Latest Queensland Distance Prodigy Lincoln Wearing Breaks Kieren Perkins 35-year-old 800m Freestyle Record
Queensland’s latest distance freestyle prodigy, Lincoln Wearing, has tonight taken down a 35-year-old Kieren Perkins record, set by the former king of the pool at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.
Wearing (Chandler Swim Club) broke Perkins’ Australian 16 years 800m freestyle record, with a time of 7:56.80 (26.92; 56.62; 1:56.81; 2:57.39; 3:57.93; 4:57.94; 5:58.43; 6:58.51) 1.15secs under the long-standing mark of 7:57.93 on night four of the Hancock Prospecting Queensland Championships.
LANES OF GOLD: Lincoln Wearing shows his record breaking style at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre. Photo Courtesy Wade Brennan (Swimming Queensland).
Coming home the final 100m in 58.29 to seal the record in style, ahead of his twin brother Isaac who won the silver medal in 8:17.62, with Riley Meares (St Peters Western) third in 8:23.20.
Perkins record was actually his 800m split time clocked on his way to the Commonwealth Games silver medal behind Glen Housman in the 1500m final in Auckland.
The name Kieren Perkins was the name on everyone’s lips as he ruled the lanes throughout the 1990s – a boy who would become a two-time Olympic champion as he re-wrote the world record books for the 400, 800 and 1500m freestyle in a stellar 10-year career between 1990 and 2000.
Wearing, who swims for the host club Chandler, burnt up his hometown pool at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre, knowing full well that Perkins record was well and truly within his grasp.
“I was definitely going for it, knowing what Kieren did on his way to the Olympics, he’s done it all so breaking his record, it’s huge,” said Wearing, who broke another legend Grant Hackett’s 1500m Age record 12 months ago.
“I was actually aiming for a 7:54, but to get that record I can’t complain, and I’ve got Australian Age Nationals next year and I’m still 16 so hopefully I can go under it again.
“It’s such a thrill to be able to have the opportunity to race here after training hard, knowing I had Kieren’s record in my sights, that was my goal tonight, to go under it, so I’m thrilled.
“I was really happy with my 400m time of 3:48.15 yesterday so I knew I had a good shot at the record coming into the 800m.
“I was really hyped and I was confident going into the race; it felt pretty fast and coming into the 400m turn, I knew I could come back pretty hard – I felt good throughout the entire race.
“It will be good to step up to race the older boys later in the season.”
Wearing started his meet winning the 100m freestyle in 50.47; then added the 400 and 800m, with the 200m freestyle and the 1500m freestyles to come as well as the 200 backstroke.
IN other events, World Champion Meg Harris (Rackley) added the 50m freestyle to her wins in the 100 and 200m freestyle completing a rare treble, winning the title in an impressive 24.48 from fellow Olympic golden girl Shayna Jack (St Peters Western) 24.79 and Milla Jansen (Bond) 25.14.
While in the men’s 50m freestyle it was Shayna’s brother Jamie Jack who successfully defended his title in 21.74, the only swimmer under 22 seconds, with Isaac Cooper (St Andrews) second in 22.22 and Korean Yuchan Ji third in 22.25.
Jenna Forrester (St Peters Western) added the 200IM to her 400IM title, taking the win in 2:11.48 from Ella Ramsay (Griffith Univerity) 2:13.82 and 15-yearold rising star Eloise McLellan (Brisbane Grammar) 2:16.23.
While Will Petric, back with Nunawading, VIC after a stint with St Peters Western upset Kiwi Lewis Clareburt in the men’s event, clocking a solid 1:57.18 to Clareburt’s 1:58.81, with Jaehoon Yang (Korea) third in 1:59.30.
The women’s 200m backstroke saw a well-deserved win to Paris Olympic debutant Jaclyn Barclay (St Peters Western) in 2:11.62 from Alyssa Burgess (Highlanders, WA) 2:13.00 with Forrester third in 2:13.13.
The men’s race going to 30-year-old Tokyo Olympian Juho Lee (Korea) in 1:55.34 from Stuart Swinburn (City Of Sydney, NSW) 1:58.60 and 17-year-old Victorian prodigy, Henry Allan (East Bendigo, VIC) 1.59.23.
The women’s 200m butterfly went to Paris Olympian Abbey Connor (USC Spartans) in 2:10.05, from Elloise Doolan (Albany Creek) 2:12.38 and Poppy Stephen (Brisbane Grammar) 2:13.88.
With Nudgee College Aquatic’s World Championship bronze medallist Harrison Turner adding the 200m butterfly to his 100m win in 1:55.07 – from Korea’s Minseop Kim in 1:58.66 and Caio Gallo (Logan Vikings) third in 1:59.35.
