Rio Dream Come True for Evans
WAIS athlete Blair Evans has booked herself a ticket to Rio after a dominant swim in the women’s 400m IM final on the opening night of the 2016 Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide.
After setting the second fastest qualifying time in the morning heats, Evans stepped it up in the final, hauling in 2015 national champion Keryn McMaster and Ellen Fullerton in the breaststroke leg before powering away in the closing freestyle, to hit the wall in 4:35.26, well under the A-Qualifying standard.
The self-proclaimed “comeback kid” qualified for a first Australian team since the London Olympics in the process, and can now harbour thoughts of representing her country at a second Olympic Games.
“It’s been a really hard-fought three or four years for me,” Evans said.
Now coached by WAIS mentor Bud McAllister, Evans said the planning and hard work had paid dividends.
“We were aiming for this sort of time for trials but there has been a few hits and misses in training the last few weeks with injuries. But to be able to come out and have such an enormous swim and a lifetime PB for me. I am so, extremely happy,” she said.
Post race, Evans told Channel 7’s coverage that it had been a collaborative approach.
“I owe so many people this, it’s not just an effort by myself.”
“My coach Bud McAllister has been the perfect match for me. He is such an amazing coach and mentor.
“My family has been my rock and support these last four years.”
McMaster is set to make her Olympic debut, posting an A-qualifying time of 4:37.94 to place second behind Evans. Her Chandler teammate Ellen Fullerton was third in 4:39.72.
WAIS swimmer Brianna Throssell earned her place in the final of the women’s 100m fly – set to be contested on Friday night – after clocking the third fastest time (58.04) in the semi finals.
She, Alicia Coutts and Emma McKeon all swam under the A-Qualifying standard, meaning tonight’s final is essentially a race for Rio, with the top two earning nomination for the Australian Olympic Team, provided their times are replicated in the final.
Tommy Sucipto qualified for the final of the men’s 100m breast after setting the seventh fastest time (101:59) in the semi finals. Unfortunately Lennard Bremer, Alex Milligan and George Harley were narrowly short, with the trio clocking the 11th, 12th and 16th quickest times respectively.
In the non-Olympic class 50m backstroke, WAIS swimmer Holly Barratt earned herself a bronze medal, touching home in 27.90 for third, behind national champion Emily Seebohm (27.72) and Minna Atherton (27.80).