Aussies prepare for Michael Phelps comeback

April 2, 2014 - 10:18PM

 

Australia's 200 metre freestyle swimmers were champing at the bit at the prospect of American great Michael Phelps making a comeback to competitive swimming, Thomas Fraser-Holmes declared on Wednesday night.

The swimming world has been speculating that the 18-time Olympic gold medallist, who retired after the London Games in 2012, was considering a return in time for Rio in 2016. 

Fraser-Holmes came second in the 200 freestyle final at the Australian selection trials for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in Brisbane on Wednesday night when he was narrowly touched out by Cameron McEvoy, who won his first national title in a personal-best of one minute 45.46 seconds. Fraser-Holmes finished in 1:45.58.

And in an encouraging sign, the first six finishers touched in under 1:48 seconds, giving Fraser-Holmes and McEvoy confidence that the 4x200 freestyle relay team, which was the best in the world in the early 2000s, could again match it with any team, even a world champion American squad that could have the addition of Phelps. 

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"He's the best swimmer of all time and if he does the 4x200 freestyle relay it's just going to get the boys fired up even more," Fraser-Holmes said. 

"I don't want to say we're going to be the next best team, [but] we're quietly confident on what we're going to do. We've all got good times and we're all good mates, so we're all pulling for each other." 

McEvoy said the depth of 200 freestylers was exciting. "It's awesome. It's insane. I'm not quite sure of the other teams and their depth, but I think most people did best times in that race, which is so good.''

Link to Article:   http://www.smh.com.au/sport/swimming/aussies-prepare-for-michael-phelps-comeback-20140402-zqpvy.html

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/swimming/aussies-prepare-for-michael-phelps-comeback-20140402-zqpvy.html#ixzz2xjDhDQse

 

Chart Topping Swims From Cameron McEvoy & Tom Fraser-Holmes; Cate Crackles

April 2, 2014 - Craig Lord

Cameron McEvoy, on 48.19 when James Magnussen clocked the world-leading 47.59 at the Super Series in Perth claimed the national 200m free crown in Brisbane [Photo: Swimming Australia]

Cameron McEvoy and Thomas Fraser-Holmes granted Australia the top two slots in the world over 200m freestyle – on 1:45.46 and 1:45.58 – on day 2 at Australian nationals and trials in Brisbane before Fraser-Holmes practiced the double he will take on at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow come July with a commanding 4:10 victory in the 400m medley.

A day after a world topper on 3:43 in the 400m free, David McKeon, on 1:46.37, completed a trio of lifetime bests, McEvoys’s triumph marking his maiden voyage inside 1:46. 

All three raced inside automatic selection targets for the Games at trials that will also put in place the Australia squad for a home Pan Pacific Championships on the Gold Coast.

Superimpose the top two times at Brisbane Aquatics Centre today on the full-year 2013 ranks and McEvoy and Fraser-Holmes come in at 4th and 5th, none in the Commonwealth ahead of them on a list topped by France’s Yannick Agnel as one of three men inside 1:45. Speedy, world-class performance from the Australians.

In a session that saw Cate Campbell blast a 24.13 in the 50m free to equal the Commonwealth textile best set by England’s Fran Halsall in spring two years ago, Fraser-Holmes caught his breath as those seeking passage to finals in three other events took to the water. Not much more than an hour after his 200m free he was back in for a 4:10.68 win in the 400m medley not far shy of his own 4:10.14 Commonwealth record. That left Fraser-Holmes [Photo: Swimming Australia] second on the global ranks behind Olympic bronze medallist Kosuke Hagino (JPN).

In other finals, Nathaniel Romeo clocked 23.83 for the 50 ‘fly crown ahead of a 15-year-old on the move and into the season world top 20 at 17 , Kyle Chalmers on 24.03. In the women’s 50m breaststroke, Leiston Pickett sprang up to No 3 in the world this year with a 30.89 victory ahead of Sally Hunter (nee Foster), on 31.18. The men’s 100m backstroke crown went to Mitch Larkin in 53.46 ahead of Ben Treffers, on 53.73.

