Tag: Australias

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Australia’s Flynn Southam Completes Sweep of Boys Sprint FR Events at Jr Pan Pacs

Australia's Flynn Southam Completes Sweep of Boys Sprint FR Events at Jr Pan Pacs

2022 JUNIOR PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

BOYS 50 METER FREESTYLE – FINAL

  • Jr World: 21.75 – Michael Andrew, USA (2017)
  • Jr Pan Pac: 22.20 – Paul Powers, USA (2014)

Podium:

  1. Flynn Southam, Australia – 22.36
  2. (tie) Diggory Dillingham, USA / Kaii Winkler, USA – 22.50
  3. –

Australian 17-year-old Flynn Southam won the boys 50 free tonight at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacs in Honolulu. Southam swam a 22.36, taking 0.03 seconds off his previous best time in the event. The swim had significance outside of that, however, as Southam completed his sweep of the boys sprint free events with the 50 free gold tonight.

It’s been an incredible meet for the young rising star, coming on the end of a phenomenal year. Southam kicked off his Junior Pan Pacs on Wednesday with a new Championship Record in the boys 200 free, winning in 1:47.11. He then won the boys 100 free on Thursday in a new Championship Record and lifetime best of 48.23.

In addition to the 3 individual gold medals Southam won this week, he also helped Australia to gold and a Championship Record in the boys 4×200 free relay, leading the team off in 1:47.30. Southam led the Australian boys 4×100 free relay off in 48.43 too, though the team would go on to lose their lead and come in 2nd in that event.

Southam’s performances this week come after what has been a fantastic summer for the up-and-coming freestyle star. Southam qualified to swim on Australian relays at World Championships and Commonwealth Games this summer, though he ultimately opted out of competing at the World Champs in order to focus on Commonwealths and Jr Pan Pacs.

In his first senior international meet, Southam performed admirably for Australia at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. He led the Australian men’s 4×100 free relay off in 48.54, which was then a personal best for him. That relay would go on to win gold and break the Commonwealth Games Record in the event. Southam also split 1:46.08 off a relay start in the Australian men’s 4×200 free relay, helping that relay to gold and a Commonwealth Games Record as well.

If there was any doubt coming into this meet, Southam has now proven that he has what it takes to be a key contributor on Australian relays at the international level. Especially with his 48.23 100 free, it looks like he could be contending for an individual spot on a major Australian roster sooner rather than later as well.

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Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is recovering from bleaching events but still ‘very vulnerable’: Survey

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is recovering from bleaching events but still 'very vulnerable': Survey

According to a survey, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has recovered from storms and bleaching events to record levels. As per officials, though this is great news, the new coral is extremely vulnerable and can quickly tarnish by climate change and other environmental threats. The northern and central parts of the reef have the highest amount of coral cover. This stands true since coral monitoring began, roughly 36 years ago. However, the southern part of the coral cover reef has decreased. The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) scans the reef to check its health, each year. They do so by using divers slowly towed by a boat, as well as aerial surveys. 

The fourth mass bleaching was confirmed in March and since then, AIMS had grave concerns, especially ahead of this year’s study. The chief executive of AIMS, Paul Hardisty said, “In our 36 years of monitoring the condition of the Great Barrier Reef we have not seen bleaching events so close together”.

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 As per the latest results, the reef cover can recover if suitable conditions persist, but acute and severe disturbances are becoming more frequent and longer at the Great Barrier Reef. 

Also read | Australia’s Great Barrier Reef suffers sixth mass bleaching event

A major threat to the Great Barrier Reef is posed by the damaging waves of tropical cyclones and coral-eating crown-of-thorns- starfish. In fact, much of this new coral growth that belongs to a species called Acropora is exposed to this threat. 

Due to its enormous scientific and intrinsic importance, the Great Barrier Reef has been listed on the World Heritage list for 40 years, as one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world. According to UNESCO, the UN’s scientific and cultural body, “not enough” is being done to protect the reef.

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If the authorities that manage the Great Barrier Reef, i.e. the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority are to be believed, the outlook for the icon is “very poor” due to climate change.

Though this news comes as a ray of hope for conserving biodiversity, the challenges that lie ahead are significant.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Australia’s Hannah Green makes history as first female winner of mixed event

Australia's Hannah Green makes history as first female winner of mixed event

Hannah Green rarely has golf dreams, but that changed Saturday night after she went to bed as one of four co-54-hole leaders of the PGA Tour Australasia’s TPC Murray River event.

“It was just me holding the trophy and people spraying me with champagne,” Green recalled, “and then I woke hoping it wasn’t just a dream.”

It was, though Green soon made it a reality.

The 25-year-old Aussie closed in 6-under 66 Sunday afternoon at Cobram Barooga Golf Club in Barooga, Australia, to beat male counterparts Andrew Evans and amateur Hayden Hopewell by four shots and become the first female to win a 72-hole mixed tournament on a world-ranked tour.

Green notched five birdies in Sunday’s final, but the highlight came at the par-5 10th hole, where she hit her second shot just shy of the green before chipping in for eagle and a three-shot lead.

With her victory, she earned 36,000 Australian dollars.

“I feel amazing,” said Green, who also won last week’s Women’s Vic Open, though has yet to play on the LPGA this season. “I’m just so grateful that I came. It actually wasn’t my plan to play; I was hoping to go back to Perth. Things happen for a reason, so I’m really glad that I made it. I wanted to win these two events as soon as I said that I’d enter them. I didn’t think it was a ridiculous goal to try and get my name on these trophies, so now that that’s done, hopefully I can continue this momentum.

“I want to be in the top 10 in the world. I think I can achieve it. If I keep playing the golf that I am now, hopefully I can get there.”

The only other 72-hole tournaments to be held at the highest levels, the 2019 Jordan Mixed Open and 2021 Scandinavian Mixed in Europe, were won by men, Daan Huizing and Jonathan Caldwell, respectively. So, Green was understandably excited to be the first.

“Hopefully, it’s inspiring for the rest of the girls – not only in the juniors but in the field – to try and get their name on a trophy,” Green said. “We need to get as much exposure as possible, and it’s great that we have events on in the summer when the peak of sport is on. Hopefully, this can get some traction and people will see it. Hopefully, each state can have these events. It’s not only good for the women’s game, but also the men, and having the juniors on the weekend is a great thing, too.

“I don’t think this will be the last time these events keep happening. I can easily see 20 on the schedule coming soon.”