Backstroke final awaits Fargus

Former English swimmer and now Australian citizen, Joanna Fargus, blitzed the field to qualify fastest for the 200m backstroke final at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre this morning.

Granted a clearance by FINA in late 2005 allowing her to compete for Australia, Fargus clocked 2:10.84 to lead New Zealand’s Melissa Ingram (2:12.34) and England’s Melanie Marshall (2:12.43).

Fargus’ team-mates Tayliah Zimmer (2:14.38) and 100m backstroke champion Sophie Edington (2:15.56) posted the sixth and fifth-fastest times respectively ahead of tomorrow night’s final.

The withdrawal of superstar Grant Hackett has thrown the men’s 1500m freestyle wide open and David Davies (Wales) looks to have stamped himself as the early favourite following today’s heats.

Davies (15:21.60) finished a healthy 13 seconds clear of South Africa’s Hercules Prinsloo (15:34.58), with Australia’s Travis Nederpelt backing up from last night’s exhausting 400m individual medley to clock the third fastest time.

Crowd favourite Craig Stevens has also secured a place in the final, ensuring Australia continues to have representation in an event it has dominated for many years.

The splash and dash that is the men’s 50m freestyle should again be a tightly-fought battle, with war set to be waged between South Africa, Canada and Australia.

The highly-fancied South African Roland Shoeman (22.47) is the number one qualifier, but Canada’s Brent Hayden (22.52) and the silver medallist from Manchester, Australian Brett Hawke (22.72), weren’t far behind.

Other Aussies to make tomorrow night’s final include veteran Ashley Callus (22.90) and Eamon Sullivan (22.94), while Shoeman’s teammate Ryk Neethling (22.80) will also make an appearance.

Further medal chances abound in the women’s 400m freestyle event, with a trio of locals well-placed to make an assault on the medals. Australians Bronte Barrett (4:12.46), Kylie Palmer (4:12.51) and Linda McKenzie (4:13.97) have all qualified and should figure in the finish, though England’s Joanne Jackson (4:11.77) and Scotland’s 200m freestyle gold medallist, Caitlin McClatchey (4:12.35) will be tough to beat.

Australian Leith Brodie (2:02.74) posted the third fastest time for the men’s 200m individual medley behind New Zealand’s Dean Kent (2:02.65), while Matthew Cowdrey seems certain to maintain his ascendancy in the Elite Athletes with a Disability (EAD) category.

Cowdrey, winner of the gold in the men’s 50m freestyle EAD on Saturday night, continued his excellent form to be the fastest qualifier for the men’s 100m EAD final.

His team-mate and current world record holder in the S8 class for this event, Benjamin Austin, finished second and the two will clash in an intriguing battle for honours this evening.

•  Have a view on this story? Send us your feedback!