 100m Freestyle
Patrick Hoey has dashed Hamish Rose’s dream of clinching the 50m/100m freestyle double by taking home the men’s 100m freestyle crown. Hoey (51.27) made his intentions clear early, breaking streamline in a flurry while Rose, who won his fourth consecutive 50m freestyle title earlier in the week, relied on his relaxed text-book technique to see him through.
Hoey ‘s flawless underwater work propelled him into a half a body length lead, forcing Rose (51.84) to play catch-up. Men’s 400m freestyle gold medalist Andrew Walker was awarded the bronze in 52.55.
Women’s 50m Breaststroke Multi Class
Dual gold Paralymic medalist Katherine Downie (40.78) has narrowly touched out Madeleine Scott (41.11) to take gold in the women’s 100m breaststroke multi class final. The pair had the crowd on the edge of their seats, but it was Downie who would take the win.
Women’s 100m Backstroke
Holly Barratt has claimed her third state long course title, adding the 100m backstroke to her 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle.
Barratt, who has also finished third in this event at the 2012 Australian Short Course Championships, beat rising star Ella Cossill (1:05.62) and Caitlin Shephard (1:06.87) to the wall in a time of 1:03.05.
Men’s 100m Breaststroke
In the absence of Brenton Rickard, Peel Aquatic’s Robert Evans was taking no chances in the men’s 100m breaststroke final.
The tall 18 year-old used his long limbs to pull away from the field to lead ever so slightly at the half-way mark. Paul Sutherland (1:04.32) and Tommy Sucipto (1:04.89) dug deep over the final 50 to catch the leader, however Evans held off the field to claim gold.
Women’s 200m Breaststroke
Laura Halden has upstaged a strong field in the final of the women’s 200m breaststroke to win her maiden WA state open title on the final night of the competition.
The leading pack of four swimmers went stroke for stroke before Halden (2:39.12) made her move at the 100m mark, and refused to forfeit her advantage for the rest of the race.
Jemma Saxton emerged as the eventual silver medalist ahead of Malaysian champion Christine Loh (2:41.27) and Justine Spurr (2:43.75).
Men 50m Backstroke
Trans Tasman Matthew Meinema has established himself as Western Australia’s backstroke king for the year, clinching gold in the men’s 50m backstroke and completing the backstroke 50m/100m/200m trifecta.
Meinema (27.41) had the crowd on the edge of their seats, going stroke for stroke with Ian James Barr (27.43) before touching out Malaysian by 0.02 seconds. Ross Pennycuick (27.85) took home the silver, while Arena’s Luke Staffe (28.48) was awarded bronze.
Men’s 50m Freestyle Multi Class
Paralympian Joshua Hoffer and Liam Smith have closed the book on their rivalry at the 2013 State Open and Age Long Course Championships. The pair has continually fought it out for bragging rights over the week, with Hoffer taking out the final 50m freestyle race in 31.35, swimming under the national qualifying time.
Smith swam an impressive 30:54 and finished ahead of West Coast’s Maximillion Prize (48.62).
Women’s 50m freestyle
Olympian Yolane Kukla has denied 100m and 200m freestyle State Champion Brianna Throssell the freestyle trifecta, slamming into the wall in 25.68 and securing her first state title as a WA resident.
Despite a slow start from Throssell (25.82), the World Short Course medalist held Kukla in her sights to the very end, just narrowly missing out on the gold. Dual gold medalist at this meet Holly Barratt (26.34) finished her campaign with a bronze.
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