2025 Australian Swimming Trials – Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2025 AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING TRIALS

• Monday, June 9th – Saturday, June 14th
• SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre, Oaklands Park, South Australia
• Prelims at 11am local (9:30pm ET night before)/Finals at 7:30pm local (6:00am ET) nights 1&2; 7pm local (5:30am ET) nights 3-6
• LCM (50m)
• Swimming Australia World Championships Selection Criteria
• Meet Central
• Start List
• Heat Sheets
• Results
• Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 1
  • Finals: Day 1

The biggest storyline from day 1 of the Australia Swimming Trials was the disqualification and reinstatement of Kaylee McKeown in the 50 back. The World Record holder in the event, McKeown, was initially called for a false start, but it was withdrawn as it was deemed a movement that distracted her just before the start; you can read more about the whole procedure here.

However, we are not here to dwell on the past, and today’s events are just as exciting. The session kicks off with the Women’s 100 breaststroke. Like the men, this event has been a thorn in the side of the Australian’s medley relays. Fresh off great performances in the 200 IM last night, Ella Ramsay and Tara Kinder, the 1st and 3rd seeds, will look to book themselves the middle lanes in tonight’s final in an attempt to add another event to their Singapore line-up. With a qualifying standard of 1:06.87, exactly equal to Ramsay’s seed, all the swimmers will need to be at their best. Don’t sleep upon Sienne Toohey, the 2nd seed. Toohey finished 3rd last summer in a time of 1:07.01, but a year older, now just 16, she could be poised for a big breakout.

After four heats of the Multi Class Women’s and Men’s 100 butterfly, the women take to the water for two successive events, the 50 fly and 100 back. Fresh off of a scintillating performance in the 100 fly, Alexandria Perkins returns to the pool to add another event to her line-up. The only Australian under the qualifying standard, Perkins is the favorite to take lane four this evening, but it won’t be a cakewalk as Lily Price, who also qualified for Singapore in the 100, is the 3rd seed and is just .22 off the standard. Teenagers Olivia Wunsch, Isabella Boyd, and Mackenzie Burns are all within striking distance, so don’t expect anyone to take it easy this morning.

After tonight, the Australian Dolphins will know the first three likely legs of their Women’s 4×100 Medley relay as the 1oo back is up next. Kaylee McKeown, the former World Record holder in the event, returns to the pool after winning the 50 back last night. Her final time of 27.33 was not as fast as those of her American counterparts, so her performance today will be scrutinized. McKeown has changed training bases, so she may be taking a different strategy to this meet. Like in the 50 back, Mollie O’Callaghan sits just back of McKeown as the 2nd seed. MOC placed 2nd in the event at trials last summer but gave up the spot to 3rd place finisher Iona Anderson. In Singapore, as the 100 back finals fall in the same session as the 200 free semis, it remains to be seen what her intentions are. If she does plan to pass on the event, both Hannah Fredericks and Jaclyn Barclay, the 3rd and 4th seeds, have already been under the Swim Australia cut time and will be sure to make the battle for the podium all that more intense.

The men round out the competition this morning, as only two Para events separate the Men’s 200 free, 100 back, and 100 fly. The 200 free, always a barn burner, sees all but one leg of their bronze medal-winning relay from last year (anchor Thomas Neill is the lone absence). Max Giuliani leads the back, but Kai Taylor and Elijah Winnington, the latter of whom has already booked his ticket to Singapore, are also seeded under 1:46. In fact, the top five swimmers are all under the Swim Australia standard of 1:46.70, so the competition will fierce not only for an individual berth but also one of the coveted really spots.

Last year’s champ in the 100 back Isaac Cooper, who won the 50 back last night, is not in the 100 back program, leaving Bradley Woodward the presumptive favorite. The only swimmer under the standard of 53.93 or, for that matter, under 54.00, Woodward would like to improve upon his bronze medal in last night’s 50 and secure himself not only a relay spot but an individual swim in Singapore.

Top seed Matthew Temple was the only swimmer to qualify in the 100 fly last summer and, on paper, seems to be an easy favorite. However, he may face some pressure from Ben Armbruster. Armbruster placed 2nd last night in the 50 back but was short of the standard. This morning, he finds himself as the 2nd seed with an entry time of 51.17, which easily is under the 51.62 standard.

Women’s 100 Breaststroke – Prelims

• World Record: 1:04.13 – Lilly King, USA (2017)
• Australian Record: 1:05.09 – Leisel Jones, (2006)
• AllComers Record: 1:05.09 – Leiel Jones, AUS (2006)
• 2024 Trials Winner: Jenna Strauch – 1:06.90
• SwimAustralia Qualifying Time: 1:06.87

Top 8

1. Ella Ramsay (GUSC) – 1:07.36
2. Hayley Mackinder (GUSC) – 1:07.71
3. Sienna Harben (GUSC) – 1:07.72
4. Sienna Toohey (ALBU) – 1:07.85
5. Lily Koch (NUN) – 1:08.11
6. Tara Kinder (MVC) – 1:08.71
7. Tilly King (BOND) – 1:08.91
8. Mia O’Leary (GUSC) – 1:09.31

Heat 1 saw Ella Ramsay assert her authority early on the field, as she opened in a swift 31.66, the only sub-32 first 50 in the heat. Ramsay, who won the 200 IM last night to book her ticket to Singapore, either faded or shut things down on the backhalf as she came home in 35.70 to touch first in 1:07.36. 17-year-old Hayley Mackinder tried to make up for her slow first 50 and closed in 35.45, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap, and she finished 2nd in the heat at 1:07.71, just .01 off her seed. Fellow teen Kyla Brown had the swim of the heat as the 18-year-old Bond swimmer sliced 1:40 seconds off her seed to break 1:10 as she finished 3rd in 1:09.44.

