2023 Australian Swimming Championships: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2023 AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• April 17 – 20, 2023
• Marine Parade, Southport, Queensland
• Gold Coast Aquatic Centre
• Long Course Meters
• Meet Central
• Entry Sheets
• Prelims at 10 a.m. AEST / 8 p.m. EST; finals at 6 p.m. AEST / 4 a.m. EST
• Preview
• Day 1 Prelims Recap
• Day 1 Finals Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap
• Live results

The second finals session of the 2023 Australian Championships will feature the women’s 400 IM, men’s 200 free, women’s 100 back, women’s 50 free, men’s 200 breast, women’s 200 fly, men’s 50 back, and women’s 100 breast.

Riley Overend contributed to this report.

WOMEN’S 400 IM FINALS

• World Record: 4:25.87 – Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2023
• World Junior Record: 4:25.87 – Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2023
• Australian Record: 4:29.45 – Stephanie Rice, 2008
• Commonwealth Record: 4:25.87 – Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2023
• 2023 Worlds ‘A’ Cut: 4:43.06

Top 10:

1. Jenna Forrester – 4:35.05
2. Kiah Melverton – 4:45.41
3. Ella Ramsay – 4:45.48
4. Xiandi Chua – 4:46.81
5. Lexi Harrison – 4:47.98
6. Lucy Dring – 4:48.59
7. Tiana Kritzinger  – 4:49.95
8. Jacinta Essam – 4:50.73
9. Jinjut Pholjamjumrus – 4:52.22
10. Jessica Madden – 4:56.87

Jenna Forrester shaved over a second and a half off her previous-best 4:36.77 from last year’s Australian Championships en route to the women’s 400 IM title in 4:35.05. The 19-year-old reached the wall more than 10 seconds ahead of 26-year-old Kiah Melverton (4:45.41) and Ella Ramsay (4:45.48).

Forrester was coming off of a lifetime best in the 200 IM on Monday (2:09.32). She split 34.16 on the butterfly leg, 33.88 on the backstroke leg, 39.54 on the breaststroke leg, and 30.50 on the freestyle anchor, moving up to third in the world rankings behind only new world record holder Summer McIntosh (4:25.87) and Katie Grimes (4:31.81).

MEN’S 200 FREE FINALS

• World Record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann (GER), 2009
• World Junior Record: 1:42.97 – David Popovici (ROU), 2022
• Australian Record: 1:44.06 – Ian Thorpe, 2001
• Commonwealth Record: 1:44.06 – Ian Thorpe (AUS), 2001
• 2023 Worlds ‘A’ Cut: 1:47.06

Top 10:

1. Kai Taylor – 1:46.65
2. Flynn Southam – 1:46.67
3. Elijah Winnington – 1:47.24
4. Tommy Neill– 1:47.53
5. Josha Salchow – 1:58.70
6. Maximillian Guiliani – 1:48.74
7. James Koch – 1:49.35
8. Cameron Bladen –
9. Thomas Hauck – 1:49.79

After posting a personal best 1:46.82 in prelims, 19-year-old Kai Taylor followed up with another lifetime best, a 1:46.65, to win the men’s 200 free title just .02 seconds ahead of 17-year-old Flynn Southam (1:46.67).

Southam just put up a lifetime best last week at the Aussie Age Championships, hitting 1:46.24, so his effort tonight was a solid follow-up for the teen.

Elijah Winnington (1:47.24) was a few tenths faster than Tommy Neill (1:47.53) in the battle for third place.

Alex Graham of Miami wound up getting disqualified, most likely for a false start. He was the 4th seed from the morning in 1:47.54.

Of note, Olympian Kyle Chalmers swam a time of 1:47.39 to take the 2nd seed but wound up dropping the final. Another Olympian, Mack Horton, posted 1:52.89 to place 33rd in the heats, well out of the top 10.

WOMEN’S 100 BACK FINALS

• World Record: 57.45 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2021
• World Junior Record: 57.57 – Regan Smith (USA), 2019
• Australian Record: 57.45 – Kaylee McKeown, 2021
• Commonwealth Record: 57.45 – Kaylee McKeown 2021
• 2023 Worlds ‘A’ Cut: 1:00.59

Top 10:

1. Kaylee McKeown – 57.90
2. Mollie O’Callaghan – 58.42
3. Jaclyn Barclay – 1:00.31
4. Iona Anderson – 1:01.42
5. Ingeborg Loyning – 1:01.62
6. Layla Day – 1:01.69
7. Hannah Fredericks – 1:01.77
8. Bronte Job – 1:01.79
9. Alyssa Burgess – 1:02.01
10. Olivia Lefoe – 1:02.10

21-year-old Kaylee McKeown (57.90) held off 19-year-old Mollie O’Callaghan (58.42) by about half a second to secure the women’s 100 back title. McKeown was just off her world-leading time of 57.84 from last month. She clocked the current world record in the event two years ago with a 57.45.

