The 2009-2010 USA Swimming Grand Prix concluded in Los Angeles on July 11, with Chloe Sutton crowned the overall Grand Prix Series High Point winner, collecting a total of $20, 000 in prize money. 

The Grand Prix series consists of eight meets, beginning in Minneapolis on November 13, 2009, with the Los Angeles meet added to the calendar for the first time this year.

The Los Angeles meet was held at the University of Southern California from July 8-11.

Ms Sutton, who was a member of 2008 USA Olympic swimming team, put in an overwhelmingly dominant performance throughout this Grand Prix series, winning a total of sixteen gold medals, six silver and one bronze, earning a total of 99 points.

Her win is even more remarkable considering Ms Sutton did not compete in the Santa Clara meet of the Grand Prix series.

The race for second and third place in the Grand Prix series was much tighter, with Dagny Knuston coming in second place with a total of six gold medals and seven silver, earning 52 points and managing to narrowly defeat Dana Vollmer, who came in third place with a total of nine gold medals as well as one silver and bronze, earning 49 points.

Three meet records fell on day four of competition in Los Angeles, with Dana Vollmer setting a new record in the women’s 100m butterfly with a time of 57.39.

Rebecca Soni set a new record in the women’s 100m butterfly with a time of 1:06.23 and Kosuke Kitajima also established a new record for the men’s 100m butterfly, finishing the event with a time of 1:00.02.

Mr Kitajima also set a new meet record in day three of the meet in the men’s 200m breaststroke with a time of 2:11.14

On Day 3 of the Los Angeles meet, Katie Hoff shattered a ten year record in the women’s 400m freestyle, which had been set by Claudia Poll in 2000.

Ms Hoff completed the women’s 400m freestyle with a time of 4:06.21, which was almost three seconds faster than the record set by Poll, which was 4:09.04

And finallykick-started the Los Angeles meet with a bang by setting a new meet record (8:31.05) in the prelims of the women’s 800m freestyle

On day two, Ziegler followed up this performance by managing to shatter her own record in the finals of the women’s 800m freestyle, with a time of 8:25.89, which beat the record she had just set on day one by five seconds

BLK1 Article: [Justin Macdonald] BLK1 Photographer: [PETER SOLLNER OR OTHER PHOTOGRAPHER]

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November 29th was the second last day of Spring, and the day that a great Summer sport descended on Coogee Beach.

Hundreds of men and women took part in the The Coogee Island Challenge open water swimming event for 2009. This open water swim happened in the early morning and involved competitors covering a distance of over 2000 meters.

The 2009 Coogee Island Challenge was given a shot-point start by Peter Garret, MP and environmentalist. Less welcome guests at the Island Challenge swim were a school of jellyfish, which were floating to greet the swimmers at the end of the race.

Despite the jellyfish, there was no menace of cold waters or unpleasant weather which turned Coogee beach into the perfect setting for a perfect day of open water swimming.

 BLK1 Photographer: www.petersollner.com

Images and Article: © BLK1 2008-2009. All Rights Reserved.

Nicholas Caine

While most 16 year olds are at home enjoying the advancements of the technological age, Atherton teen Nicholas Caine is spending up to six hours a day training in open waters and pools to build the stamina and techniques he will need for later this year when he attempts to swim the English channel. He will swim from Dover in England to the shores of Calais in France, which is approx 20 nautical miles in waters that are a chilly 60 degrees, which the ambitious teen hopes to do in around 9 hours.    “If for some reason, I get bad weather or bad currents, then I’ll have a lot
longer swim than I planned on. If it ends up being 14 or 15 hours, hypothermia
would be a big problem to worry about.” Caine was reported in saying earlier this week. In accordance to the requirements for swimming the English Channel, Caine will embark on this swim without a wet suit. But hypothermia will not be his only opposition, with the possibility of jelly fish, huge swells and gale force winds all a real possibility. However Nicholas is not deterred, and is instead excited about the adventure.  “He just has this passion for open-water swimming,” said his mom, who plans to be on a support boat accompanying Nicholas across the Strait of Dover
sometime between July 28 and Aug. 6.

In other big news this week, the official uniform for the Australian diving team was revealed in Sydney last week. The design process began late last year when David McCabe, owner of swimwear label Ying Fa Australia, approached 17 year old Brooke Fensom to come up with a design for the team, and by all accounts the results did not disappoint. “I just sat down and put down whatever came into my head… but I knew I wanted to make it subtle and at the same time stand out,” Ms Fensom said, who has no formal training in design. The outfits include swim suits, polo shirts, track suits, shorts and singlets.

