Chris Mooney’s Bull Sharks have made their presence felt at the Australian Short Course Swimming Championships, collecting a swag of medals and national records across the opening two days of competition.
Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Performance student Josh Collett delivered one of the performances of the opening night, storming to victory in the men’s 100-metre breaststroke, banking a personal best of 56.61 to better Joshua Yong’s national record by 0.01.
Yong touched second in 56.72, with Collett’s Bull Sharks training partner Gideon Burnes completing the podium in 56.94.
Collett backed up his record-breaking opening night by powering to a half-second personal best and gold medal in the 50-metre breaststroke, with his 26.09 edging out Burnes by 0.02.
Though Collett’s swims left him just short of the demanding qualifying times needed for automatic selection into Dolphins team to contest December’s World Short Course Championships in Beijing, he remains firmly in the selection picture through the 4x100 metre medley relay.
Some of his teammates have assured themselves a seat on the plane however, the first being Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific champion Ben Armbruster.
After smashing Kyle Chalmers’ Australian record with a 22.00 in the heats of the men’s 50-metre butterfly, the Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Performance student found another gear in the final, powering home in 21.90 to claim gold and another national record.
Armbruster is the first Australian to break the 22-second barrier in the event and is now the 10th-fastest performer in history.
Making the victory even sweeter, Armbruster turned to see teammate Jesse Coleman touch for silver, though his 22.22 put him narrowly outside the 22.09 World Championships qualifying time.
Four-time Glasgow Commonwealth Games gold medallist Flynn Southam delivered in the high anticipated men’s 100-metre freestyle.
Southam dropped almost a second from his morning preliminary swim to clock a personal-best of 45.61, comfortably taking gold as the only swimmer in the field to break the 46-second barrier. He was well inside the qualifying time of 46.09, ensuring he will take the blocks in Beijing.
The Bull Sharks also delivered inspired performances on the women’s side.
Claudia Fydler claimed bronze in the women’s 50-metre butterfly in 25.58 in a race led by Australian record-holder Alexandria Perkins.
Sports Leadership scholar Kyla Brown powered to bronze in the women’s 50-metre breaststroke, clocking 30.66.
Bond University Director of Swimming Kyle Samuelson is delighted with the Bull Sharks’ performances at the meet.
“It’s fantastic to see the team hold their momentum from a successful Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacs campaign,” Samuelson said.
“Ben has been focused on delivering a sub-22 second performance in the 50 fly and to come away with 22.00 and 21.90 Australian records is outstanding.
“Josh took almost a second off his lifetime best to break the Australian record and has great connection with his training partner Gideon Burnes who has also been excellent.
“The pair are only just beginning to realise their potential in breaststroke.
“Overall, it’s very pleasing to see the program capitalize on a great year and continue to perform when it matters.”
Bond sit second on the overall pointscore with two days of competition remaining, and plenty of opportunities to add to the medal haul.
Armbruster and Coleman return to the blocks today in the 100-metre butterfly, while Fydler will chase another podium in the women’s edition.
Tomorrow, Armbruster will join training partners Southam and Campbell Wilson-Moran in a stacked men’s 50-metre freestyle, while 2026 ADCO Sports Excellence Scholar Ainsley Trotter will hit the water for the women’s two-lap splash and dash.