Evans Wins Dual Gold in Singapore World Cup Meet

Published On: 7 November 2011

WAIS swimmer Blair Evans has started her World Cup campaign in fine style after claiming gold medals in the 200m and 400m freestyle finals in Singapore.

Despite returning Olympians Ian Thorpe and Libby Trickett dominating headlines, Evans showed the hard work she has been put through at her City of Perth training base with WAIS coach Matt Magee is paying off, with two solid swims returning a brace of gold medals.

Evans won the 200m freestyle in her first event on Friday, clocking an impressive 1:55.48 to collect her first individual gold for 2011. Evans edged out World Championship silver medallist Kylie Palmer (1:56.10) and fellow West Australian Merindah Dingjan (1:56.45) for the title.

A day later, Evans backed up that performance with the third fastest time in the 400m freestyle qualifying, before turning on a high quality swim in the final to take gold in 4:01.15. Evans’ Australian Dolphins teammate Kylie Palmer (4:03.14) was again second to touch home, whilst the third Australian in the field, Mikkayla Sheridan finished sixth in 4:13.09.

Evans’ coach Matt Magee praised his charge, but said the pair was still focused on the bigger picture of 2012.

“Blair posted a couple of respectable swims this weekend. I liked the way she swam those races, it compliments the direction we have been taking in her preparations over winter. London remains our sole focus and racing (well) at the World Cup serves that purpose,” Magee said.

Evans’ training partner and fellow WAIS scholarship holder Travis Nederpelt also competed in Singapore, producing some solid racing over the two day meet.

Nederpelt made finals appearances in his main events; the Men’s 200m Butterfly (seventh) and Men’s 200m Individual Medley (fourth) and will now follow the series north as it heads to Beijing and then Tokyo where he will look to chase new best times and an elusive podium finish.

Evans will next compete in Beijing, as the world cup series moves to China from November 8-9, before a final competition in Tokyo, Japan from November 12-13.