The session ended with more gauntlets for the wider world of swimming: it took a 57-plus to make the cut for the Commonwealth Games squad over 100m butterfly. Olympic bronze medallist Alicia Coutts led the way in 57.70, Ellen Gandy followed in 57.98 and Emma McKeon was 0.01sec away.

In semis, world champion Christian Sprenger clocked 59.99 to become the third man this year to crack the minute in the 100m breaststroke.

• Impact of Day 2: the World Rankings Powered by Speedo Fastskin are all up to date.

Race Reports

Men’s 200m freestyle – McEvoy, Fraser-Holmes top of the world, McKeon Close

Cameron McEvoy and Thomas Fraser-Holmes leapt to the helm of the 2014 world rankings with 1:45s, David McKeon [photo: Anoko Kovacs] claiming the third berth for the Commonwealth Games on 1:46 low a day after carving out a 3:43 world topper in the 400m free. The splits on the way to three lifetime bests are a rattling read of the kind that showcase swimming at its best, McEvoy inside his 1:46.03 high, Fraser-Holmes inside his 1:45.79 high and McKeon inside his 1:46.96 high in the hunt for solo berths and access to a quartet with its eye on Commonwealth gold and podium challenge at Pan Pacs the month after in August.

Set aside the shiny stuff and on a list led by Yannick Agnel at 1:43.14 from London 2012 Olympic victory, beyond Baltimore teammate Michael Phelps as the only other sub-1:44 swimmer, and beyond seven on 1:44s, the top two Aussies are now just outside the all-time top 10, three of those ahead of them retired.

McEvoy, coached at Palm Beach Currumbin by Richard Scarce, set the pace from fastest reaction to fastest right to fight for Commonwealth gold:

1. 24.41 51.10 (26.69) 1:17.83 (26.73) 1:45.46 (27.63) McEvoy
2. 24.73 51.69 (26.96) 1:18.58 (26.89) 1:45.58 (27.00) Fraser-Holmes
3. 24.77 51.73 (26.96) 1:18.99 (27.26) 1:46.37 (27.38) McKeon
4. 24.81 51.83 (27.02) 1:19.55 (27.72) 1:47.16 (27.61) Ned McKendry
5. 25.41 52.63 (27.22) 1:20.42 (27.79) 1:47.36 (26.94) Mack Horton
6. 25.12 52.40 (27.28) 1:20.05 (27.65) 1:47.92 (27.87) Kurt Herzog

The 4x200m relay stacks up well, all its protagonists still on the way to full potential and maturity in the pool. Meanwhile, as McEvoy turned his attentions to the sprint events and the might of James Magnussen, Fraser-Holmes hopped off to catch his breath on the way to a victory of his own …

Men’s 400IM – Thomas Fraser-Holmes Rolls On A League Ahead Of Rest

That Thomas-Fraser Holmes [Photo: CAL] would win the long medley was not in doubt, string aside the chance of him falling off his blocks or waving to the crowd at the turn on breaststroke. The question was how fast could he go after a 1:45 200m free in a practice session for the double he will take on at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July.

He delivered the answer in style: 4:10.68, no others inside the 4:15 automatic selection cut but Travis Mahoney and, on 4:17.39, and 19-year-old Jared Gilliland, 4:17.77, both inside B target and on the list of those to be considered come the cut at the end of trials.

The race behind him, Fraser-Holmes, the Miami charge of coach Denis Cotterell and going from strength to strength at 22, was never led on his way to setting up a shot at the Commonwealth crown:

1. 25.86 55.53 (29.67) 1:28.30 (32.77) 2:00.21 (31.91) 2:35.49 (35.28) 3:11.94 (36.45) 3:42.57 (30.63) 4:10.68 (28.11) Fraser-Holmes
2. 26.75 57.81 (31.06) 1:29.44 (31.63) 2:01.61 (32.17) 2:38.26 (36.65) 3:15.67 (37.41) 3:46.88 (31.21) 4:17.39 (30.51) Mahoney
3. 26.80 58.09 (31.29) 1:31.77 (33.68) 2:05.58 (33.81) 2:41.31 (35.73) 3:18.04 (36.73) 3:48.83 (30.79) 4:17.77 (28.94) Gilliland
4. 27.54 58.63 (31.09) 1:31.91 (33.28) 2:05.47 (33.56) 2:41.69 (36.22) 3:19.24 (37.55) 3:50.59 (31.35) 4:20.53 (29.94) Tomas Elliott, 19
5. 27.20 57.99 (30.79) 1:32.51 (34.52) 2:06.28 (33.77) 2:43.63 (37.35) 3:22.23 (38.60) 3:53.68 (31.45) 4:23.93 (30.25) Joachim Badrum 17