O’Callaghan put up a new personal best in the event, taking nearly half a second off her previous-best 58.86 from the 2021 Australian Trials. O’Callaghan and McKeown were the only two swimmers under a minute as Jaclyn Barclay claimed third place in 1:00.31.

McKeown already ranks #1 in the world with her season-best from NSW Championships but now the Aussies see MOC get into the mix, ranked 3rd worldwide on the season.

WOMEN’S 50 FREE FINALS

• World Record: 23.67 – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2017
• World Junior Record: 24.17 – Claire Curzan (USA), 2021
• Australian Record: 23.78 – Cate Campbell, 2018
• Commonwealth Record: 23.78 – Cate Campbell, 2018
• 2023 Worlds ‘A’ Cut: 24.04

Top 10:

1. Shayna Jack – 24.45
2. Meg Harris – 24.55
3. Cate Campbell – 24.88
4. Mollie O’Callaghan – 24.99
5. Madi Wilson – 25.22
6. Milla Jansen – 25.47
7. Mia O’Leary – 25.49
8. Lily Price – 25.56
9. Hannah Casey – 25.93
10. Ellysia Oldsen – 25.97

After seeing two sub-53 second 100m freestyle times last night, fans might have been slightly disappointed not to see a 23-point 50m free out of the women tonight.

Nonetheless, 24-year-old Shayna Jack held off 21-year-old Meg Harris for the women’s 50 free title by a tenth of a second with a 24.45. Jack was a couple of tenths off her season-best 24.26 from last month, which ranks second in the world this season.

30-year-old Cate Campbell took third place in 24.88 ahead of 19-year-old Mollie O’Callaghan (24.99), who clocked a sub-25 time despite swimming back-to-back events with a 100 back / 50 free double.

Campbell is swimming in just her 2nd meet since Tokyo after having raced at the Brisbane Senior Metro Championships last month.

MEN’S 200 BREAST FINALS

• World Record: 2:05.95 – Zac Stubblety-Cook (AUS), 2022
• World Junior Record: 2:09.39 – Qin Haiyang (CHN), 2017
• Australian Record: 2:05.95 – Zac Stubblety-Cook, 2022
• Commonwealth Record: 2:05.95 – Zac Stubblety-Cook (AUS), 2022
• 2023 Worlds ‘A’ Cut: 2:10.32

Top 10:

1. Zac Stubblety-Cook – 2:09.03
2. Matt Wilson – 2:12.38
3. Angus Menzies – 2:13.35
4. Lachlan Gilbert – 2:14.36
5. Josh Yong – 2:14.61
6. William Petric – 2:14.93
7. Nash Wilkes – 2:15.08
8. Joshua Collett – 2:15.61
9. Yannik Zwolsman – 2:17.04
10. Adam Selwood – 2:17.35

The men’s 200m breast saw reigning World Record holder and Olympic champion Zac Stubblety-Cook take the win easily, beating the next-closest swimmer by over 3 seconds.

ZSC logged the only sub-2:10 time of the field in 2:09.03, a solid result for the 24-year-old Chandler swimmer a couple of months outside of trials. He owns the WR in the 2:05.95 produced just last year as the only man ever to have broken the 2:06 barrier in the event.

ZSC now ranks 6th in the world in this event with his casual win tonight.

Former World Record holder Matt Wilson snagged silver in 2:12.38. He’ll need to drop another 2 seconds at Trials to get the World Aquatics ‘A’ standard needed for Fukuoka. 24-year-old Wilson is still struggling to get back within range of his personal best of 2:06.67 PB and former WR from 2019.

WOMEN’S 200 FLY FINALS

• World Record: 2:01.81 – Liu Zige (CHN), 2009
• World Junior Record: 2:04.70 – Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2023
• Australian Record: 2:03.41 – Jessica Schipper, 2009
• Commonwealth Record: 2:03.41 – Jessica Schipper (AUS), 2009
• 2023 Worlds ‘A’ Cut: 2:09.21

Top 10:

1. Elizabeth Dekkers – 2:06.55
2. Brianna Throssell – 2:07.08
3. Emma McKeon – 2:09.40
4. Brittany Castelluzz – 2:11.65
5. Mikayla Bird – 2:12.78
6. Alexandra Perkins – 2:12.79
7. Laura Tayler – 2:13.16
8. Tamsin Cook – 2:13.96
9. Kayla Hardy – 2:14.90
10. Gemma Cooney – 2:15.14

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Dekkers scorched a new personal best en route to claiming the women’s 200m fly gold. The 18-year-old Chandler swimmer ripped a result of 2:06.55 to dip under the 2:07 barrier for the first time in her young career.

Entering this meet, Dekkers’ career-quickest rested at the 2:07.25 she logged 2 years ago at the 2021 Aussie Age Championships.

Dekkers’ result tonight also outperforms the 2:07.26 she produced for gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and renders her the 7th fastest Australian woman in history.

Although over half a second behind, 27-year-old Olympian Brianna Throssell looks to be coming back to form in this event. After focusing on freestyle the past couple of years, the St. Peters Western ace posted a near personal best of her own.