The second heat was a tight affair as it saw a battle between two Siennas. It was the older of the two, 21-year-old Sienna Harben, who got to the wall first, touching in 1:07.72, a drop of .67 from her seed. Sienna Toohey, the #2 seed overall, was out in 31.47, .6 ahead of Harben, but the 16-year-old could not match Harben’s back half, and she was passed in the closing meters to finish in 1:07.85.

The last of the circle-seeded heats saw Lily Koch jump off to a hot start and hold off the back half speed of Tara Kinder as the pair touched in 1:08.11, a drop of .37 for the 16-year-old Koch and in 1:08.71 for Kinder, who already booked her ticket to Singapore by way of her 2nd place finish in the 200 IM last night.

Men’s MC 100 Butterfly – Prelims

The first heat saw multiple swimmers post qualifying times for Para Worlds. In the multi-class events, swimmers can qualify in both the prelims and finals. Roster selections are not determined until the end of the meet, as the team is formed based on the highest-scoring swimmers. The first heat saw Col Pearse, an S10 swimmer, post the highest scoring points swim as he touched in 57.10, collecting 853 points, and will occupy the middle lane tonight in the final.  Joining him in the 800-point range were Lewis Bishop and Timothy Hodge, both S9 swimmers, and Declan Budd (S14), who went 1:00.61, 1:00.76, and 57.82 to score 840, 834, and 823 points.

Women’s MC 100 Butterfly – Prelims

Like in the men’s event, two swimmers broke the 800 point mark as Paige Leonhardt and Kael Thompson, both S14 swimmers scored 808 and 800 points courtesy of their times of 1:07.68 and 1:07.87 from the first of two heats.

Women’s 50 Butterfly – Prelims

• World Record: 24.43 – Sarah Sjostrom, SWE (2014)
• Australian Record: 25.31 – Holly Barratt, (2019)
• AllComers Record: 25.47 – Cate Campbell, AUS (2018)
• 2024 Trials Winner: Alexandria Perkins – 25.92
• SwimAustralia Qualifying Time: 25.72

Top 8

1. Alexandria Perkins (USCS) – 25.46 ***NEW ALLCOMERS RECORD***
2. Lily Price (RACKL) – 25.99
3. Olivia Wunsch (CARL) – 26.47
4. Isabella Boyd (NUN) – 26.58
5. Josephine Crimmins (SOMAQ) – 26.65
6. Mackenzie Burns (STAND) – 26.71
7. Chloe Rowe-Hagans (STAND) – 27.02
8. Jaimie De Lutiis (WIAQ) – 27.09

Heat 1 went the way of Olivia Wunsch. More known as a sprint freestyler, Wunsch took advantage of the open lane to her side as top seed Rikako Ikee was absent from the event, and she cruised her way to the win in 26.47. Josephine Crimmins, one year older at 20, finished just a little back at 26.65.

Heat 2 saw Alexandria Perkins pick up from where she left off last night as she used a strong start to get herself into the lead. Keeping her head down, the now 3rd fastest 100 flier in Australian history surged into the wall and touched in 25.46, dropping .20 off her seed time to record a new PB of 25.46. Her time slices .01 off the seven-year-old All-Comers record set by the great Cate Campbell in 2018, and Perkins now only trails Holly Barratt in the rankings. She now sits 5th in the World Rankings.

The last heat saw Lily Price post the second-fastest time of 25.99. Price was also the runner-up in the 100 fly, but her time this morning of 25.99 is a little shy of the Swim Australian Standard of 25.72.

Women’s 100 Backstroke – Prelims

• World Record: 57.13 – Regan Smith, USA (2024)
• Australian Record: 57.33 – Kaylee McKeown, (2023)
• AllComers Record: 57.41 – Kaylee McKeown, AUS (2024)
• 2024 Trials Winner: Kaylee McKeown – 57.41
• SwimAustralia Qualifying Time: 1:00.40

Top 8

1. Kaylee McKeown (USCS) – 59.38
2. Mollie O’Callaghan (STPET) – 1:00.03
3. Hannah Fredericks (STPET) – 1:00.29
4. Alyssa Burgess (HLDR) – 1:00.75
5. Jaclyn Barclay (STPET) – 1:00.76
6. Semra Olowoniyi (NUN) – 1:00.93
7. Layla Day (Bond) – 1:00.95
8. Bella Grant (TRGR) – 1:01.07

Kaylee McKeown looked like the drama of yesterday had no effect on her time this morning. The former WR holder was 28.46 to the feet at the first 50 and looked strong before noticeably shutting things down in the 2nd 50 as she came home in 30.92 to touch the wall in 59.38. While 2.05 seconds off her seed, McKeown was the only swimmer under the 60-second barrier as she out-touched Jaclyn Barclay by over a second as she touched in 1:00.76.

