Evans Finishes Year with Silver

Western Australian Institute of Sport swimmer Blair Evans led the Australian Women’s4x200m Freestyle Relay to a silver medal atthe recent World Swimming Championships in Dubai, UAE.

Evans – who trains under Matt Magee at City of Perth – led off the relay with a new personal best time of 1.54.87to set the quartet up for a closely fought and exciting conclusion on a night of high drama at the new$300-million dollar swimming complex in Dubai.

The team anchored by Beijing Olympic Gold medallist Kylie Palmerwas well supported with impressivepersonal best swims from youngsters Jade Neilsonand Kelly Stubbins.

The race was won by the Chinese team in a new world record time, the firstsince theend of the “shiny-suit era”followed by Australia who in snatching silver also dippedunder the old world record time. France finishedsome way back and managed to hold on and claim bronze.

For Evans the silver medal finalized a hectic and productive year that has included a second national championship before Mare Nostrum, Pan Pacific and Commonwealth Games successes. The 19 year-old continues to build towards the ultimate goal of qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics.