2024 Australian Olympic Swimming Trials: Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

2024 AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TRIALS

Day 4 of the 2024 Australian Olympic Swimming Trials will feature World Record holder Kaylee McKeown racing in the 200 back and superstar Kyle Chalmers in the men’s 100 free as highlights.

The day has five Olympic events and four Paralympic events on the books:

  • Women’s 200 back (Olympic)
  • Men’s 200 IM (Olympic)
  • Men’s 100 free (Olympic)
  • Women’s 200 fly (Olympic)
  • Women’s 800 free (Olympic)
  • Women’s 100 breast (Paralympic)
  • Men’s 100 breast (Paralympic)
  • Women’s 100 free (Paralympic)
  • Men’s 100 free (Paralympic)

While McKeown is expected to be racing primarily the clock in the 200 back, Chalmers will hope to pull some young teammates, including 2nd seed Flynn Southam, with him to Paris. They are the only two (Australians) seeded under 48 seconds in the race, and they’ll need to find more (perhaps Max Giuliani or Kai Taylor?) to join them if they want to climb the steps at the Olympic Games.

Cam McEvoy has held onto the seed after winning the 50 free and qualifying for his 4th Olympics on Wednesday.

One of the more underrated races of this meet will be the 200 fly. Led by Elizabeth Dekkers, who set the Australia All Comers Record earlier this year, there are three swimmers (Abbey Connor and Brianna Throssell) who are seeded under 2:07, and a whole bunch of teenagers searching for a breakout swim.

Women’s 200 Back – Prelims

Top 8:

  1. Kaylee McKeown – 2:08.83
  2. Hannah Fredericks – 2:10.19
  3. Iona Anderson – 2:10.54
  4. Emily Seebohm – 2:11.00
  5. Jaclyn Barclay – 2:11.05
  6. Minna Atherton – 2:13.34
  7. Olivia Lefoe – 2:14.55
  8. Abbey Webb – 2:14.85

World record holder Kaylee McKeown cruised to the top qualifying time in the 200 back prelims at 2:08.83, just over a second ahead of Hannah Fredericks (2:10.19). McKeown, 22, owns the world record at 2:03.14 from last year while the 21-year-old Fredericks has been as fast as 2:08.92 in April. 

Iona Anderson dropped almost a second off her previous-best 2:11.40 en route to the No. 3 seed in 2:10.54. The 18-year-old won silver medals in both the 50 back (27.45) and 100 back (59.12) at the 2024 World Championships in February. 

Eight months after giving birth, 31-year-old Emily Seebohm qualified 4th for the 200 back final tonight with a time of 2:11.00. The four-time Olympian boasts a lifetime best of 2:05.68 from the 2017 World Championships. 

At 17 years old — the youngest swimmer in tonight’s final — Jaclyn Barclay could also be an Olympic contender after qualifying 5th in prelims with a 2:11.05. She fired off a personal-best 2:07.03 to secure a silver medal at the 2024 World Championships in February, well under the Australian Olympic qualifying time of 2:09.74.

Men’s 200 IM – Prelims

  • World Record – 1:54.00, Ryan Lochte (USA), 2011
  • Australian Record – 1:55.72, Mitch Larkin (AUS), 2019
  • Oceanic Record – 1:55.72, Mitch Larkin (AUS), 2019
  • Commonwealth Record – 1:55.28, Duncan Scott (GBR), 2021
  • All Comers Record — 1:54.98, Michael Phelps (USA), 2007
  • Swim Australia OQT – 1:57.23

Top 8:

  1. William Petric – 1:59.23
  2. Se-Bom Lee – 2:00.95
  3. David Schlicht – 2:01.31
  4. Brendon Smith – 2:01.82
  5. Joshua Kerr – 2:02.46
  6. Bailey Lello – 2:02.57
  7. Joshua Staples – 2:02.61
  8. Gabriel Gorgas – 2:03.05

William Petric will be aiming for his first Olympic berth in the 200 IM after leading prelims by more than a second in 1:59.23. The 19-year-old owns a lifetime best of 1:58.05 from the Sydney Open last month, within a second of Australia’s Olympic cut (1:57.23). If he doesn’t hit the mark tonight, Petric will have another chance in Saturday’s 400 IM, where his personal best is slightly under the Australian Olympic qualifying time.

Se-Bom Lee qualified 2nd in 2:00.95, about a second off the 22-year-old’s best time of 1:59.37 from the 2022 World Championships. Arizona State standout David Schlicht was close behind in 2:01.31, just a few tenths shy of the 24-year-old’s personal-best 2:00.96 from 2022.

Keep an eye on Brendon Smith in the final tonight. The 23-year-old qualified 4th in 2:01.82, but he has been as fast as 1:58.57 at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Men’s 100 Free – Prelims

  • World Record – 46.80, Pan Zhanle (CHN), 2024
  • Australian Record – 47.04, Cam McEvoy (AUS), 2016
  • Oceanic Record – 47.04, Cam McEvoy (AUS), 2016
  • Commonwealth Record – 47.04, Cam McEvoy (AUS), 2016
  • All Comers Record — 47.04, Cam McEvoy (AUS), 2016
  • Swim Australia OQT – 48.06

Top 8:

  1. Kyle Chalmers – 48.39
  2. William Yang – 48.50
  3. Flynn Southam – 48.64
  4. Jamie Jack – 48.69
  5. Zac Incerti – 48.78
  6. Kai Taylor – 48.81
  7. Jack Cartwright – 48.83
  8. Max Giuliani – 48.90

Rio 2016 Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers paced the 100 free prelims in 48.39, within a second of his season-best 47.63 from April that ranks 5th in the world this season.

William Yang reached the wall just a tenth of a second behind Chalmers in 48.50, not far off his season-best 48.20 that ranks 28th in the world this season. He’s within striking distance of the Australian Olympic qualifying time in the event (48.06).

Flynn Southam (48.64) eked past Jamie Jack (48.69) for the third qualifying spot in tonight’s final. Southam, 19, has been under 48 seconds before (47.77) at last year’s Australian Trials while the 21-year-old Jack shaved .07 seconds off his previous-best 48.76 from April.

Zac Incerti (48.78), Kai Taylor (48.81), Jack Cartwright (48.83) and Max Giuliani (48.90) rounded out the top eight qualifiers in the heats. Cody Simpson didn’t make the A-final with a time of 49.04 in prelims as it took a sub-49 second effort this morning to finish among the eight fastest swimmers.

Australian record holder Cam McEvoy scratched out of the 100 free after previously hinting that he might give the 4×100 free relay a shot this summer.

Women’s 200 Fly – Prelims

  • World Record – 2:01.81, Liu Zige (CHN), 2009
  • Australian Record – 2:03.41, Jessicah Schipper (AUS), 2009
  • Oceanic Record – 2:03.41, Jessicah Schipper (AUS), 2009
  • Commonwealth Record – 2:03.41, Jessicah Schipper (AUS), 2009
  • All Comers Record: 2:05.20 — Elizabeth Dekkers (AUS), 2024
  • Swim Australia OQT – 2:07.72

Top 8:

  1. Abbey Connor – 2:06.43
  2. Elizabeth Dekkers – 2:07.71
  3. Bella Grant – 2:07.98
  4. Brittany Castelluzzo – 2:10.19
  5. Elloise Doolan – 2:11.87
  6. Jessica Cole – 2:12.37
  7. Poppy Stephen – 2:12.49
  8. Rafaela Kopellou – 2:12.79

Abbey Connor threw down a statement swim in the 200 fly prelims with a personal-best 2:06.43 to snag the top seed ahead of All Comers record holder Elizabeth Dekkers (2:07.71).

Connor, 19, dropped just over a tenth off her previous-best 2:06.59 from March. Dekkers, 20, owns the All Comers record at 2:05.20 from April.

Connor now ranks 5th in the world this season behind Zhang Yufei (2:05.57), Dekkers (2:05.20), Regan Smith (2:04.80), and Summer McIntosh (2:04.33).

Bella Grant also clocked a huge prelims swim with the third-fastest time in prelims at 2:07.98, knocking almost half a second off her previous-best 2:08.42 from April. The 19-year-old is now just a couple tenths shy of the Australian Olympic qualifying mark of 2:07.72.

There’s a lot of blossoming Australian talent in this event as Connor and Grant will be joined by four more teenagers in tonight’s final: 17-year-old Elloise Doolan (2:11.87), 17-year-old Jessica Cole (2:12.37), 18-year-old Poppy Stephen (2:12.49), and 16-year-old Rafaela Kopellou (2:12.79). Kopellou, the youngest of the bunch, dropped a couple hundredths off her previous-best 2:12.81 from April to qualify 8th in the heats.

Women’s 800 Free – Prelims (Slower Heats)

  • World Record – 8:04.79, Katie Ledecky (USA), 2016
  • Australian Record – 8:13.59, Ariarne Titmus (AUS), 2023
  • Oceanic Record – 8:13.59, Ariarne Titmus (AUS), 2023
  • Commonwealth Record – 8:13.59, Ariarne Titmus (AUS), 2023
  • All Comers Record — 8:11.35, Katie Ledecky (USA), 2014
  • Swim Australia OQT – 8:22.20

Top 8:

  1. Taryn Roberts – 8:50.41
  2. Sienna Deurloo – 8:58.27
  3. Jacinta Essam – 8:58.44
  4. Mackenzie Hunter – 8:59.82
  5. Kirralee Shepherd – 9:02.53
  6. Chelsea Jones – 9:02.66
  7. Dominique Melbourn – 9:03.73
  8. Rebecca Rimoldi – 9:07.87

None of the swimmers in the slower heats of the women’s 800 free got particularly close to the Australian Olympic qualifying time of 8:22.20. The quartet of Taryn Roberts (8:50.41), Sienna Deurloo (8:58.27), Jacinta Essam (8:58.44), and Mackenzie Hunter (8:59.82) were the only ones under the nine-minute barrier. Australian record holder Ariarne Titmus and Lani Pallister are expected to lead the way tonight.

Paralympic Highlights:

In the women’s 100 breaststroke, Keira Stephens led the way with a time of 1:16.94 worth 785 points. The 21-year-old SB9 swimmer won bronze in the event at the Tokyo Paralympics a few years ago.

The men’s 100 breast saw Jake Michel qualify 1st by a wide margin with a time of 1:04.75, just about a tenth shy of his seed time (1:04.62). The SB14 swimmer took silver in the event at the Tokyo Paralympics a few years ago.

Alexa Leary paced the women’s 100 free prelims in 1:00.38, about a second off her seed time of 59.37. The 22-year-old S9 swimmer won the 2023 world title in this event last year in Manchester.

Rowan Crothers shined in the men’s 100 free, earning the most points with his time of 52.29. The two-time Paralympic champion claimed silver in the 100 free S10 in Tokyo with a time of 51.37.

In This Story

218
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

218 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Owlmando
13 days ago

Dang, Cody was right on the cusp!

Italian Fan
13 days ago

I understand that he is now 30 AND completely focused on the 50 free, but it is still weird not to see the name of McEvoy among those competing for a spot on the relay. I mean, he still is the AUS record holder ….

Oceanian
13 days ago

S/S Posts for Aussie trials (so far):

738 D3 finals
518 D2 finals
480 D1 finals
330 D3 prelims
240 D2 prelims
326 D1 prelims
149 D4 prelims (late start)

Ok guys – gotta aim for a new record tonight!!

