James Magnussen Grabs 100 Free Victory in Return Meet

Photo Courtesy: Jeff Commings

Former World Champion and Olympic silver medallist James Magnussen has opened his summer of swimming with a win in the men’s 100m freestyle final at the Victorian Open Swimming Championships in a time of 49.35.

After a nine month break from racing while he recovered from shoulder surgery, tonight was a test for the 24-year-old to see where he was at in his recovery, and the results were impressive.

The Ravenswood swimmer, coached by Mitch Falvey, remained controlled over the two lap dash, hanging on to take the top spot ahead of pocket rocket Kenneth To who was hot on his heels in 49.68 with Dan Smith rounding out the top three in 49.89.

With Kyle Chalmers posting a 49.30 for the 100m free at the South Australian Championships and then add to the equation Cameron McEvoy’s 48.01 from the Queensland Championships in December, these early season times signal a battle brewing in the men’s blue ribband event that will culminate at the Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships in April.

Also impressing on the opening night of finals and making her debut on the Australian Dolphins Swim Team at the Perth Aquatic Super Series in just a few weeks’ time, 18-year-old Georgia Bohl, is proving her potential after clocking a speedy 1:06.98 for the 100m breaststroke at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre tonight.

Bohl’s time was quick enough to move up the ranks in the Australian all-time top ten for the event from 10^thto sixth overall, mixing it with the best in the business and putting her name down for serious contention in the race to Rio.

The St Peters swimmer was too quick for the rest of the field and won the state title ahead of a quality field with World Championship gold medallist from the 50m breaststroke, Sweden’s Jennie Johansson (1:07.56) second and Yeronga Park’s Lorna Tonks (1:07.89) third.

Top three in other events…

Men’s 50m Backstroke Multi Class

Aaron Moores, Wales, 30.27
2. Jack Thomas, Wales, 30.43
Christopher Arbuthnott, New Zealand, 31.86

Women’s 50m Backstroke Multi Class

Taylor Corry, Nelson Bay, 32.54
Tupou Neiufi, New Zealand, 35.10
Nikita Howarth, New Zealand, 41.90

Men’s 400m Freestyle

1.      1 Milne, Stephen, Perth City, 3:48.99
2.      2 Mack Horton, Melbourne Vicentre, 3:49.47
3.      3 David McKeon, Chandler, 3:49.89

Women’s 50m Butterfly

1. Emma McKeon, St Peters Western, 26.12
2. Madeline Groves, St Peters Western, 26.20
3. Alicia Coutts, Redlands, 26.72

Men’s 200m Butterfly
1.      Chris Wright, Southport, 1:58.95
2.      Theodoro Benehoutsos, Melbourne Vicentre, 1:59.66
3.      Grant Irvine, St Peters Western, 2:00.66

Men’s 100m Butterfly Multi Class
1.      Jesse Aungles, Marion, 1:07.24
2.      Jesse Reynolds, New Zealand, 1:05.60
3.      Christopher Arbuthnott, New Zealand, 1:05.84

Women’s 100m Butterfly Multi Class
1.      Sophie Pascoe, New Zealand, 1:04.18
2.      Nikita Howart, New Zealand, 1:24.59
3.      Madeleine Scott, Canberra, 1:11.58

Women’s 100m Breaststroke
1.      Georgia Bohl, St Peters Western, 1:06.98
2.      Jennie Johansson, Sweden, 1:07.56
3.      Lorna Tonks, Yeronga Park, 1:07.89

Men’s 50m Breaststroke
1.      Matt Shead, New Zealand, 28.11
2.      Matthew Treloar, TigerSharks, 28.50
3.      Jake Packard, Spartans, 28.62

Women’s 400m Individual Medley
1.      Keryn McMaster, Chandler, 4:39.50
2.      Blair Evens, UWSC, 4:39.83
3.      Holly Brettle, TigerSharks, 4:45.60

Men’s 50m Breaststroke Multi Class
1.      Aaron Moores, Wales, 30.73
2.      Timothy Disken, PLC Aquatic, 33.01
3.      Ahmed Kelly, Melbourne Vicentre, 51.20

Women’s 50m Breaststroke Multi Class
1.      Tanya Huebner, Vicentre, 46.73
2.      Madeleine Scott, Canberra, 37.51
3.      Jaime-Lee Getson, Melton, 39.98

Women’s 100m Freestyle
1.      Emma McKeon, St Peters Western 54.06
2.      Bronte Barratt, St Peters Western, 54.60
3.      Melanie Wright, Southport, 55.89

Men’s 100m Freestyle
1.      James Magnussen, Ravenswood, 49.35
2.      Kenneth To, Trinity Grammar, 49.68
3.      Daniel Smith, Miami, 49.89

Women’s 200m Backstroke
1.      Madi Wilson, St Peters Western, 2:07.18
2.      Belinda Hocking, Nunawading, 2:09.21
3.      Hilary Caldwell, Canada, 2:10.73

Men’s 50m Backstroke
1.      Mitch Larkin, St Peters Western, 24.98
2.      Joshua Beaver, Nunawading, 25.21
3.      Ben Treffers, Burley Griffin, 25.59

Men’s 200m Freestyle Multi Class
1.      Rowan Crothers, Yeronga Park, 1:56.85
2.      Joshua Alford, Tuggeranong Vikings, 2:02.40
3.      Samuel Greatorex, Nunawading, 2:01.10

Women’s 200m Freestyle Multi Class
1.      Sophie Pascoe, New Zealand, 2:12.51
2.      Taylor Corry, Nelson Bay, 2:12.99
3.      Jade Lucy, SLC, 2:24.14

Women’s 800m Freestyle
1.      Jessica Ashwood, Chandler, 8:25.13
2.      Leah Neale, Spartans, 8:38.02
3.      Mikayla Messer, Chandler, 8:42.26

Swimming Australia contributed this report.

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