Throssell hit 2:07.08 to approach her best-ever 2:06.58 from 2016.

Also among the top 3 was Australia’s most decorated Olympian of all-time Emma McKeon. Opting for this 2fly over the 50m free this evening, versatile McKeon put up a time of 2:09.40 to bag bronze. She’s already been as swift as 2:07.79 this season.

As for McKeon, we’re still waiting to see if she’s seriously considering this race for the World Championships or if her partaking in one of her past events is just part of her overall training and preparation plan for Trials.

For their part, Dekkers now ranks #2 in the world on the season while Throssell inserts herself into slot #5.

MEN’S 50 BACK FINALS

• World Record: 23.71 – Hunter Armstrong (USA), 2022
• World Junior Record: 24.00 – Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2018
• Australian Record: 24.38 – Isaac Cooper, 2023
• Commonwealth Record: 24.04 – Liam Tancock (GBR), 2009
• 2023 Worlds ‘A’ Cut: 25.16

Top 10:

1. Ben Armbruster – 25.27
2. Mark Nikolaev – 25.43
3. Bradley Woodward – 25.44
4. Lewis Blackburn – 25.87
5. James Bayliss – 25.90
6. Ty Hartwell – 26.08
7. Toby Peknice – 26.22
8. Jye Cornwell – 26.41
9. Harrison Abeya – 26.41
10. Fergus McLachlan – 26.63

Without Commonwealth Record holder Isaac Cooper competing, it was last night’s 50m fly victor Ben Armbruster who scored the 50m back gold.

Armbruster logged a time of 25.27 to comfortably get to the wall ahead of Mark Nikolaev of Bond who touched in 25.43. Bradley Woodward rounded out the top 3 in 25.44.

Armbruster’s effort ties his 4th fastest performance in a career which has seen the 20-year-old go as speedy as 25.13 at last year’s Nationals.

WOMEN’S 100 BREAST FINALS

• World Record: 1:04.13 – Lilly King (USA), 2017
• World Junior Record: 1:04.35 – Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2013
• Australian Record: 1:05.09 – Leisel Jones, 2006
• Commonwealth Record: 1:04.82 – Tatjana Schoenmaker (RSA), 2021
• 2023 Worlds ‘A’ Cut: 1:07.35

Top 10:

1. Abbey Harkin – 1:07.77
2. Jenna Strauch – 1:08.16
3. Talara-Jade Dixon – 1:08.60
4. Zoe Deacon – 1:08.96
5. Matilda Smith – 1:09.12
6. Ashleigh Oberekar – 1:09.56
7. Emily Nobbs – 1:09.86
8. Mikayla Smith – 1:09.87
9. Hayley Mackinder – 1:09.99
10. Ella Ramsay – 1:10.12

As with the men, the Aussie women are still in need of a truly elite 100m breaststroker. With several other nations containing women in the 1:05 range among their swimming arsenals, tonight the top swimmer was just under 1:08 here on the Gold Coast.

Abbey Harkin indeed grabbed the gold, posting 1:07.77 while Jenna Strauch was next in line at 1:08.16. Talara-Jade Dixon bagged bronze in 1:08.60 this evening.

Harkin and Strauch were both in the final of this 1breast at last year’s Commonwealth Games. Harkin placed 5th in 1:07.47 while Strauch was 6th in 1:07.60.

The World Aquatics ‘A’ standard rests at 1:07.35, so it’s promising that Harkin is just off the mark at this stage of the game, however.

MEN’S 1500 FREE FINALS

• World Record: 14:31.02 – Sun Yang (CHN), 2012
• World Junior Record: 14:46.09 – Franko Grgic (CRO), 2019
• Australian Record: 14:34.56 – Grant Hackett, 2001
• Commonwealth Record: 14:34.56 – Grant Hackett (AUS), 2001
• 2023 Worlds ‘A’ Cut: 15:04.64

Top 10:

1. Sam Short – 14:58.90
2. Matthew Galea – 15:10.22
3. Nick Sloman – 15:18.20
4. Thomas Raymond – 15:27.16
5. Elliot Rogerson – 15:30.93
6. Joshua Staples – 15:44.96
7. Lachlan Walker – 15:57.69
8. Tommy Lane – 16:00.27
9. Euan Liney – 16:01.18
10. Lachlan Sheehy. – 16:09.07

After crushing a big-time personal best in the men’s 400m free last night (3:42.46), 19-year-old Sam Short of Rackley doubled up with a gold in this 1500m free event.

Short stopped the clock in a time of 14:58.90 as the only racer to get under the 15:00 barrier. Tonight’s effort marks the teen’s 3rd outing ever under the 15:00 threshold with his personal best resting at 14:48.54 while he’s also notched a time of 14:57.22.

He now ranks 9th in the world on the season and is the fastest non-European. Short simply needs to repeat a performance such as this at June’s Trials to dip under the ‘A’ standard for this summer’s World Championships.