Evans to Swim for #Rio2016 Berth
WAIS athlete Blair Evans will tonight swim for a berth at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, after she qualified second fastest in the morning heats of the 400m IM at the 2016 Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide.
A top two finish, in an A-Qualifying standard time of 4:38.20 will be enough to secure the 25 year-old a ticket to a second Olympic campaign, after she debuted four years ago in London, picking up a silver medal as a member of the Australian 4x200m freestyle relay team.
Evans finished second in her heat, after clocking 4:45.64 behind fastest qualifier and reigning 400m IM national champion Keryn McMaster (4:44.14). Elle Fullerton and Tessa Wallace will also stake strong claims for selection.
WAIS scholarship athlete Brianna Throssell advanced safely through to the semi finals of the women’s 100m fly this morning after she set the sixth quickest time of 59.56 overall.
Emma McKeon and Alicia Coutts both dipped under A-Qualifying time in their heats, demonstrating that the pace will well and truly be on to qualify for Friday night’s final when semi finals are raced tonight.
Fellow WAIS athlete Holly Barratt will join Throssell in the semis, after she made it through in 1:00.80 for 15th place. Barratt also qualified for tonight’s final in the non-Olympic 50m backstroke, after setting the fourth fastest time of 28.24.
WAIS scholarship holders Tommy Sucipto (1:02.20), Lennard Bremer (1:02.32) and George Harley (1:02.74) all advanced to the semi finals of the men’s 100m breaststroke, setting the 10th, 12th and 16th fastest times respectively.
Kat Downie (10th in 29.17) and Guy Harrison-Murray (12th in 25.35) both narrowly missed finals in their respective 50m freestyle MC heats. Both swimmers however, have stronger events ahead at Nationals and will look to push their claims for Paralympic selection.
The evening session will commence at 6.15pm Perth time and will be aired on Channel 7, whilst Swimming Australia has a live-stream online with commentary.