Aus Short Course Champs Day 1 Finals Wrap

Momentum begets momentum.

In a year that delivered a record Dolphins’ haul at the Commonwealth Games and outstanding Pan and Para Pan Pacs campaigns, Australia’s best swimmers sizzled on the opening night of finals at the Australian Short Course Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

Ed Sommerville (1:40.16) set the scene early with an Australian 200m free short course record in the 200m and Ben Armbruster (21.90) chipped in with one of his own – becoming the first Australian to go under 22 seconds in the men’s 50m butterfly.

Josh Collett (56.61) helped himself to the men’s 100m breaststroke title – and national record – and a resurgent Maddie McTernan (2:07.68) claimed the S14 women’s 200m free national record.

But when Rowan Crothers (pictured) launched his 196-centimetre frame from the water after winning the 200m freestyle multiclass, spreading his immense wingspan in delight, it was a moment of pure unmatched accomplishment.

Crothers (1:49.93) clocked the biggest swim of the night with an S10 world record.

In the same race, good mate and Dolphins’ teammate Alex Tuckfield also went under the world record to finish second (1:50.79).

And how did Crothers celebrate that world record? By backing up 40 minutes later to win the men’s 50m fly multi class.

Crothers said: “I did not see that coming at all.”

“Not even close.

“Unfortunately, the 200m freestyle isn’t a Paralympic event for my classification (S1), but we’re going to keep working on it and keep building on the 200m because it’s just great training and it’s going to help my 100m massively.

“That swim just gets me really excited for the future.”

Tuckfield, still absorbing the enormity of going under the world record but finishing second, said: “Rowan (Crothers) is someone I definitely look up to. I take every opportunity to race him with heart. He’s a lovely, lovely man. I want to be like him when I get to his level, and I will.”

“Every time I race him, I get a bit better, and it shows with tonight’s PB that is under the world record … I couldn’t be prouder that we both went under the world record.”

How the night unfolded:

• Sommerville kick started the party with a national record in the men’s 200m freestyle, his 1:40.16 enough to hold off Marcus Da Silva (1:41.91) and Max Giuliani (1:42.02). A refreshed Elijah Winnington – just two weeks under the guidance of Tim Lane at Somerville House – touched fifth in a PB (1:42.97).
• A delighted Armbruster backed up his outstanding heat swim (22.00 – a national record) with his second national record of the day. Armbruster became the first Australian to crack the 22 seconds mark when he stopped the clock in 21.90 in the 50m butterfly. His Bond Uni clubmate Jesse Coleman placed second (22.22) and James Ward third (23.21 – Caulfield).
• St Peters’ Lani Pallister set a women’s 1500m freestyle all-comers record of 15:18.68 to win her second Australian short course title. At the start of the night, she won the 200m freestyle in 1:51.99 with South Australia’s Brittany Castelluzzo second (1:53.07) and Jenna Forrester third (1:54.63).
• Josh Collett from Bond Uni shaved 0.01 off the men’s 100m breaststroke national record to set a new time of 56.61. The mark was previously held by Josh Yong (Highlanders) who placed second in tonight’s final. Yong went 56.72 with Collett’s clubmate Gideon Burnes (56.94) in third.
• Maddie McTernan doubled down and lowered her S14 women’s 200m freestyle national record. The Griffith University athlete went 2:08.30 in the heats before clocking 2:07.68 just a few hours later.
• Sam Short went under the qualifying time in the 800m freestyle. His winning time of 7:25.55 was over 12 seconds ahead of the field, with 19-year-old Tex Cross second best in 7:38.45 and Alec Mander, 23, third (7:38.76).