WA Pair Set to Lock Horns in 50m Free Final

Published On: 3 April 2014

Western Australian Institute of Sport sprinters Yolane Kukla and Holly Barratt will go head to head with the fastest girls in Australia in the final of the women’s 50m freestyle at the 2014 National Swimming Championships in Brisbane on Thursday night.

Kukla has qualified sixth fastest for final after clocking 25.24 in the semis. The Arena swimmer, who was fastest off the blocks, will be joined in the final by Rockingham sprinter Barratt who goes in seventh fastest with a semi final time of 25.30. Perth City’s Brianna Throssell was 11th overall in 25.69.

Kukla and Barratt face a mighty task in the final where they will meet 100m freestyle world champion Cate Campbell, who flew home in 24.13, her Olympic relay gold medallist sister Bronte (24.60) and Melanie Schlanger (24.69).

Kukla had a tough day in the office on night two of the championships, which double as the trials for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July, Para Pan Pacs in California and Hancock Prospecting Pan Pacific Championships on the Gold Coast in August.

The 18-year-old had to back up for the 100m butterfly where she finished sixth in 59.55 behind five times Commonwealth Games gold medallist Alicia Coutts (57.70), new Australian swimming recruit Ellen Gandy (57.98) and 2014 Australian 200m freestyle champion Emma McKeon (57.99).

Also competing tomorrow night will be Leisurepark Lazers club member and WAIS scholarship holder Tommy Sucipto who will go into the final of the 100m breaststroke fifth fastest after clocking 1:02.09. Westside’s Lennard Bremer (WAIS) was 14th overall in 1:03.08.

West Coast’s Adelaide Hart (WAIS) just missed the final of the 100m backstroke finishing 11th overall in 1:03.01.

In other results, London Paralympian and WAIS athleteKatherine Downie faced some stiff competition in the multi class 100m freestyle final, finishing fourth overall in 1:03.75, while fellow WAIS athlete Madeleine Scott was fourth overall in the final of the multi class 200m individual medley, clocking 2:44.21.

WA has 41 swimmers competing at the 2014 Australian Swimming Championships which run until Sunday, April 6.

For full results go to www.swimming.org.au

-SwimmingWA