Fraser-Holmes was just shy of his 4:10.14 Commonwealth record, his way clear for the ‘region’s’ first sub-4:10. In the club of sub-4:10s are four Americans, 1 Brazilian, three Asians, two of those Japanese, 1 Chinese, and two Europeans, from Hungary and Italy. Pioneering moment in Oceania and the Commonwealth are there for the taking.

Women’s 100m butterfly – Coutts, Gandy, McKeon On Board Inside 58sec

It was subtle but Olympic podium placer Alicia Coutts [photo: Swimming Australia] had the edge – overall and in race breakdown – on her opponents from dive to defence of her Commonwealth crown via a 57.70 victory 0.1sec shy of her season best at the Super Series. Ellen Gandy and Emma McKeon went stroke for stroke with the pace-setter on their way to the podium in 57.98 and 57.99 respectively.

Australia now occupies No2 to No5 on the world rankings after Swedish World Champion Sarah Sjostrom‘s bombastic early season 56.53. Top of the Aussie heap is a 57.43 from Madeline Groves but Commonwealth selection eluded the 18-year-old relative newcomer to the pressure of trials. On 58.40 today, she was up with the fight at the turn on 27.11, Coutts the only sub-27 fist-lapper, on 26.98, with Gandy on 27.00 and McKeon on 27.23.

McKeon, the stamina of a 1:55 200m free in her, was the speediest beyond Coutts on the way home, a 30.76 getting her past Groves and almost level with Gandy. Coutts returned in 30.72, a 31.29 from Groves forcing her to reset her sights on the 200m in the hunt for international selection this year.

Men’s 50m Butterfly – Romeo Just Ahead of Prince Chalmers, 15

Nathaniel Romeo, 20 and racing for Sydney University, claimed the dash crown in 23.83, 0.01sec slower than his semi and what is the second swiftest effort among Commonwealth swimmers so far this season, England’s Ben Proud on 23.67 and the likes of South Africans Roland Schoeman and Chad Le Clos closing in on their own trials.

There are no cut times and automatic selections to stroke dash events in Australia for the Games, the one-lappers to be selected on other qualifications and team numbers come the final cut.

If Romeo might be in with a shout, then one to watch for future Games glory is 15-year-old Kyle Chalmers, on 24.03 for silver. Astonishing speed for one almost three months shy of his 16th birthday. Third place went to Chris Wright in 24.07.

Semi-Finals -

Cate Campbell equals Commonwealth textile best on 24.13

Bronte Campbell set a sizzling pace at 24.60 in the first semi before her sister Cate [photo: Swimming Australia] fired herself to the helm of the world rankings with a 23.13 rocket that equalled the swiftest ever in a textile suit by a Commonwealth swimmer. Fran Halsall, of England and Britain, now shares the standard she set in a London spring two years ago, while a 24.05 is the world textile best of Dutch Olympic and World Champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo.

Closest to Bronte was a 25.03 from Emma McKeon, while closest to Cate was a 24.69 from fellow Olympic 4x100m free champion Melanie Schlanger, with Britanny Elmslie next through in 25.04.

Campbell’s Commercial teammate and fellow World Champion Christian Sprenger led the way into the 100m breaststroke final on 59.99, 19-year0old Jake Packard, 1:01.55, and Nicholas Schafer, 1:01.75, either side of him going through.

