Bronte doubles down on final night of Aussie Short Course

OLYMPIAN Bronte Campbell doubled down on her bid for a fourth Olympic team after winning the 50m free splash-and-dash at the Australian Short Course Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

The 29-year, who had already won the 100m free in impressive fashion, was never headed in tonight’s sprint, clocking 24.09 ahead of prolific short course medallist Abbey Webb (24.89) and Ellysia Oldsen (24.99).

Campbell, a five-time World Championship gold medallist, made her return to swimming after the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 just five months ago after linking with Shannon Rollason in Canberra – dividing her sessions between the ACT and Sydney.

Speaking poolside, Campbell said she had lost a bet with a club teammate that she would go under 24 but nonetheless was delighted with her swim.

“I’m really happy with that … every time I get in the pool, I’m a little bit faster. The move (to Rollason) was a big change for me and I’m enjoying it.”

When asked about the change up in coaching methods under Rollason, Campbell said her success reflected how much she was enjoying it in the pool before adding: “… and Cam McEvoy is also exploring things (with his training) and doing so well.”

In the men’s equivalent 2-lap sprint, dual Olympian David Morgan couldn’t quite mow down Tomas Kapocius and the pair dead heated in 21.82 with Thomas Robinson claiming the bronze in 22 flat.

Other standout performances on the final night of competition included Tara Kinder claiming the 200m breaststroke gold, adding to her 100m breaststroke gold and 50m breaststroke silver; and Olympian Maddie Gough adding the 800m to her 1500m free gold, and 800m silver.

A bronzed Alex Quach entered the winner’s circle in the 100IM – clocking 53.56, with Callum Halloran-Lavelle second (54.70) and Jamie Mooney third (54.79).

For Quach, his medal was finally the colour he wanted after placing third in the 50-100 fly finals.

Angus Menzies held off Nash Wilkes in the men’s 200m breast – 2:08.02 to 2:08.10, continuing Knox Pymble’s club dominance with Yannik Zwolsman third (2:08.54).

Knox Pymble also produced a gold medallist in Declan Budd, who won the multi-class 50m backstroke in 29.39 ahead of Joshua Alford (30.76) and Dylan Logan (27.30).

Budd, from northern Sydney, contracted swine flu when he was just 18 months old, leaving him with brain damage and a mild intellectual disability that impacted his speech.

But the 15-year-old, who won five events at the recent NSW State Championships, can already see himself standing on top of the podium at the 2032 Brisbane Paralympic Games.

Knox Pymble was awarded the Australian Short Course Club Champion Trophy with Marion second and Cruiz third.

 

DAY 4 RESULTS:

Women’s 200 Fly – Gold: Bella Grant (2:07:57, Trinity Grammar); Silver: Lucy Dring (2:08:48, Sunshine Coast Gramar); Bronze: Elloise Doolan (2:10:82, Somerville House)

 Men’s 200 Fly – Gold: Ruan Van der Riet (1:55:84, USC Spartans); Silver: David Morgan (1:58:18, Surfers Paradise); Bronze: Caleb Dryer (1:58:90, Trinity Grammar) 

Women’s 100 Fly MC – Gold: Taylor Corry S14 (1:06:86, Kincumber Pacific Dolphins); Silver: Montana Atkinson S14 (1:10:92, Helensville); Bronze: Jasmin Fullgrabe S9 (1:13:47, Marion) 

Men’s 100 Fly MC – Gold: Dylan Logan S15 (58:16, Geelong); Silver: Jarred Dyer S14 (59:54, Dapto); Bronze: Declan Budd S14 (1:00:20, Knox Pymble)

 Women’s 50 Free – Gold: Bronte Campbell (24:09, Cruiz); Silver: Abbey Webb (24:89, Cruiz); Bronze: Ellysia Oldsen (24:99, Marion)

 Men’s 50 Free – Gold: Thomas Kapocius (21:82, Knox Pymble) and David Morgan (21:82, Surfers Paradise); Bronze: Thomas Robinson (22:00, Cruiz)

Women’s 200 Breast – Gold: Tara Kinder (2:21:69, Melbourne Vicentre); Silver: Kalyce Pressler (2:25:42, Marion); Bronze: Bianca Fuller (2:27:01, Cruiz)

 Men’s 200 Breast – Gold: Angus Menzies (2:08:02, Knox Pymble); Silver: Nash Wilkes (2:08:10, Southport); Bronze: Yannik Zwolsman (2:08:54, Southport)

 Women’s 50 Back MC – Gold: Kael Thompson S14 (32:18, Sunshine Coast Grammar) and Taylor Corry S14 (32:19, Kincumber Pacific Dolphins); Bronze: Montana Atkinson S14 (32:88, Helensvale) 

Men’s 50 Back MC – Gold: Declan Budd S14 (29:39, Knox Pymble); Silver: Joshua Alford S14 (30:76, University of Queensland); Bronze: Dylan Logan S15 (27:30, Geelong) 

Women’s 100 IM – Gold: Sophie Martin (1:00:82, Somerville House); Silver: Kayla Hardy (1:01:50, Cruiz); Ellysia Oldsen (1:01:74, Marion)

Men’s 100 IM – Gold: Alex Quach (53:56, SOPAC); Silver: Callum Halloran-Lavelle (54:70, Melbourne Vicentre); Bronze: Jamie Mooney (54:79, Wagga Wagga)

 Women’s 100 Breast MC – Gold: Ashley Van Rijswijk S14 (1:16:96, Wagga Wagga); Silver: Amelie Springett-Kelly S6 (1:43:22, City of Sydney); Bronze: Montana Atkinson S14 (1:22:65, Helensvale)

Men’s 100 Breast MC – Gold: Riley Moore S9 (1:09:99, Woy Woy); Silver: Ahmed Kelly S3 (1:58:56, Yarra Plenty); Bronze: Beau Matthews S8 (1:16:76, SLC Aquadot)

Women’s 800 Free – Gold: Madeleine Gough (8:24:70, Carlile); Silver: Sienna Deurloo (8:39:65, Toowoomba Grammar); Bronze: Mackenzie Hunter (8:44:11, MLC Aquatic)

Men’s 1500 Free – Gold: Adam Sudlow (15:21:88, North Coast); Silver: Euan Liney (15:25:53, Knox Pymble); Bronze: Harry Hay (15:32:21, MLC Aquatic)

Women’s 4x100m Medley – Gold: (4:07.03, Ellysia Oldsen, Kalyce Pressler, Emily White, Madeleine Trumble); Silver: MLC Aquatic (4:10.92, Ciara Walsh, Alanah Torrance, Isabella Osborn, Mackenzie Hunter); Bronze: Somerville House (4:11.10, Ruby Boxall, Sophie Martin, Elloise Doolan, Aspen Stewart)

Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay – Gold: Knox Pymble (3:35.87, Joseph Hamson, Angus Menzies, Kai Lilienthal, Tomas Kapocius); Silver: Nunawading (3:43.46, Joshua Carns, Jack Gurrie, Riley Mitchell, Nicholas Wu); Bronze: Warringah (3:43.96, Lachlan Davies, Ryan Yii, Hamish McLellan, Matthew Harris)