The Vortex - December 2025: Sam Short Makes It A 400-800 Double With 7:46 Win Over 16 Lengths
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Sam Short (Rackley) clocked 7:46.33 to win the 800m freestyle on day 5 at the 2025 Hancock Prospecting Queensland Championships, victory delivering the 400-800 double a the meet.
The 2023 World 400m champion was shadowed to the 500m mark by Korean Kim Junwoo, who lost touch in the closing stages of the race to finish second in 7:49.90, Benjamin Goedemans (St Peters Western) third home in 7:57.75.
After breaking Kieren Perkins' 1990 Australian 16 years age record in 7:56.8 for the youth win over 800m free yesterday, Lincoln Wearing (Chandler) raced inside 1:50 for the first time over 200m free, his 1:49.68 following victories of 50.47 in the 100m and 3:48.15 in the 400m.
In the ranks of youth contenders, few swims were more impressive than a 3:59.40 13 years Australian and Queensland All-Comers record in the 400m free from New Zealand's Grayson Coulter (North Shore Swimming, NZL). Imagine that: at 13, taking the 400 pace below 4mins at youth level Down Under just over half a century beyond the first sub-4mins 400 free ever, the 3:58.18 in which American Rick DeMont claimed the inaugural World title in World-record time on September 9, 1973.
Coulter had already set all-comers records in the 100m free (51.63) and 200IM (2:06.90) this week in Brisbane.
In the women's day 5 distance battle, Tiana Kritzinger (Rackley) stopped the clock in 16:24.22 to win the 1500m free, her Korean challenger Kim Chaeyuyn on 16:33.67, with Jacqueline Davison-McGovern (St Peters Western) third in 16:44.99.
In Dash Events ...
Isaac Cooper (St. Andrews) took the Open 50m back in 25.06 but was not the fastest man win the day: Henry Allan (East Bendigo, VIC) won the 17 years final in a swift 24.59, a hand outside his best.
The women's equivalent final went to Iona Anderson (Highlanders, WA), whose 27.79 pipped British visitor Lauren Cox, on 27.89.
The men's event witnessed the return to the fray of St Andrews head coach Ashley Delaney, 2010 Pan Pacs champion in the backstroke dash who claimed Olympic silver with Aussie mates in the 4x100m medley at Beijing 2008. Now 39, he came home in the men's event just outside the time clocked by Cox, on 27.91.
Open Podiums at a Glance
Men
800m freestyle: Sam Short (Rackleys) 7:46.33, Junwoo Kim (Korea) 7:49.90, Benjamin Goedemans (St Peters Western) 7:57.75
50m backstroke: Isaac Cooper (St Andrews) 25.06 Juho Lee (Korea) 25.23, Yuchan Ji (Korea) 25.49
50m backstroke MC: Benjamin Hance (St Andrews, S14) 25.89, Samuel Gould (Griffith University, S14) 30.42, Dylan Neil (Brisbane Jets, S18) 41.93
Women
1500m freestyle: Tiana Kritzinger (Rackleys) 16:24.22, Chaeyun (Korea) 16:33.67, Jacqueline Davison-McGovern (St Peters Western) 16:44.99
50m backstroke: Iona Anderson (Highlanders, WA) 27.79, Lauren Cox (GBR) 27.89, Mackenzie Burns (St Andrews) 28.64
50m backstroke MC: Madeleine McTernan (Griffith University, S14) 32.19, Airlie Davis (Nudgee College Aquatics), 34.54, Victoria Belando-Nicholson (Yeronga Park) 34.54.
Leeton & Inverell Set to Host 2026 NSW Country Regional Champs
Leeton Regional Aquatic Centre will host some of New South Wales’s top swimmers at the 2026 Country Regional Swimming Championships on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 January 2026, while Inverell Aquatic Centre is also one of the three locations across NSW gearing up for the regionals event on the same dates.
More than 400 athletes from across regional NSW will compete at a meet that serves as a warm up for the NSW Country Championships in February.
The Inverell meet will be staged at the recently redeveloped Inverell Aquatic Centre, a $28.6 million facility.
Swimming NSW CEO Kirsten Thomson said:
“The Country Regional Swimming Championships are a fantastic showcase of dedication, talent and community support right across regional NSW. Leeton’s upgraded facilities will provide a great stage for swimmers to compete, and we look forward to an exciting weekend of racing. We’re [also] delighted to return to Inverell, which now boasts a fantastic aquatic facility that’s the perfect stage for competition and community spirit.”
For the 2026 regionals, The Carlile Foundation, established in recognition of the legacy of esteemed swim coaches Forbes and Ursula Carlile, will provide participation grants to assist travelling families with the costs of attending the Country Regional Swimming Championships.
Meanwhile, the 2025/26 NSW Senior State Age Championships are underway this week at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. Here are the results in full.
Also in the December Vortex:
- Lincoln Wearing Cracks Perkins' 1990 Aussie 16 Years 800 Mark
- Sam Short, Meg Harris & Lani Pallister Pile Up The Wins In Brisbane
- Ex-Dolphins Physio Accused Of Sexual Crimes
- Singapore Tops SEA Games In The Pool - Lim Claims 7th 50 Free Crown & Dedicates It To Her Late Father
- Ed Mildred Cracks GB Shiny Suit 200 'Fly Record & Tyler Melbourne-Smith Whacks 800 Free Standard
- Katie Ledecky Breaks 15mins for 1650y free At Eponymous Meet
- Mack's Back! Horton's New Passion...
- Tyler Melbourne-Smith Races Inside Pace Of Lublin Gold: 3:36.09 400 Free
- Lisa Angiolini Sets Italian 200 Breaststroke Mark On 2:18
- No Stopping Shortt! John's Record Season Of Plenty
- Ryan Lochte Selling Three Olympic Golds To Troubled Financial Waters
- Cameron Van der Burgh Back For Dashing Time In LA2028
- Full links to all our Euro s/c Champs coverage and heats coverage
- Celebrating the Life of Linda McGill
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