Sibling Gold For Emma & David McKeon; World Topper From Christian Sprenger Too

April 1, 2014 - Craig Lord

Emma McKeon joined brother David on the Australian Commonwealth Games team in the first hour of action at trials [Swimming Australia]

Siblings David and Emma McKeon started their Australian trials and nationals’ campaigns with a bang in Brisbane today, he on 3:43.72 at the helm of the 400m freestyle world rankings, she with an Australian 200m freestyle record of 1:55.68, second best in the world so far this year. Christian Sprenger added to the good news Down Under with a dominant 2:08.63 triumph in the 200m breaststroke at the top of the World Rankings.

All three raced inside automatic selection targets for the Commonwealth Games at trials that will also put in place the Australia squad for a home Pan Pacific Championships on the Gold Coast.

The fine form the McKeons put on show today in what is now their home pool at Brisbane Aquatics Centre confirmed that the Wollongong pair’s move to the Chandler Podium Performance Centre under the guidance of coach Vince Raleigh of late as their dad Ron landed the job of head open water coach to Australia, has been fruitful.

“He kicked me and Emma out of home,” David McKeon told reporters with a nod to his dad and his tongue in cheek after the 400m final. ”This is my home pool now and I wasn’t going to let anyone beat me in my home pool.”

His sister added: “It’s pretty exciting, just great to be on the Commonwealth Games team with my brother. Been training really hard, I knew I could go pretty fast.” She added:

“My mum, dad and my uncle all made the Commonwealth Games team in the same year. Now me and my brother have made it. There’s definitely no pressure at all. I just do it because I enjoy it.”

Her brother agreed that family history had helped him perform: “It was only a few years ago that I realised that my dad’s got six Commonwealth gold medals on the wall at home. I’d never really seen them before. That’s when I really started swimming good.”

On training away from home, Emma McKeon says it was the right time for a change but adds: “When I go home for a few weeks at a time I can still have my dad.”

Now behind the work to convert selection to podium on the big occasion, David McKeon believes, along with faith in going faster still. He said:

“I was sick at the end of last year at Queensland States … I’m still not a hundred per cent fit yet. I was hoping to go a little bit quicker tonight – closer to 3:40s – but I think I’ll be able to do that come Glasgow.”

Meantime, world record setter over 200 in 2009, Sprenger is the fastest Australian ever in a textile suit, the first from his country, indeed, inside 2:09.

Australian National Championships – Day 1 Race Reports

Men’s 400m freestyle – David McKeon Holds Off Mack the Knife

McKeon, the 21-year-old from West Illawarra, held off a late challenge from world junior champion Mack Horton, 17, to claim the Australian 400m freestyle title in a world-leading 3:43.72 to 3:44.60 from the teenager. In 3:47.42, Jordan Harrison, 18, completed the podium with a third time inside automatic ‘A’ selection time.

It was McKeon [photo: Swimming Australia] who set the pace from gun to gold, the top three order shifting little thoughout battle. Horton and Harrison had the edge of speed on McKeon down the last lap as they chased the pace-setter but the defending champion had done what it took to win in a time 0.01sec shy of his 2013 victory:

1. 52.60 (27.33) 1:20.53 (27.93) 1:48.98 (28.45) 2:17.56 (28.58) 2:46.25 (28.69) 3:14.93 (28.68) 3:43.72 (28.79) McKeon
2. 53.35 (27.65)  1:21.61 (28.26)  1:50.26 (28.65) 2:18.81 (28.55) 2:47.72 (28.91) 3:16.76 (29.04) 3:44.60 (27.84) Horton
3. 54.43 (28.34) 1:23.20 (28.77) 1:51.95 (28.75) 2:20.99 (29.04) 2:50.03 (29.04) 3:19.16 (29.13) 3:47.42 (28.26) Harrison

In fourth place, came 19-year-old Jack McLoughlin, 3:50.40, with 20-year-old Matthew Levings on 3:52.32 in fifth, the next generation down, Joshua Parrish, 16, on 3:54.51 in 7th.

McKeon is among those who has proven he has the speed too compete with the best in the world, his time today inside the 3:43.96 best effort of 2008 Olympic champion and Australia-based korean Park Tae Hwan on the 2014 ranks. International success and stepping up at the big event has so far eluded McKeon but new head coach to Australia, Jacco Verhaeren, has made it among his priorities to focus on getting the shoal to improve on their trials efforts come the major occasion(s) of the year.

