Bond University and The University of Queensland deliver masterclass performances at the Sydney Open

Bond University (BOND) and The University of Queensland (UQ) have claimed overall champion status in respective men’s and women’s competitions after stellar performances from their student-athletes over the weekend.

Over 290 students from 25 Australian universities competed in the UniSport Nationals Swimming at the Sydney Open meet from 12-14 May in Sydney, New South Wales. Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre (SOPAC) was bathed in a sea of purple and blue as the largest squads hailed from UQ and Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The UQ women were a formidable force, being rewarded with the women’s overall champion title. Despite the large teams from UQ and QUT, the elite quality of BOND’s swimmers earned them the men’s overall champion title.

UniSport Australia Chief Executive Officer, Mark Sinderberry congratulated Bond University and The University of Queensland for winning their respective titles.

He also extended his congratulations to the student-athlete medallists, and all participants for their efforts over the past three days. “Every time a student-athlete has the honour of representing their university in a national competition it enhances the connection to their university and provides an opportunity to make new connections,” said Sinderberry.

Madeleine Gough (BOND) opened the flood gates for gold medals for the ‘Bull Sharks’ on night one, after securing the top spot by a body length in the Women’s 400m Freestyle. In similar fashion, Flynn Southam chalked up another gold for BOND in the Men’s 400m Freestyle. Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games medallist Elizabeth Dekkers started UQ’s campaign with a UniSport record breaking swim in the Women’s 200m Butterfly. Records continued to fall with Bradley Woodward (WS) cruising home to take the title in the Men’s 200m Backstroke edging out defending champion and current UniSport record holder Ty Hartwell (QUT). Flynn Southam stole the show by shattering Kyle Richardson’s longstanding record of 12 years in the Men’s 50m Freestyle.

Outstanding performances breaking UniSport records on night one:

• Men’s 50m Freestyle: Flynn Southam, Bond University: 22.34s
• Men’s 200m Freestyle S9; Timothy Hodge, Western Sydney University: 2:02.63
• Men’s 100m Butterfly S15; Nicholas Layton: Monash University: 57.50s
• Men’s 200m Backstroke: Bradley Woodward, Western Sydney University: 1:57.42
• Men’s 200m Individual Medley: Se-Bom Lee; University of Technology Sydney: 2:00.45
• Men’s 4x50m Medley Relay: T Hauck, J Collett, B Armbruster, F Southam: Bond University: 1:39.98
• Women’s 200m Freestyle S9; Lakeisha Patterson, The University of Queensland: 2:20.23
• Women’s 200m Freestyle S10; Michelle Fawer, University of Wollongong: 2:29.22
• Women’s 200m Freestyle S19; Iesha Apthorpe, Charles Sturt University: 2:25.62
• Women’s 100m Butterfly S10; Jasmine Greenwood: University of Canberra: 1:09.52
• Women’s 100m Butterfly S19; Iesha Apthorpe: Charles Sturt University: 1:14.52
• Women’s 200m Butterfly: Elizabeth Dekkers, The University of Queensland: 2:08.33

There were no signs of slowing down for the student-athletes as they put on a spectacular show on night two of the meet. The University of Melbourne (MELB) revelled in success as Zoe Deacon, Adam Selwood, and Samuel Williamson continued their breaststroke dominance claiming the top spots. Timothy Hodge, S9 (WS) persevered through his extensive program of events to break his own UniSport record alongside peer and fellow swimmer Nicholas Toia (WS) who set two records for the S16 category. Once again, BOND were successful in their hunt for gold as they put up electrifying performances in the relays to secure new UniSport records.

Phenomenal performances by student swimmers resulting in new records on night two:

• Men’s 50m Freestyle S15; Nicholas Layton: Monash University: 23.80s
• Men’s 50m Freestyle S16; Nicholas Toia: Western Sydney University: 31.74s
• Men’s 100m Freestyle; Flynn Southam: Bond University: 48.98s
• Men’s 400m Freestyle S9; Timothy Hodge: Western Sydney University: 4:18.56
• Men’s 50m Breaststroke; Samuel Williamson: The University of Melbourne: 27.63s
• Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB15; Henry Hughes: Griffith University: 1:22.72
• Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB16; Nicholas Toia: Western Sydney University: 1:30.10
• Men’s 4x50m Freestyle Relay; F Southam, J Collett, T Hauck, B Armbruster: Bond University: 1:30.80
• Women’s 50m Freestyle S4; Rachael Watson: The University of Queensland: 40.81s
• Women’s 50m Freestyle S10; Jasmine Greenwood: University of Canberra: 28.71s
• Women’s 400m Freestyle S10; Michelle Fawer: University of Wollongong: 5:11.50
• Women’s 400m Freestyle S13; Katja Dedekind: Griffith University: 4:38.27
• Women’s 100m Breaststroke SB19; Iesha Apthorpe: Charles Sturt University: 1:39.22
• Women’s 400m Individual Medley; Kayla Hardy: University of Canberra: 4:49.46
• Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay; T Hauck, J Collett, L Taylor, M O’Leary: Bond University: 3:53.77

There was tension in the air at the start of night three with the UQ women trailing BOND by two points. Lakeisha Patterson (UQ) opened the bid for the overall women’s title in the Women’s 100m Freestyle S9 claiming a gold medal and a UniSport record followed by stunning performances from teammates Chelsea Gubecka and Gemma Cooney. Tensions continued to rise as both were tied by the start of the Women’s 4x100m Freestyle relay but the UQ women dug deep into the reserves and pulled off a hat trick to win the relay and overall women’s champion. Meanwhile, Timothy Hodge (WS) continued his hot streak breaking his own record whilst Adam Selwood (MELB) delivered another masterclass performance in the Men’s 200m Breaststroke to claim gold and a UniSport record. The exceptional racing from Flynn Southam (BOND), Josh Collett (BOND), and Ben Armbruster (BOND) was plenty enough to secure the men’s overall title.

• Men’s 100m Freestyle S9; Timothy Hodge: Western Sydney University: 57.91s
• Men’s 100m Freestyle S15; Henry Hughes: Griffith University: 57.88s
• Men’s 200m Freestyle; Flynn Southam: Bond University: 1:46.36
• Men’s 200m Breaststroke; Adam Selwood: The University of Melbourne: 2:14.88
• Men’s 50m Butterfly; Ben Armbruster: Bond University: 23.35s
• Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay: F Southam, J Collett, F McLachlan, B Armbruster: Bond University: 3:21.04
• Women’s 100m Freestyle S9; Lakeisha Patterson: The University of Queensland: 1:06.57
• Women’s 100m Freestyle S10; Jasmine Greenwood: University of Canberra: 1:02.46
• Women’s 100m Freestyle S13; Katja Dedekind: Griffith University: 59.95s
• Women’s 100m Backstroke S8; Alicia Goodwin: Queensland University of Technology: 1:41.21
• Women’s 100m Backstroke S10; Michelle Fawer: University of Wollongong: 1:17.23
• Women’s 100m Backstroke S13; Katja Dedekind: Griffith University: 1:08.52
• Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM9; Lakeisha Patterson: The University of Queensland: 2:44.14
• Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM10; Jasmine Greenwood: University of Canberra: 2:34.83
• Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM19; Iesha Apthorpe: Charles Sturt University: 2:53.82
• Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay: G Cooney, J Davison-McGovern, E Dekkers, C Gubecka: The University of Queensland: 3:46.17

Sinderberry believes this event provides another opportunity for students to compete, connect, and make lifelong memories. These connections are just as significant as the performances in the pool to the continuing success of the UniSport Nationals program.

He extended his appreciation to the partnership with Swimming NSW in delivering the UniSport Nationals Swimming championship this year. “Integrating UniSport Nationals Swimming into the Sydney Open continues to attract quality student-athletes to our competition program and we thank Swimming NSW for their efforts in making this event a highlight of our calendar,” said Sinderberry.

This event is the last major swim meet ahead of the 2023 World Championship Trials in June where Australia’s best swimmers will vie for national representation at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. As such, the Sydney Open & UniSport Nationals saw cameos from former student-athletes and Australian swim stars, Kaylee McKeown, Cameron McEvoy, and Ahmed Kelly. Australian icons Cody Simpson, Kyle Chalmers, and Bronte Campbell also graced the pool deck, using this meet as the last race practise before Australian selections next month.

The final results can be viewed at www.unisport.com.au/nationals-swimming.

All the action from the 2023 Sydney Open & UniSport Nationals can be reviewed on the Swimming NSW livestream.

UniSport Nationals continues with Nationals Distance Running held in conjunction with the Gold Coast Marathon from 1-2 July.

About UniSport

UniSport Australia (UniSport) is the peak body for university sport in Australia. 43 universities are members of UniSport, representing a population of over one million students. UniSport’s ambition is to become an integral partner to Australian universities and to deliver an outstanding student experience at our national intervarsity competitions.

More information on UniSport: www.unisport.com.au

For more information please contact:

Kylie Bloodworth

Marketing and Communications Manager

Mobile: 0449 949 916

Email: kylie.bloodworth@unisport.com.au