Trebles to Thomas Hauck and Para stars Jack Ireland with two world record times and Madeleine McTernan highlighted the Queensland medallists at the 2023 Sydney Sprints Australian Short Course Championships.
There were also doubles to Cody Simpson, David Morgan and Mackenzie Burns over the four days at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.
Hauck, under coach Ken Sabotic at All Saints on the Gold Coast, won the 100 and 200m backstroke and produced an impressive 400m freestyle win.
The men’s 200m backstroke saw Hauck out in front from the outset, adding his second title of the meet after winning the 100m backstroke on night one.
Hauck just missing the 1:53.00 barrier, clocking 1:53.08 – a time just outside the Australian All-Time Top 10, with Carlile’s Marius Boll second in 1:56.65 and Caleb Dryer (Trinity Grammar, NSW) third in 1:57.81.
While in the men’s 400m freestyle, it was Hauck who was very impressive, adding title number three to the 100m and 200m backstroke wins.
After the first 100m, Hauck was never headed to take the title in 3:43.36 from European champion Luc Kroon (Netherlands) 3:46.73 and Koby Bujak-Upton (Knox Pymble, NSW) 3:48.77 hanging on for third.
While Ireland (University of QLD) is on his own path to Paris after smashing the S14 Multi-Class world record for the second time in a month to win the multi-class 200m freestyle in 1:51.55 – on night one, bettering his old mark by almost a second.
Under coach David Heyden, Ireland, powered off the walls through the eight 25m laps to beat Tokyo Paralympic bronze medallist Alex Tuckfield S9 (Southern Sydney, NSW) 1.53.61 and 16-year-old S8 rising star Callum Simpson (Flinders Phoenix, QLD) 2:08.98 – who had earlier won the 400m freestyle.
Ireland set his second Multi-Class world record of the meet – clocking 51.11 in the MC 100m freestyle with Callum Simpson (Flinders Phoenix, QLD) second in 58.41, also winning the 50m freestyle 23.85.
Gold Coast Paralympic medallist McTernan (S14) chalked up the first double of the meet, winning the Multi Class 400m freestyle in 4:46.14 before backing up to take the 200m in 2:13.27 and later adding the 100m backstroke (1:08.76) for her third gold.
Dual Olympian Morgan (Surfers Paradise, QLD), at 29 and with the Rio and Tokyo Olympics on his resume, out-touched fastest qualifier Simpson (Griffith University) to win the men’s 50m butterfly by a touch, on the first night, Morgan clocking 22.85 to Simpson’s 22.93.
All eyes were on Simpson in the men’s 100m freestyle final and the swimmer-turned pop star turned-swimmer again, didn’t disappoint, chalking up his first win of the meet in a personal best of 47.85 – keeping at bay Knox Pymble (NSW) pair Tomas Kopocius (47.94) in an outside lane and Joel Ivory (48.16).
And an attack mentality from Simpson saw the 24-year-old Olympic hopeful tear up the pool for his second National title leading from start to finish to win the 100m butterfly in 50.60 (10.88, 23.52, 36.76) to add to his 100m freestyle win from last night.
The high-profile former pop star has been one of the star attractions at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre this week and he Morgan 50.76 and Alex Quach (SOPAC, NSW) 50.97 at bay in a blanket finish.
Simpson then spoke of his determination to get the absolute best out of his preparation and attacking his races.
“I’ve adopted an attack mentality, aiming to leave nothing in the tank and to just see what happens,” Simpson told Olympian Sarah Ryan on 9Now.
“I’m a student of the sport every single day, with my coach (Michael Bohl) and my team helping me improve in whatever area I can and there’s tonnes more I can learn and improve on.
“And I’m here to put everything I do in training into my racing.”
Simpson will now turn his attention to the 2023 World Cup Series which will be held entirely in Europe next month.
The final night also saw Morgan dead heat with Tomas Kopocius (Knox Pymble, NSW) in the 50m freestyle – the electronic timing unable to separate the pair in 21.82.
While Burns (Sunshine Coast Grammar) won the 50 and 100m backstroke double in 27.48 and 59.48 respectively.
There were also two slick times swum in the men’s 50m breaststroke with winner Nash Wilkes (Southport, QLD) 26.74 and night one 100m winner Haig Buckingham (SOPAC, NSW) 26.94 clocking the seventh and eighth fastest SC times by Australians as they powered their way into the Top Ten, with Joshua Seignior (Propulsion, VIC) 27.20, third.
After Wilkes and Southport teammate Yannick Swolsman had finished second and third respectively in the 100 and 200m breaststrokes.
Adriana Fydler (Miami, QLD) who had charged to the lead after the first 100m of the women’s 200m backstroke, with Abbey Webb j(Cruiz, ACT) just nudging in front under the flags, Fydler finishing second in 2:07.80.
The 20-year-old the daughter of Olympians Chris Fydler and Rosie Brown, had also finished third in the 400m freestyle in 4:09.08, following her parents onto the National stage.