Women’s 200m freestyle – Emma McKeon Takes Down Australian Record

Emma McKeon had already given warning that she was on a roll of progress this season with a 1:56.23 at NSW titles. Today, she took it on apace with a 1:55.68 Australian record after leading the way from block to berth on the Commonwealth Games squad alongside her brother David. The national 200m free standard had stood to Kylie Palmer at 1:55.73 since this month back in 2011, while McKeon made her maiden voyage inside 1:56, her high having been a 1:56.17 from last year.

Top of the heap on the rankings is the 1:55.50 of Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom, pictured on World Cup short-course tour with Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu after McKeon got the better of both of them last year.

In textile, McKeon is now the swiftest ever among Commonwealth nations, the regional record standing at 1:55.54 to England’s Joanne Jackson since the last season of shiny suits in 2009. McKeon, 19, had company from Bronte Barratt, Brittany Elmslie and Madeline Groves over the first half of the race. The second half of battle spoke to the fight not only for solo berths but places on a 4x200m freestyle relay that has its eye on gold at Commonwealth and Pan Pacs this year.

Barratt was closest to the pace of McKeon, on 1:56.61, inside automatic A time, while Elmslie took bronze in 1:57.64, inside B time and sure to race in Glasgow as the third best into the 4x200m relay. Meagan Nay, who experienced a golden moment when she claimed the Commonwealth 200m back crown in Delhi four years ago, came back hard down the last lap to finish fourth in 1:58.43, just ahead of groves, on 1:58.81, Palmer the last inside 1:59, by 0.05sec.

How the battle panned out:

• 27.28 56.60 (29.32) 1:26.19 (29.59) 1:55.68 (29.49) McKeon
• 27.63 57.16 (29.53) 1:26.95 (29.79) 1:56.61 (29.66) Barratt
• 27.37 56.98 (29.61) 1:27.23 (30.25) 1:57.64 (30.41) Elmslie
• 27.90 58.03 (30.13) 1:28.49 (30.46) 1:58.43 (29.94) Nay
• 27.48 57.29 (29.81) 1:28.22 (30.93) 1:58.81 (30.59) Groves
• 28.11 58.04 (29.93) 1:28.54 (30.50) 1:58.95 (30.41) Palmer

Men’s 200m breaststroke – Christian Sprenger Has A Spring In His Stride

Christian Sprenger, coached by Simon Cusack at Commercial, was world record setter over 200m breaststroke back in shiny suited Rome 2009. Last year he added to a growing treasury the World title over 100m in textile suit in Barcelona. At 28, the sprint event might be the place you would expect to see him prosper but a 2:08.63 over four laps today in Brisbane speaks of glass half full on the scale of ages, Sprenger [photo: Patrick Kraemer] not only a class apart at home but travelling at the speed of international challenge for a podium place.

His 2:07.31 Commonwealth mark from the Rome 2009 semis remains a pace beyond his swimming pace but his 2:08.63 proved him, yet again, to be a winner in a post-suit-wars world: the time marked the first sub-2:09 by an Australian in textile and ranks fifth on an all-time list topped by shiny suit swims from Sprenger and Brenton Rickard.

The 12th swiftest in textile ever, Sprenger’s 2014 best took him inside the 2:08.84 at which Germany’s Marco Koch had held the helm of the world rankings this year. On that all-time textile list, Olympic silver medallist Michael Jamieson, heading for a home Scotland Games in Glasgow, and his Bath training partner Andrew Willis, of England, are the only ones ahead of the Australian champion on the clock in Commonwealth waters.

Sprenger is minded not to race the 200m in Glasgow, according to Australian reports, as he focuses on the 100m clash with Olympic champion Cameron van der Burgh (RSA) but that thought may yet fall:  it would mean Australia ruling out what looks like its only shot at a 200m medal.

