Butterfly Blitz And Titmus Freestyle Treble On The Table Tonight

06 March 2022
Abbey Connor 2022 NSW State Open

Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus will be looking to secure the 200, 400m and 800m freestyle treble on the final night of the NSW State Open Swimming Championships in Sydney tonight. 

Spectators at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre have been treated to a Titmus master class over three action-packed days of top flight swimming in the “Pool Of Dreams” as Australia’s Dolphins set themselves for a busy international schedule later in the year. 

Titmus (St Peters Western) has not disappointed showing all the class that made her one of the real stars of the Tokyo pool. 

She has already wrapped up the 400 and 800m freestyle double and she showed she is still very much in the fast lane in this morning’s 200m freestyle heats, clocking the fastest time of the day with her first heat time of 1:57.66, followed by 50 and 100m freestyle winner, training partner Shayna Jack (1:59.70). 

While one of the latest St Peters Western recruits, the in-form Kiah Melverton (2:00.14) and who second to Titmus over 400 (in a personal best) and 800m finished third in the heat.

A third SPW swimmer, Tokyo discovery Mollie O'Callaghan, second to Jack in the 100m, won heat two in 1:58.95 from Brianna Throssell (USC Spartans), 1:59.87 and Lani Pallister (Griffith University, QLD) 2:01.06 with Madi Wilson (Marion, SA) taking heat three in 1:58,38.

But Titmus knows she will have to be right on song if she wants to make it three NSW All-Comers records from three swims. 

Her fellow Olympic golden girl Emma McKeon holds the mark at 1:55.38 – set in 2020 – and anytime under that will certainly have coach Dean Boxall jumping for joy.

And every time Olympic champion Zac Stubblety-Cook (Chandler) dives in the pool you want to make sure you're watching. 

He didn’t disappoint last night winning the 100m breaststroke in 1:00.02 and backed up this morning to clock 2:09.01 to win his heat in his main event with fellow Tokyo Olympian and former world record holder Matthew Wilson (SOPAC Swim Club) 2:12.70 next to him alongside 50m breaststroke winner Joshua Yong (USC Spartans, QLD) 2:16.73. 

Amongst other finals to watch tonight will be the women’s 200m butterfly featuring three exciting teenagers, led by Brisbane schoolgirl Elizabeth Dekkers (Newmarket Racers, QLD). 

Dekkers, 17, who was considered one of the unluckiest swimmers not to make last year’s Olympic team, is the fastest qualifier on 2:11.55. 

She was closely followed through qualifying by exciting NSW “Mighty Blues” duo, 16-year-old rising stars, Abbey Connor (Revesby Workers), in a personal best time of 2:12.15 and Bella Grant (Trinity Grammar) 2:13.92.

The men’s 100m butterfly heats saw former Nunawading team mates, 200m winner Bowen Gough, now Griffith University, QLD and 50m butterfly winner, Tokyo star Matt Temple (Marion, SA) the top two qualifiers in 53.24 and 53.35 respectively.

Third fastest is National 50m champion Shaun Champion (Abbotsleigh, NSW) 53.40 and Cody Simpson (Griffith University) 53.78.

Whilst Paralympic medallists Tim Hodge (Auburn, NSW) and former WA surf lifesaving ironman Tom Gallagher (USC Spartans, QLD) will go head to head in the Multi-Class 100m backstroke.

With Campelltown’s Hannah Price (1:16.37) also chasing more gold in the women’s Multi-Class 100m backstroke against Tokyo medallist Ruby Storm (USC Spartans) 1:14.93.

It's your last chance to watch all the action poolside, with $1.95 Finals sessions for spectators aged 18 and older. Accompanied children are welcome to attend for free! Or tune in from the comfort of your home via SwimTV live stream. It all kicks off tonight at 5:15pm.

Full 2022 NSW State Open Championships event info can be found on the Swimming NSW website

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