2023 Australian Short Course Swimming Championships, Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic QUEENSLAND MEDALLISTS:
MEN
50m freestyle: 1. David Morgan (Surfers Paradise, QLD) and Tomas Kopocius (Knox Pymble, NSW) =21.82 (dead heat)
100m freestyle: 1. Cody Simpson (Griffith University, QLD) 47.85
200m freestyle: 3. Zachary Tabuai (USC Spartans, QLD) 1:46.23.
400m freestyle: 1. Thomas Hauck (All Saints, QLD) 3:43.36,
50m backstroke: 2. Jye Cornwell (University of QLD) 24.64, 3. Kai Van Kool (Griffith University, QLD) 24.70
100m backstroke: 1. Thomas Hauck (All Saints, QLD) 52.70, 2. Kai Van Kool (Griffith University, QLD) 52.70,
200m backstroke: 1. Thomas Hauck (All Saints, QLD) 1:53.08,
50m butterfly 1. David Morgan (Surfers Paradise, QLD) 22.85, 2 Cody Simpson (Griffith University, QLD) 22.93
100m butterfly: 1. Cody Simpson (Griffith University, QLD) 50.60, 2. David Morgan (Surfers Paradise, QLD) 50.97
200m butterfly: 1. Ruan Van der Riet (USC Spartans, QLD) 1:55.84, 2. David Morgan (Surfers Paradise, QLD) 1:58.18
50m breaststroke: 1. Nash Wilkes (Southport, QLD) 26.74
100m breaststroke: 2. Nash Wilkes (Southport, QLD) 58.01 3. Yannick Swolsman (Southport, QLD) 59.16
200m breaststroke: 2. Nash Wilkes (Southport, QLD) 2:08.10, 3. Yannik Swolsman (Southport, QLD) 2:08.54.
WOMEN
200m freestyle: 2. Lucy Dring (Sunshine Coast Grammar, QLD) 1:56.90
400m freestyle: 3. Adriana Fydler (Miami, QLD) 4: 09.08
800m freestyle: 2. Sienna Deurloo (Toowoomba, QLD) 8:39.65
1500m freestyle: 2 Sienna Deurloo (Toowoomba, QLD) 16:36.24
50m backstroke: 1. Mackenzie Burns (Sunshine Coast Grammar, QLD) 27.48
100m backstroke: 1. Mackenzie Burns (Sunshine Coast Grammar, QLD) 59.48
200m backstroke: 2. Adriana Fydler (Miami, QLD) 2:07.80
50m breaststroke: 3. Sophie Martin (Somerville House, QLD) = 31.64
100m breaststroke: 3. Sophie Martin (Somerville House, QLD) 1:08.76.
200m butterfly: 2. Lucy Dring (Sunshine Coast Grammar, QLD) 2:08.48, Elloise Doolan (Somerville House, QLD) 2:10.82
100m individual medley: 1. Sophie Martin (Somerville House, QLD) 1:00.82
200m individual medley: 3. Lucy Dring (Sunshine Coast Grammar, QLD) 2:11.58
400m individual medley: 2. Lucy Dring (Sunshine Coat Grammar, QLD) 4:39.06
MULTI-CLASS EVENTS
Men
50m freestyle: 1. Jack Ireland S14 (University of QLD) 23.85,
100m freestyle: 1. Jack Ireland S14 (University of QLD), 51.11 WR, 2. Callum Simpson S8 (Flinders Phoenix, QLD) 58.41
200m freestyle: 1. Jack Ireland S14 (University of QLD) 1:51.55 WR, 3. Callum Simpson S8 (Flinders Phoenix, QLD) 2:08.98
400m freestyle: 1. Callum Simpson S8 (Flinders Phoenix, QLD) 4:30.07, 2. Joshua Alford S14 (University of QLD) 4:15.77, 3. Harrison Vig S9 (University of QLD) 4:25.16
50m backstroke: 2. Joshua Alford S14 (University of QLD) 30.76
100m backstroke: 3. Harrison Vg (University of Queensland) 1:04.50
200m IM: 2. Callum Simpson (Flinders Phoenix, QLD) 2:33.21,
Women
200m freestyle: 1. Madeleine McTernan S14 (Sharks Aquatic, QLD) 2:13.27
400m freestyle: 1. Madeleine McTernan S14 (Sharks Aquatic, QLD) 4:46.16
50m backstroke: 1. Kael Thompson S14 (Sunshine Coast Grammar, QLD), 3 Montana Atkinson (Helensvale, QLD) 32.88
100m backstroke: 1. Madeleine McTernan S14 (Sharks Aquatic, QLD) 1:08.76, 3., Montana Atkinson SB14 (Helensvale, QLD) 1:13.77
50m breaststroke: 2. Montana Atkinson SB14 (Helensvale, QLD) 38.55
50m butterfly: 2. Montana Atkinson (Helensvale, QLD) 30.38
100m butterfly: 2. Montana Atkinson (Helensvale, QLD) 1:10.92
Photo Credit: Toby Zerna SwimAus
