Aussie A in Form in Canada

The Australia ‘A’ swim team has come within a whisker of winning the Nations Cup against Canada, France and Brazil in Victoria, Canada today, with the home team taking the title by just 10 points overall.

The Australia ‘A’ team of 14, led by individual victories to Matt Abood, Lachlan Staples, WAIS athlete Travis Nederpelt, Rachel Goh, Merindah Dingjan, Amy Smith, Belinda Parlsow, and Ellen Fullerton were not able to withstand the Canadian challenge on the second and final day of competition.

Canada, with their 38-strong team, amassed a total of 339 points, with Australia second on 329, Brazil third on 253 and France fourth on 199.

Head Coach Glen Beringen said to come so close, with such a small team, is a tribute to all involved with the Australia ‘A’ set up.

“This has been a great experience for all the swimmers and to stretch the home nation so much over the two-day competition was a great result,” said Beringen.

“Having performed so well yesterday, everyone had to back up again today, and in most cases swim two or three events against much fresher opposition. The performances are a strong sign that there is plenty of depth in Australian swimming at the moment.”

Abood was named male swimmer of the meet for his performance in the men’s 4x100m freestyle today where he led off in a time of 48.91, the second quickest 100m by an Australian this year, with Eamon Sullivan the only Aussie to be faster with a time of 48.52.

While for the women, Belinda Parslow from Melbourne won the female swimmer of the meet winning the 400m freestyle in 4:12.70.

In other events today Rome World Championship rookie Lachlan Staples took out the 100m butterfly in 54.03 from Queensland’s Grant Irvine (54.20).

Dual Olympian Travis Nederpelt added to his three wins on day one with victory in the 200m IM in 2:02.24 with the West Australian then backed it up to win the 1500m freestyle in 15:28.26.

In the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay the Aussies missed out to Brazil (3:20.34) taking silver in 3:20.71, but then hit back in the 4x100m medley relay to win in 3:43.18.

In the women’s events Australia won five of the six individual titles on offer as well as the 4x200m freestyle relay.

Rachael Goh from Victoria took out the 100m backstroke in 1:01.43, while AIS based West Australian Merindah Dingjan won the women’s 100m free in 55.67.

Queenslander Amy Smith continued her strong butterfly form to take out the 200m in 2:12.77, while Parslow was too strong in the women’s 400m freestyle winning in 4:12.70 from Ellen Fullerton second in 4:17.89. Fullerton then won the 400m in 4:48.50.

Nederpelt’s City of Perth teammateCraig Tucker took to the water in the Mens 200m Breastroke and not to be left underdone posted a solid 2.16.31 to hold AIS Scholarship-Holder and fellow AUS Team MemberJeremy Meyer at bay by just over half-a-second.

Nederpelt and Tucker’s City of Perth and WAIS coach Matt Magee paid tribute to both athletes’ ability to back up after recent shortcourse performances.

Both Tux (Craig Tucker) and Trav (Nederpelt) have performed extremely well out there in Canada. It was always going to be a juggling act having just come off a successful National campaign, seven-days prior. Yet to get there and swim best times is a testament to their ability to adapt and excel while under pressure,” Magee said.

“The boys now need to bringtheir good form and experienceback to the daily trainging environment where through their efforts, application and attitude we will seehow valuable their time away has been towardsboth World Trials in April and of courseLondon in 24-months time.”