Positive swim meet for Aussies in Canada

Australia’s Para Swim Team has sent a clear message to its rivals for next year’s Commonwealth Games after a successful three-day Canada Open Meet concluded in Toronto yesterday.

The Australians wrapped up the meet with 16 wins, 10 seconds placings and 11 thirds in a show of strength that they will be ready to race when the cream of the Commonwealth nations arrive down under onto the Gold Coast next April.

The upbeat Australians headed to the Canadian Open after the Para World Swimming Championships were postponed following the tragic earthquakes that rocked Mexico City.

NSWIS debutant Jasmine Greenwood (SB9) struck gold on the second day of competition, posting an impressive time in the women’s 100m breaststroke and putting her hand up for Commonwealth Games nomination in the process. Greenwood clocked a time of 1:20.15 for a total of 953 points to take the win.

Pictured: Jasmine Greenwood (Credit: Swimming Australia Ltd.)

NSWIS Scholarship Holder Matt Levy won the men’s 200m individual medley in 2:37.07 (960pts), with NSWIS teammate Tim Hodge placing fourth in 2:21.12 (921pts).

Levy also took gold in the 50m butterfly in a time of (31.69) 935 pts, and finished second behind fellow Australian Rohan Crothers in both the Multi Class 50m and 100m freestyle timed finals.

Hodge set a personal best time 1:04.52 (947pts) in the 100m backstroke to take a silver, gaining a shot at selection on the Commonwealth Games team as well. Second was also where the 16-year-old would place in the men’s 100m butterfly in another personal best swim.

Matt Levy and Tim Hodge were later joined by Blake Cochrane and Brenden Hall to win the 4x100m men’s medley relay for the Aussies. NSWIS athlete Tiffany Thomas Kane combined with the Australian 4×100 women’s medley relay and the 34pt 4x100m freestyle relay teams to win gold in both events.

Earlier in the meet Thomas Kane took second place in the S1-S7 50m butterfly in 38.94 (803pts).

Full results are available here

Pictured: Tim Hodge (Credit: Swimming Australia Ltd.)