Out in 28.58, Sprenger turned in 1:01.46 (32.88) and 1:35.10 (33.64) on his way to a homecoming 33.53 for victory inside automatic selection for Glasgow 2014 and well up on three others who cracked the pace of the 2013 title win: Daniel Tranter, on 2:12.26, and defending champion Buster Sykes, on 2:12.95, led Nicholas Schafer, 2:13.00, home but only Tranter got inside the 2:12.78 B standard required for Commonwealth selection.

Women’s 400m medley – McMaster Leads Gandy, Both Inside B Target Time

No-one made the 4:37.77 automatic cut for Commonwealth Games selection but two Australians swam inside the ‘B’ time for consideration, Keryn McMaster claimed the first national crown and likely place on the Commonwealth Games squad at trials.

The 20-year-old racing for Waterworx trailed ‘fly ace Ellen Gandy on butterfly and backstroke before taking charge of the race on breaststroke on her way to a 4:39.69 victory. Gandy, out in 1:01.48 on butterfly, took silver in 4:41.11, with former South African Jessica Pengelly, an Australian swimmer as of four weeks ago, on 4:44.32 for bronze, also inside B target time. Holly Brettle was fourth home in 4:46.44.

Semi-finals:

Leiston Pickett led the way in the 50m breaststroke semis, on 31.17, Lorna Tonks and Sally Hunter safely through, too, while in 4th place Georgia Bohl is the youngest in the final by a generation, at 16 years of age.

In the men’s 50m butterfly, Nathaniel Romeo led the way in 23.82 ahead of Jayden Hadler, 23.95. In the mix of finalists will be Eamon Sullivan, on the comeback race trail at 28, while just 0.01sec shy of making it through, on 24.26, was 15-year-old Kyle Chalmers, who later clocked a 49.45 split in the 4x100m free club relay for Marion.

Alicia Coutts [Photo: Speedo], on the trail of multiple defences at the Commonwealth Games after a stellar Delhi 2010 breakthrough season, clocked 58.22 to claim lane 4 for the 100m butterfly final. Either side of her will be Ellen Gandy, on 58.51 after second place in the 400IM final, and Marieke D’Cruz (nee Guehrer), on 59.04. Also in the mix, Emma McKeon, after that 1:55 200m free victory, and Madeline Groves.

Ben Treffers led Ashley Delaney through to the 100m backstroke final 53.55 to 53.67, with Mitch Larkin close on the clock, on 53.87. Bobby Hurley,, Josh Beaver and Daniel Arnamnart were next through.

In the closing club 4x100m free relay, Sydney Uni A team clocked 3:20.29 for victory, courtesy of Erik Van Dooren (51.28), Te Haumi Maxwell (50.65), Andrew Abood (49.57) and a 48.79 blast from his brother Matthew Abood.

 In other events, courtesy of swimming Australia:

Women’s 50m Freestyle Multi-Class
Fifteen-year-old Madison Elliott took out the women’s 50m freestyle Multi-Class final breaking the S8 world record in 31.13 seconds. Queenslander Lakeisha Patterson held a strong stroke to hit the wall in 32.27 winning the silver medal and London Paralympian Taylor Corry taking home the bronze medal with a time of 28.45 seconds.

Men’s 50m Freestyle Multi-Class
Local Brisbane swimmer Daniel Fox had the crowd cheering as he finished strong in the men’s 50m freestyle Multi-Class final hitting the wall in a quick 24.77 seconds to claim the gold medal. Eighteen-year-old Mitchell Kilduff finished in second place with a time of 25.17 and Andrew Pasterfield in third place touching the wall in 24.04 seconds.

Women’s 100m Breaststroke Multi-Class
The women showed strong form in the 100m breaststroke Multi-Class final tonight, in the end Tanya Huebner took the gold medal with a time of 1:41.86, Kayla Clarke the silver medal hitting the touch pad in 1:23.09 and at just 15-years-old Hayley Morris finished in 1:24.21 taking the bronze.

Men’s 100m Breaststroke Multi-Class
Members of the London Paralympic team were on show tonight in the men’s 100m breaststroke Multi-Class final with team mates Blake Cochrane taking the gold medal in 1:18.94, Ahmed Kelly claiming the silver and Richard Eliason taking home the bronze in 1:10.08.