2021 Australian Championships – Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2021 AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

As day 3 finals of the 2021 Australian National Championships get underway, there will be no shortage of heated battles and fast racing. Cate Campbell will look to collect yet another national championship title in the 100 freestyle but will need to fend off sister Bronte and second seed Emma McKeon. In the men’s version of the event, 2016 Olympic Kyle Chalmers will look to do the same.

The women’s 100 backstroke will feature Kaylee McKeown and Emily Seebohm fighting for gold while the men’s field has been left wide open upon Mitch Larkin‘s DQ during the prelims. Follow along below for all that and much more during day 3 finals.

WOMEN’S OPEN 50 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

  • Australian Record: 30.16 – Sarah Katsoulis (2009)

Top 3

  1. Chelsea Hodges – 30.20
  2. Tessa Wallace – 31.22
  3. Abbey Harkin – 31.43

Chelsea Hodges posted another PB in the women’s 50 breaststroke final with a 30.20, improving upon her prelim swim of 30.32. The swim for Hodges was nearly enough to crack the Australian record in the event, trailing Sarah Katsoulis’ 30.16 from back in 2009. Hodges swim makes her the 2nd fastest swimmer in the world this year behind Benedetta Pilato’s 29.61.

2020-2021 LCM Women 50 Breast

2Arianna
Castiglioni
ITA30.0606/26
3Lilly
King
USA30.1906/14
3Ida
Hulkko
FIN30.1905/23
5Chelsea
Hodges
AUS30.2012/18
View Top 26»

With the 50 breast win, Hodges collected her second Australian title of the meet, having won the 100 breaststroke a day before with a 1:07.14. Tessa Wallace joined Hodges on the podium as silver medalist with a 31.22 while Abbey Harkin was bronze in a 31.43.

MEN’S OPEN 50 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

  • Australian Record: 26.74 – Christian Sprenger (2014)

Top 3

  1. Matthew Wilson – 27.55
  2. Jake Packard – 27.76
  3. James McKechnie – 28.00

Former world record holder in the 200 breast Matthew Wilson managed to claim victory in the 50 with a 27.55, just under what he swam during the prelims where he posted a 27.78. Jake Packard fell from the top-seeded spot after the prelims to #2 in the final as he hit a 27.76 for silver. James McKechnie managed to reach the podium as well, nearly dipping into the 27-second range with a 28.00 for bronze.

All swimmers were a bit off the current Australian record in the event which currently sits at a 26.74 swum by Christian Sprenger back in 2014.

Last night’s 100 breast champion Zac Stubblety-Cook wound up 4th in the final with a 28.15. With the 100 and 50 breast out of the way, only the 200 remains for the stroke which will take place on the final day of the meet.

WOMEN’S OPEN 200 BUTTERFLY – FINAL

  • 2021 Australian Trials Qualifying Time: 2:21.97
  • Australian Record: 2:03.41 – Jessica Schipper (2009)

Top 3

  1. Brianna Throssell – 2:07.20
  2. Elizabeth Deckers – 2:07.82
  3. Meg Bailey – 2:09.72

Brianna Throssell managed to hit a 2:07.20 to jump from third seed heading into the race to Australian champion in the 200 butterfly. That’s almost exactly as fast as she was back in 2016 when she hit a 2:07.19 in the semi-finals at Rio 2016. She went on to place 8th in the Olympic final with a 2:07.87. Throssell was within a second of her PB which currently stands at a 2:06.58 from April 2016.

Elizabeth Decker also improved upon her prelims swim, going from a 2:09.60 to a 2:07.82 while Meg Bailey collected bronze with a 2:09.72. Throssell and Decker were both under the cut they’ll need, come Olympic Trials this June to qualify for the Games which is a 2:08.43.

In a post-race interview, Throssell said that after a few years to get her head around the 200 fly, it’s good to be back at it and racing. Throssell also added that one thing she needs to focus on heading into Tokyo is getting used to swimming fast inside considering that she normally trains and races outdoors.

MEN’S OPEN 200 BUTTERFLY – FINAL

  • 2021 Australian Trials Qualifying Time: 2:07.88
  • Australian Record: 1:54.46 – Nick D’Arcy (2009)

Top 3

  1. Bowen Gough – 1:57.08
  2. Matthew Temple – 1:57.92
  3. David Morgan – 1:58.87

Bowen Gough managed to get into the 1:57 range during the finals of the 200 butterfly with a 1:57.08. That’s Gough’s third-fastest time on record as he got within a second of his 1:56.65 PB from July 2019, along with his 1:56.73 from April of that year.

That gold medal-winning swim was not only the fastest time in the field but was also under Australia’s Olympic selection cut in the event of 1:57.98. Having hit that standard in-season is a good sign for Gough’s eventual bid for a spot on the Olympic squad this June.

