Left to Right: Lou-Anne Delrieu, Chloe Ameara, Pamela Mesa and Loane Russet OLY
Left to Right: Chloe Ameara, Loane Russet OLY, Lou-Anne Delrieu and Pamela Mesa
News Brief:
The final day of competition in the pool, saw the Vanuatu Aquatics Federation (VAF) Swimming team swim in eight events, making their first final. The team also set an impressive five National Records amongst 10 personal best times.
While in the last event, the Women’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay team of Chloe Ameara (backstroke), Lou-Anne Delrieu (butterfly), Loane Russet OLY (butterfly) and Pamela Mesa (freestyle) were the stars of the show, swimming a National Record of 5.31.89 to edge out hosts Palau for a spot in the final. It was the first time Vanuatu have qualified for a final at a Pacific Games competition. In the final, they took over 2 seconds off their morning time, breaking their own National Record from the heats, finishing 6th in 5.29.80.
The day started in the splash and dash of the 50m Freestyle. It was a trifecta of personal best in the Men’s, led by Elven Todman (28.98) in 25th, ani Teilemb (30.18) in 27th and Robsen Dick (31.64) in 29th. In the Women’s, Loane Russet OLY was 11th in 28.53, narrowly outside her National Record of 28.41 that she swam in May. Lou-Anne Delrieu (31.79) in 25th and Pamela Mesa (32.81) both swam personal bests, with it being Pamela’s most impressive swim of the meet.
Next up, young workhorse Chloe Ameara went back-to-back in the gruelling Women’s 200m Individual Medley and 100m Backstroke. Chloe sent a National Record of 3.19.05 on the Individual Medley to finish in 12th. After one of the hardest events on the program, she swam a 1.27.30 to finish 1th in the backstroke, just shy of her own National Record she set at the World Championships last year.
There were a pair of National Records in the 200m Freestyle. In the Men’s event, Léo Lebot finished 16th in a 2.15.84, breaking his previous record 2.17.45. In the Women’s event, Loane Russet OLY finished 14th in a 2.22.94.
Unfortunately, the Men’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay team of Dani Teilemb (backstroke), Robsen Dick (breaststroke), Léo Lebot (butterfly) and Elven Todman (freestyle) were disqualified in their event.
Full results from Day 5:
NR = National Record
PB = Personal Best
DQ = Disqualified
Men’s 50m Freestyle
- Elven Todman: 25th (28.98) – PB
- Dani Teilemb: 27th (30.18) – PB
- Robsen Dick: 29th (31.64 ) – PB
Women’s 50m Freestyle
- Loane Russet OLY: 11th (28.53)
- Lou-Anne Delrieu: 25th (31.79) – PB
- Pamela Mesa: 28th (32.81) – PB
Women’s 200m Individual Medley
- Chloe Ameara: 12th (3.19.05) – NR
Women’s 100m Backstroke
- Chloe Ameara: 15th (1.27.30)
Men’s 200m Freestyle
- Léo Lebot: 16th (2.15.84) – NR
Women’s 200m Freestyle
- Loane Russet OLY: 14th (2.22.94) – NR
Men’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay
- Dani Teilemb (backstroke), Robsen Dick (breaststroke), Léo Lebot (butterfly) and Elven Todman (freestyle): DQ
Women’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay
- Chloe Ameara (backstroke), Lou-Anne Delrieu (breaststroke), Loane Russet OLY (butterfly) and Pamela Mesa: ): 7th (5.31.89) – NR
Women’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay FINAL
- Chloe Ameara (backstroke), Lou-Anne Delrieu (breaststroke), Loane Russet OLY (butterfly) and Pamela Mesa: 6th (5.29.80) – NR
That concludes all 5 days of the swimming competition. Full re-cap of the competition to follow next week.