Troyy
Reply to  Oceanian
13 days ago

Kaylee would have to drop 1+ second off the 200 back WR to challenge the D3 finals count.

mahmoud
Reply to  Troyy
13 days ago

If she swims a sub 2.02, maybe.

mahmoud
Reply to  Troyy
13 days ago

she might. The 200 back is her best event in my opinion.

Sub13
Reply to  Troyy
13 days ago

Kaylee 2:02 + 4 under 48 + Dekkers 2:04 + Titmus 8:11 would beat last night I reckon

Genevieve Nnaji
Reply to  Sub13
13 days ago

Yeah, anything less than that combo won’t beat Titmus Mollie classic.

Last edited 13 days ago by Genevieve Nnaji
Peter
13 days ago

Basically four relay teams have been written off so far

Genevieve Nnaji
Reply to  Peter
13 days ago

What?

Oceanian
Reply to  Peter
13 days ago

what relays tonight/today ?

Robbos
Reply to  Peter
13 days ago

2 Big Big chances for gold.W4x100 & 4×200 f
1 good chance for gold M4X1 med
1 Wait till after tonight M4x100 med
1 still a chance for medal W4x100 med
2 yeah struggling big time M4X100 med & M4x200 f

SNygans01
Reply to  Robbos
13 days ago

I think you meant the 2nd one to be ‘Mixed’, and the 3rd one to be FS?

Sub13
Reply to  Robbos
13 days ago

I think you need to check words there.

I assume the second line is supposed to be mixed medley and the third supposed to be men’s freestyle

SNygans01
Reply to  Sub13
13 days ago

SNAP!

Robbos
Reply to  Sub13
13 days ago

Sorry it was rushed;

2 Big Big chances for gold.W4x100 & 4×200 free
1 good chance for gold Mixed 4X100 med
1 Wait till after tonight M4x100 free
1 still a chance for medal W4x100 med
2 yeah struggling big time M4X100 med & M4x200 free

Oceanian
Reply to  Robbos
13 days ago

I think we were all asking Peter..

Emily Se-Bom Lee
Reply to  Peter
13 days ago

just like how you claim china has been banned?

Trials
13 days ago

Good luck, Davit Schlicht. 1:57.2 is a ridiculous standard. Would have been 3rd in Doha, only 0.7 out of Gold;

I believe if he can come within 0.5 and 1.0 of the 200 IM he will make the 400 IM and 200 Breast, though he’d have to get past Joshua Yong to fit on the team.

mahmoud
13 days ago

Is Kaylee breaking her world record tonight?

Sub13
Reply to  mahmoud
13 days ago

If I say yes then she won’t and if I say no then she will so I’m saying no

SHRKB8
Reply to  Sub13
13 days ago

Clear as mud

Genevieve Nnaji
Reply to  Sub13
13 days ago

This.

Helk bengur
Reply to  mahmoud
13 days ago

No

Victoria
13 days ago

Why is there a slower heats for 800? Where is titmus and pallister

Backstrokebro
13 days ago

Honestly a wise move by Mcevoy. Whatever he’s been doing for the 50 seemed to be working, don’t try and mess with it by adding the 100

Mr Piano
Reply to  Backstrokebro
13 days ago

Yea, honestly I don’t think it’d end very well for him in a 100 haha. It sounds like he’s doing absurdly low meters per session, maxing out on intensity and technique. It’s a new level of specialization that we haven’t seen before in swimming, and I’m very interested to see how it works out this summer.

Oceanian
Reply to  Mr Piano
13 days ago

one swim. ONE SWIM.

backstrokebro
Reply to  Mr Piano
13 days ago

eh, idk how new this is. Go chat with Fratus/Manadou/Proud

About Riley Overend

Riley is an associate editor interested in the stories taking place outside of the pool just as much as the drama between the lane lines. A 2019 graduate of Boston College, he arrived at SwimSwam in April of 2022 after three years as a sports reporter and sports editor at newspapers …

Read More »