Gough will have to fend off the likes of Matthew Temple and David Morgan, however, who weren’t too far behind in the final, posting times of 1:57.92 and 1:58.87, respectively. Also getting under 2:00 in the 200 fly was Nicholas Brown who hit a 1:56.47 for 4th.

WOMEN’S OPEN 100 FREESTYLE – FINAL

  • 2021 Australian Trials Qualifying Time: 57.57
  • Australian Record: 52.03 – Cate Campbell (2018)

Top 3

  1. Emma McKeon – 52.49
  2. Cate Campbell – 52.85
  3. Madi Wilson – 53.56

In a stroke for stroke battle between Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell, it was ultimately McKeon who got the upper hand, posting a 52.49 for gold, narrowly edging out Australian record-holder Cate Campbell who was a 52.85. McKeon’s swim was a little bit faster than her prelims swim of 52.71 while Cate Campbell added 0.42 seconds to her 52.43 from this morning.

The swim for McKeon was just off her 52.46 PB which she set in December 2020 and stands as the second-fastest time in the world this season behind Campbell’s morning swim of 52.43.

2020-2021 LCM Women 100 Free

EmmaAUS
McKeon
07/30
51.96
2Siobhan
Haughey
HKG52.2707/30
3Cate
Campbell
AUS52.4304/15
4Penny
Oleksiak
CAN52.5907/30
5Sarah
Sjostrom
SWE52.6207/25
View Top 26»

Behind McKeon and Campbell followed a trio of 53s in the form of Madi Wilson (53.56), Bronte Campbell (53.80), and Mollie O’Callaghan (53.85) while Meg Harris came 6th with a 54.17. Since Harris was a 53.87 during the prelims, that makes for 6 women under 54 in the event.

Cate Campbell and Emma McKeon will lead the way among Australians as the remaining sprinters will chase down the leading duo and look to claim a top 2 spot in June at Olympic Trials. There, it will take a 53.31 to qualify for the team.

MEN’S OPEN 100 FREESTYLE – FINAL

  • 2021 Australian Trials Qualifying Time: 52.20
  • Australian Record: 47.04 – Cameron McEvoy (2016)

Top 3

  1. Kyle Chalmers – 48.04
  2. Jack Cartwright – 48.81
  3. Louis Townsend – 48.93

The men’s 100 freestyle final featured 7 swimmers under the 50-second mark with 2016 Olympic Champion Kyle Chalmers leading the way in a 48.04. That was faster than Chalmers’ 48.11 prelim swim and enough to take gold by nearly a second as Jack Cartwright hit a 48.81 for silver. Chalmers advanced to the #3 rank in the world this season in the event behind only Andrei Minakov‘s 47.57 and Kristof Milak‘s 48.00

2020-2021 LCM Men 100 Free

2Kyle
Chalmers
AUS47.0807/29
3Kliment
Kolesnikov
RUS47.1107/27
4David
Popovici
ROU47.3007/08
5Alessandro
Miressi
ITA47.4505/19
View Top 26»

Chalmers noted in an interview after the race that he’s happy to get close to getting to 47 in the event but that he’s still “hungry for more”.

Cartwright got under 48 during the finals to shave some time off his 49.36 prelims swim while Louis Townsend had the opposite experience, going from a 48.93 in the heats to a 49.10 in the finals for bronze.

Between prelims and finals, a total of 9 men were faster than 50 seconds in the 100 freestyle.

WOMEN’S OPEN 100 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

  • 2021 Australian Trials Qualifying Time: 1:05.68
  • Australian Record: 57.93 – Kaylee McKeown (2020)

Top 3

  1. Kaylee McKeown – 58.60
  2. Emily Seebohm – 59.22
  3. Jessica Unicomb – 1:01.32

Just as McKeon and Campbell were in the 100 free, Kaylee McKeown and Emily Seebohm swam much of the 100 backstroke final together until McKeown pulled away towards the end and claimed the gold medal in a 58.60. Emily Seebohm made a bid to catch and out-touch McKeown but couldn’t quite get it done and wound up with a 59.22 for silver.

Despite having posted a world-class swim, McKeown was still more than half a second off her current season-best in the event of 57.93. As the world leader in the event and now Australian champion, McKeown will now be looking to get her name on her first-ever Olympic squad, come Australian Trials this June.

2020-2021 LCM Women 100 Back

2Regan
Smith
USA57.6407/29
3Kylie
Masse
CAN57.7006/19
4Kathleen
Dawson
GBR58.0805/23
5Olivia
Smoliga
USA58.3105/15
View Top 26»

Jessica Unicomb and Mollie O’Callaghan delivered a battle of their own for bronze that came down to touch with Unicomb ultimately taking third place with a 1:01.32, just ahead of O’Callaghan’s 1:01.33. Short course world record holder in the event Minna Atherton was a bit slower than her prelim swim of 1:00.85, taking a 1:00.85 for 5th.

