WAIS Swimmers Medal at Short Course Champs

WAIS athletes have medalled on the first night of finals at the 2014 Australian Short Course Championships in Adelaide.

Fresh from a seven medal haul at the recent Youth Olympic Games, Brianna Throssell created move waves, both figurative and literal, winning the women’s 200m butterfly in a personal best time of 2:04.73mins. Throssell’s time was four seconds superior to that of silver medallist Jordan White (2:08.88) and sets up the likelihood that the City of Perth swimmer will earn a spot on the Australian Short Course team for the Short Course World Championships in Doha next month.

Glasgow Commonwealth Games silver medallist Kat Downie won another medal for her 2014 collection, taking silver in the women’s 50m breaststroke multiclass behind Madeleine Scott. Scott – a former WAIS scholarship holder – touched home first in 36.81sec to pip Downie’s time of 37.61. Both swimmers have qualified for a second final, with the women’s 200m IM set for Thursday night.

Former South African swimmer Jessica Pengelly continued her strong form in 2014, winning a bronze medal in the women’s 400m individual medley. Pengelly clocked a time of 4:37.06 for third place, with Keryn McMaster (4:29.24) and Ellen Fullerton (4:31.15) taking gold and silver respectively.

Emerging Western Australian talent Tommy Sucipto will contest the final of the men’s 100m breaststroke after the 19 year-old set the second fastest time (58.85sec) through the semi final stage. Jake Packard (58.07) and Joshua Palmer (59.55) completed the top three.

The championships will run through until Sunday at the South Australian Aquatic Leisure Centre.