SNZ Events
Epic Swim
High Performance
SNZ Events
Epic Swim
High Performance
Lewis Clareburt won a bronze medal in the final of the men’s 400m individual medley, smashing his personal best by over four seconds and setting a new national record in the process.
Clareburt, 18, stopped the clock at 4:14.42s, just behind Australian Clyde Lewis (4:13.12) and Scotsman Mark Szaranek (4.13.72).
“To get a bronze in my first ever open international competition, it’s awesome,” says Clareburt.
“I just followed my race plan, did everything I needed to do. I had a pretty rough backstroke this morning, but I’ve been working hard on my backstroke and breaststroke and they held up well tonight.”
Clareburt turned for home in 3rd place and held off South African Ayrton Sweeney and team mate Bradlee Ashby who finished 5th in 4:18.61, a new personal best.
“Coming home, I didn’t know how many people were in front of me, I was just gunning for it.”
The relay quartet of Daniel Hunter, Sam Perry, Corey Main and Matt Stanley, turned in a fourth-place finish in the final of the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay.
At the final changeover the team were sitting in sixth place before Stanley motored home in the final 50m to pick off South Africa and Canada.
“At the turn, I really tried to kick it in, but came up just short in the end.”
“The boys really put in a gutsy effort, especially Corey who raced 20mins beforehand, so backing that up in that relay is something pretty special,” says Stanley.
Australia blitzed the field to win by over two seconds in 3:12.96.
Main improved on his morning swim to finish 7th in the 100m backstroke final in 54.88s.
In other finals, Chris Arbuthnott and Jesse Reynolds finished 5th and 6th in the final of the S9 100m freestyle, with both swimmers recorded personal bests, Arbuthnott 58.65 and Reynolds 1:00.03.
Although Reynolds missed going under 60 seconds for the first time, he was happy with his result.
“The time was 0.04 slower than what I wanted, but hey I was really happy with how it felt, I thought I came home really strong.”
Arbuthnott was gunning for a medal but was pleased with his time.
“I was out to get some Aussies tonight, but it didn’t quite work, I still PB’d it’s fantastic.
Daniel Hunter and Sam Perry continued their improvement in the 50m butterfly, finishing 5th and 6th in the final.
Both swimmers posted personal best times, once again going under 24 seconds.
“I didn’t come out with a medal, but another PB, I’ve got nothing to complain about, I’m absolutely stoked,” says Hunter.
Perry ranked his first major international final highly after improving his times in every round.
“To do it in the fifty fly which I had considered to be a warm up race, but now I guess it’s one of my better races, it’s pretty exciting,” says Perry.
South African Chad le Clos won the final in 23.37s from Dylan Carter of Trinidad and Tobago, 23.67s and Ryan Coetzee of South Africa, 23.73s.
Tupou Neiufi finished 6th in the women’s S9 100m backstroke final in 1:17.10.
“Some things just don’t go to plan when you want it to, but there’s always another time,” Neiufi said after the race.
Alice Tai of England won gold in 1:08.77.
In semi-final action, Laticia Transom and Bobbi Gichard missed out on final spots in their respective events.
Transom, 16, who is based in Brisbane, continues to impress in her first senior international competition, finishing 12th overall in the 50m freestyle, in a new PB time of 25.95s.
“I’m disappointed to not make the final, but a PB by only 0.01, I’ll take it, three from three,” says Transom.
The Aussie trio of the Campbell sisters and Shayna Jack lead all finalists, with Cate Campbell setting a blistering games record time of 23.88 in her semi.
Gichard, 18, also finished 12th overall in the 100m backstroke with 1:01.75s.
Day 3 action will be highlighted by Sophie Pascoe in the women’s SM10 200m individual medley.