MEN’S OPEN 100 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

  • 2021 Australian Trials Qualifying Time: 58.74
  • Australian Record: 52.11 – Mitch Larkin (2015)

Top 3

  1. Tristan Hollard – 54.83
  2. Bradley Woodward – 55.34
  3. Thomas Hauck – 55.69

After reigning national champion and current Australian record holder in the 100 back, Mitch Larkin was disqualified in prelims, the field was left wide open in his absence. Tristan Hollard capitalized on the situation and managed to crack the 55-second mark with his 54.83 for gold.

Two more swimmers got under 56 in the event as Bradley Woodward was a 55.34 for silver and Thomas Hauck hit a 55.69 for the bronze medal.

With Larkin being the favourite to win the event at the 2021 Australian Olympic Trials this summer, it will likely be down to a battle for that second spot on the team. It will take a top 2 spot at Trials and a swim under 53.40 in order to qualify.

WOMEN’S OPEN 1500 FREESTYLE – FINAL

  • 2021 Australian Trials Qualifying Time: 17:19.77
  • Australian Record: 15:52.17 – Jessica Ashwood (2015)

Top 3

  1. Madeleine Gough – 16:00.18
  2. Kareena Lee – 16:08.28
  3. Kiah Melverton – 16:12.43

Madeleine Gough and Kareena Lee swam the first 2 thirds of the race together, splitting nearly identically until the 1,000-meter mark, at which point Gough began to pull away. Gough was within 0.20 seconds of cracking the 16-minute barrier but wound up with a 16:00.18, just a few seconds over her PB of 15:56.39.

Kareena Lee came into the wall a few moments after Gough touched, posting a 16:08.28, 7 seconds off her 16:01.02 best time. Kiah Melverton joined the two on the podium with a 16:12.43. Melverton actually went in as second seed in the event with a nearly identical PB to Gough (16:12.43).

Gough was the only swimmer in the field to get under the Olympic qualifying standard of 16:02.75. Since Lee and Melverton both hold a PB faster than that cut, it will come down to a solid race this June when the 3, among others, compete for a spot on the Olympic squad.

MEN’S OPEN 800 FREESTYLE – FINAL

  • 2021 Australian Trials Qualifying Time: 16:06.66
  • Australian Record: 7:38.65 – Grant Hackett (2005)

Top 3

  1. Thomas Neill – 7:51.65
  2. Jack McLoughlin – 7:59.33
  3. Nick Sloman – 8:00.68

All top 3 finishers in the men’s 800 freestyle were a bit off their entry times with Thomas Neill posting the top time of 7:51.65, trailing his 7:48.65 PB. Jack McLoughlin came in a few seconds slower than Neill with a 7:59.33 for silver which is slower than his PB of 7:59.33 and Nick Sloman rounded out the top 3 in a 8:00.68. Sloman has been two seconds faster before with a PB of 7:58.38.

Should any men want to represent Australia in the newly-introduced Olympic 800 freestyle this summer, they will need to get down to a 7:48.12 at Trials to hit the selection cut set by Swimming Australia.

OPEN 4X100 MEDLEY RELAY – FINAL

  • Australian Record: 3:38.91 – Larkin/Packard/McKeon/Campbell (2018)

Top 3

  1. Oliva Lefoe / Zoe Deacon / Bowen Gough / Nicholas Wu – 3:57.02
  2. Will Sharp / Calvin Reed / Gabrilla Peuniger / Julia Hawkins – 3:57.81
  3. Cam McEvoy / Grayson Bell / Alice Stuart / Laura Taylor – 4:00.14

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jinjin
2 years ago

can shayna jack swim?

Andy
2 years ago

Anybody know what Cam McEvoy’s deal is? Looks like he swam the relay in finals session, but no individual 100 free.

There's no doubt that he's tightening up
Reply to  Andy
2 years ago

He did swim the individual 100 free, just over 50.

Troyy
Reply to  Andy
2 years ago

Didn’t qualify for the final.

Jackman
2 years ago

Larkin 1:54.3!

Troyy
Reply to  Jackman
2 years ago

👀 I don’t get why they keep dropping bombs in the heats. Isn’t the whole point to swim fastest in the morning?

torchbearer
Reply to  Troyy
2 years ago

I suppose many swimmers are posting a time in case the trials are cancelled (this is very, very unlikely though)….

commonwombat
Reply to  torchbearer
2 years ago

Might also be due to the effects of the metaphorical boot to the gluteus maximus he earned after his DQ in the 100 ? Also have to say “Mack Horton, U R A Spoilsport !!” His withdrawal from the 400free robbed all of us of the viewing pleasure of 4min worth of virtuoso plodding !!

