In a sensational set of semi finals in the Australian Olympic Trials at the Sydney Aquatic centre, Lisbeth Lenton headed a string of world class times to break Inge de Bruijn’s 4 year old world record in the women’s 100m freestyle, posting a stunning 53.66.
The Queensland swimmer started very fast in the first semi final and was right on de Bruijn’s pace at the 50m turn, but then brought the swim home very stongly to break the old world record by 0.11 seconds. Lenton was overwhelmed when she saw the scoreboard and was given a rousing standing ovation as she left the pool.
Her performance was amazingly almost matched in the second semi final by Jodie Henry, who tied the old world record with a time of 53.77. Third fastest qualifer Alice Mills also broke the previous Australian and Commonwealth records in 54.25. The results, combined wth Sarah Ryan’s fourth placed 55.51 and Petria Thomas’s heat swim of 54.92, would seem to indicate that Australia will start as favourites for the 4x100m relay in Athens.
Summary:
1. Lisbeth Lenton: 53.66 WR
2. Jodie Henry: 53.77
3. Alice Mills: 54.25
Elswehere, Jim Piper just missed Ian Edmond’s Commonwealth Record in the 200 breaststroke with 2:10.70; Petria Thomas was on WR pace at the 150m mark in the 200 fly but faded to 2:06.79 while Ian Thorpe won the 100 free from Ashley Callus in 48.83. Michael Klim was down in 5th but qualifed for the 4x100m relay squad.