Western Australian athletes competing at the World University Games in Naples have returned impressive results in the pool and on the track over the opening week of competition.
Ashton Brinkworth collected a bronze medal in a thrilling men’s 4x200m freestyle relay final, with the Aussies narrowly fending off challenges from Russia and France to secure a podium berth.
Brinkworth and the Australian team finished in a time of 7:14.75 which was just enough to hang on over Russia – who closed in 7:14.94. USA won gold, with Italy winning a popular silver medal in front of parochial home support.
The 19 year-old was also desperately shy of gaining an individual final berth in the men’s 100m free, with his ninth ranked time of 49.58 just a whisker off the top eight.
Ben Roberts joined Brinkworth in action in Naples, with the distance swimmer taking eighth place in the final of the men’s 1500m.
On the track, WA high jumper Grant Szalek produced a fantastic effort to take ninth place in the men’s final.
Szalek peaked with a clearance at 2.15m in his first senior open final representing Australia, with the competition won by Bulgaria’s Tihomir Ivanov (2.30m).
In the men’s pole vault qualification, both Angus Armstrong and Stephen Clough progressed to Friday’s final, with the duo both recording heights of 5.25m to sail through.
Nikita Hains enjoyed a productive campaign at the outdoor aquatics centre in Naples, making the final of the women’s platform, where she scored 242.70 points for ninth place.
Hains later partnered Olivia O’Rouke in the synchronised platform final, with the duo taking fourth place with a score of 234.84.
In the water polo, Sophie Pontre, Jessica Zimmerman and Tessa Hosking are all competing for the Australian women who will contest the 5-8th ranking spots, whilst Damian Williams, Nicholas Elphick, Lachlan Vos and John Hedges will do the same for the men’s team.