Joel
Reply to  Troyy
2 years ago

Supposed to rain tomorrow . Might want a time tonight just in case . Also windy

Troyy
Reply to  Troyy
2 years ago

That actually makes sense.

Jackman
Reply to  Troyy
2 years ago

Maybe he is dropping the 200 back to focus on IM tomorrow

Casas 100 back gold in Tokyo
Reply to  Jackman
2 years ago

Curious to see what his 200 IM time will be. The choice between two events will be a tough one.

Troyy
Reply to  Casas 100 back gold in Tokyo
2 years ago

According to Giaan Rooney he’s already made up his mind but he’s just not sharing his decision yet.

Joel
Reply to  Troyy
2 years ago

He’s not swimming the 200 back final tomorrow I heard

Thomas Selig
2 years ago

what’s up with Atherton? Just heavy training, or?

Corn Pop
Reply to  Thomas Selig
2 years ago

Her squad member Calypso went 4.56 im compared to her pb 4.41 . So I’d say yes.

Samesame
Reply to  Thomas Selig
2 years ago

Most swimmers not rested for this

Casas 100 back gold in Tokyo
Reply to  Samesame
2 years ago

Didn’t she break SC 100 back world record in season at 2019 ISL? 1:01 doesn’t look very good for her even if she’s unrested.

Last edited 2 years ago by Casas 100 back gold in Tokyo
Drama King
Reply to  Casas 100 back gold in Tokyo
2 years ago

She is not a fast in season swimmer anyway.

commonwombat
Reply to  Casas 100 back gold in Tokyo
2 years ago

That was off her LC Worlds taper.

Troyy
Reply to  Samesame
2 years ago

She’s too slow for it to be only lack of rest.

commonwombat
Reply to  Troyy
2 years ago

Out of 200 back

commonwombat
2 years ago

W50BRS: Hodges …. daylight. Great time, but begging the question as to its potential implications for her 100 or are we looking at a 50 specialist ? We’ll know more in @2 months.

M50BRS: Little to report other than Wilson looked better than his 100

W200FLY: Throssell significantly better than heat swim and pleasing to see Dekkers back up her heat swim. Decent times but still at least 1 – 1.5sec away from the business end internationally. Not really seeing anyone else in the selection picture from this one.

M200FLY: Gough a mild pleasant surprise and getting somewhere near the OQT of 1.56.25. Temple OK, Morgan tres ordinary. All will need to “go some” in Jun to earn a plane… Read more »

Pacific Whirl
2 years ago

McKeon’s PB is not 52.46, is 52.41 logged in June 2019 AustralianTrials.

Last edited 2 years ago by Pacific Whirl
Jackman
2 years ago

This mens backstroke about to look british.

Troyy
Reply to  Jackman
2 years ago

Nothing too exciting going on there without Larkin. I wonder what’s happened to Edwards-Smith? He’s stalled big time.

Jackman
Reply to  Troyy
2 years ago

Yang also not doing any backstroke this week.

Drama King
Reply to  Jackman
2 years ago

May be trying to surprise everyone at trials.

Drama King
Reply to  Troyy
2 years ago

And what about Zac Inserti ?
Dude dropped significant 200 free with 1.46.8 in day one , only to have a pedestrian 100 free and abnormal 57 on 100 back.

Jackman
Reply to  Drama King
2 years ago

His 100 free was a best time

Troyy
Reply to  Jackman
2 years ago

swimrankings.net has a 49.00 for him from 2018. What’s the go with most WA swimmers not being in the SA results DB?

CACrushers
Reply to  Drama King
2 years ago

Wasn’t a lot of time between the two swims

Joel
Reply to  Drama King
2 years ago

After his suit split just as they were about to swim in the 100 back

Taa
Reply to  Jackman
2 years ago

It took me a while to get it but now I realize by british you mean below average.

Drama King
Reply to  Jackman
2 years ago

Isaac Cooper would have won this here.

Troyy
Reply to  Drama King
2 years ago

Would’ve also got second behind Larkin in the 50 with his 24.92 relay leadoff

Drama King
Reply to  Jackman
2 years ago

Anyway what happened to Beaver and Treffers. Those two somewhat challenged Larkin in his early days with consistent 53 performances.

commonwombat
Reply to  Drama King
2 years ago

Both retired, one after Rio and the other in 2018. Treffers was more a 50 specialist. Beaver stronger over 200.

PeatyPiper
2 years ago

K I stayed up too late already. Good night Aussie friends. Chalmers, Mckeon and Mckeown all looking very dangerous.