Cate goes through motions
CATE Campbell hasn’t really enjoyed winning another Australian swimming title.
Campbell admits she still doesn’t know exactly where she’s at after collecting the women’s 100m freestyle crown in Adelaide on Sunday.
Campbell’s win on the opening night of the nationals comes in the first serious hitout in programs designed to peak in July at the world championships and again next year at the Tokyo Olympics.
So for Campbell, winning in Adelaide was a case of no pain, no gain in the big picture.
“Enjoy is the wrong word,” she said.
“It was a very solid swim and I think my coach will enjoy it a little more than I’m enjoying it right now.
“It’s really difficult to say where exactly I’m at, and everyone is at different stages as well.”
Campbell won in 52.35 seconds with Gold Coast’s Emma McKeon (52.84) second and Shayna Jack (53.20) third.
Campbell’s sister Bronte Campbell was fifth (53.81). In the men’s 100m backstroke, Mitch Larkin won another national crown – and he’s not sure how many Australian titles he now has, describing his latest triumph as “about pride”.
“I spoke to (coach) Dean (Boxall) and said ‘I don’t want to lose this one’,” Larkin said.
The nationals aren’t doubling as selection trials for the world titles in July in South Korea – that will happen in Brisbane in June.