Elsewhere in the world at the Canadian swimming world championship trials, Anna may Pierse smashed her record of 2:23:77, set at the Beijing Olympics for the 200 metre breaststroke with a time of 2:20:71, the third fastest recorded in history, and just 0.49 seconds off the first.

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The prospect of freezing waters did not deter the hundreds of swimmers who took part in the Mona Vale Cold Water Classic Ocean Swim on Sunday 21st June.

There was a notable absence of heat from the sun, and a cold wind was blowing, but the swimmers- many of them aged over 50 years- had no fear for the chilly temperature.

There was an option to wear a wetsuit, but a majority braved the cold, reportedly saying that the chill was a large part of the thrill. While many swimmers opted to wear nothing but a pair of Speedos, many had stated that they had experienced colder waters in their lifetime and that the winds that were felt after exiting the water were the coldest part of the day.

The swim covered the distance from Mona Vale beach right into The Basin. All competitors who were registered to race managed to compete the course, proving that the promised cold temperatures really are no match for determined ocean swimmers.
BLK1 Photographer: PETER SOLLNER

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Adelaide Jets v Wests Water Polo MAgpies.

Adelaide Jets women came from 8-4 down to tie 11-all with the University of New South Wales Killer Whales in a National Water Polo League match at Adelaide Aquatic Centre yesterday.

National junior representative Isobel Bishop scored the equaliser inside the final minute after the Jets had narrowed the margin to 9-7 at the final break.

The Killer Whales, playing their fifth game in five days, held an 11-8 advantage with five minutes remaining but ran out of steam.

Six of the Killer Whales’ goals came from Chinese Olympic duo Liu Ping and He Jin.

The Jets men were not so lucky, losing 18-7 to reigning champions Wests Magpies who were spearheaded by Ross O’Brien with four goals.

Wests gained four wins and two losses on their road trip west.

Adelaide Jets v UNSW Killer Whales

In Brisbane, the KFC Breakers men wrapped up Balmain Tigers 12-6 while the women’s game was reversed with the Tigers winning 15-7.

In Newcastle, the Drummoyne Devils women didn’t wait long for their inaugural win in the NWPL, beating Hunter Hurricanes 7-5 in what was only their second match.

Ellen Pittorino (3) and Angela Turnbull (2) were the only multi scorers in the game as the Devils trailed only once, late in the second quarter.

The Devils men finally shook off the Hurricanes in the final quarter, winning their clash 12-11.

In Wollongong, Cronulla Sharks women knocked off Sydney University Lions 9-7 with Nicola Zagame scoring five goals for the Sharks.

Results:
National Water Polo League:
Men:
Brisbane: KFC Breakers 12 (B Miller 4, D Streets, A Martin, J Votan 2, G Waterman, L Cranley) Balmain Tigers 6 (C Dyson 2, T Hamill, J Davis, G Woods, R Tracy).
Newcastle: Drummoyne Devils 12 (P Harmer, S Avallone 3, M Emery, S Boyd 2, D Semmens, T Cleland) Hunter Hurricanes 11 (J Johnson 4, S Berry 3, M Baird 2, N Campbell, D Robinson).
Adelaide: Wests Magpies 18 (R O’Brien 4, M Rapsey, A Skora 3, T Blewitt 2, D Swinnerton, S Cody, J Burton, W Eames, M Toldonato, C Eames) Adelaide Jets 7 (L Northcote 3, A Martin 2, J Frost, P Barr).
Women:
Brisbane: Balmain Tigers 15 (T Woods, B Appel 3, E Simms, J Dessauvagie 2, L Higlett, K Armstrong, R Rippon, B Mayer, A Bower) KFC Breakers 7 (N McCarthy, E Bowden 2, S Horgan, E Armit, J Armstrong).
Newcastle: Drummoyne Devils 7 (E Pittorino 3, A Turnbull 2, S Dill-Macky, A Southern) Hunter Hurricanes 5 (E Goodwin, S Jones, N McJannet, J Bendeich, B Rowe).
Wollongong: Cronulla Sharks 9 (N Zagame 5, J Liessmann 2, H Lincoln-Smith, B Timilty) Sydney University Lions 7 (J Whitehorn, M Hammond 2, A Brightwell, S Cuffe, A Cox).
Adelaide: Adelaide Jets 11 (J Martin, I Bishop, D Wawrzinski 3, S Rickets, L Callahan) UNSW Killer Whales 11 (Liu Ping, He Jin 3, A Gronow 2, K Mirabito, J Burford, K Moran).

BLK1 Article: AUSTRALIAN WATERPOLO INCORPORATED  BLK1 Photographer: ANTHONY PEARSE

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