Mollie O’Callaghan, who gave McKeown a run for her money in the 50 last night, was out over a second slower than McKeown, flipping in 29.63, but didn’t let up as much on the backhalf as she closed in 30.40 to touch just over the 1:00 barrier at 1:00.03. MOC was joined under 1:01 by Alyssa Burges,s who dropped .31 from her seed to stop the clock in 1:00.7. Burgess and Semra Olowoniyi in the first heat were the only swimmers amongst the top 8 to drop time heading into finals as the 10th seed chopped.68 off her entry time to place 6th in the final in 1:00.93.

The last circle-seeded heat saw Hannah Fredericks secure land 3 tonight and will abut Kaylee McKeown in the A-final. Fredericks was 1:00.29, a little off her 59.44 entry time, and will hope to pass her teammate O’Callaghan in the final tonight or hope that she drops the event from her schedule like she did last year.

Men’s MC 50 Freestyle – Prelims

Benjamin Hance posted the swim with the highest point total as the S14 swimmer was 23.30 to win the first heat. As the event has no S14 qualification, the race for Para-Worlds will come down to Tom Gallagher and Roman Crothers, both S10 swimmers who went 23.70 and 24.04, respectively.

Women’s MC 50 Freestyle – Prelims

Star of the Paris Para Games, Alexa Leary, was 27.69 this morning, collecting the most points. Leary, an S9 athlete, is swimming up as an S10 athlete because there is no path to qualifying in the event in the S9 Classification.

Men’s 200 Freestyle – Prelims

• World Record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann, GER (2009)
• Australian Record: 1:44.06 – Ian Thorpe (2001)
• AllComers Record: 1:43.86 – Michael Phelps, USA (2007)
• 2024 Trials Winner: Max Giuliani – 1:45.83
• SwimAustralia Qualifying Time: 1:46.70

Top 8

1. Zac Incerti (USCS) – 1:45.80
2. Edward Sommerville (BGRAM) – 1:46.02
3. Samuel Short (RACKL) – 1:46.33
4. Charlie Hawke (HUNT) – 1:46.42
5. Flynn Southam (BOND) – 1:46.82
6. Max Giuliani (TSS) – 1:46.97
7. Harrison Turner (NCOLL) – 1:47.01
8. Elijah Winnington (STPET) – 1:47.04

Flynn Southam jumped out to the early lead, opening up the first heat in 24.60, and built it up to a lead of .31 over the 18-year-old Marcus Da Silva, with Southam flipping at the halfway point in 51.63. Southam, the 4th seed overall, was under some pressure from top seed Max Giuliani, who closed the gap from nearly half a second to just .03 at the 150-turn. The two each kept up their pace and continued to distance themselves from the rest of the field, with Southam just seeking out the win with a 1:46.82 to Giulani’s 1:46.97. Da Silva held on for 3rd and touched in 1:47.25. Brendon Smith, more known as an IMer, did make the final last summer but placed just 5th in the heat at 1:49.52, and, with two circle-seeded heats remaining, likely won’t make the final.

Seeing the times put up by the earlier heats, the 2nd heat was a faster affair as Zac Incerti and Charlie Hawke staked their way to the top of the leaderboard. Incerti opened up in 52.17, trailing Kai Taylor‘s 51.38, but Incerti motored on the last 100, coming home in 27.03/26.60 to steal the win in 1:45.80. Hawke, who was out faster than Incerti, opening in 51.50 couldn’t match the turn of speed of Inceti but still finished strongly with a time of 1:46.42, a drop of 1.92 from his seed. Taylor struggled on the last 100, closing in 27.43/28.29 to go from 1st to 4th in the heat, and with one circle-seeded heat remaining, the 2nd seed sits just 6th in the ranking with his time of 1:47.10.

With the speedy times already posted by the first two heats, it looked like Heat 3 would be a duel between Elijah Winnington and Samuel Short, a rare prelims head-to-head. However, Edward Sommerville had something to say about that. Out in 24.41, the 20-year-old led the pair of Olympians at the 50 by over half a second. Sommerville, swimming out lane 3, did not record a time at the 100 turn, but by the 150 (1:17.83), Sommerville had a lead of nearly 1.5 seconds on Short and Winnington. Sommerville dropped 1:52 seconds from his seed to stop the clock in 1:46.02 and sits second overall.

Short did his best to chase down the early rabbit and closed in 27.13 over the last 50 to out split the early leader by over a second, but he left it a little too late, ultimately finishing .29 back at 1:46.33. Winnington, too, gained some ground back on the last 50, coming home in 27.68 to touch in 1:47.04 and currently sitting 8th with the non-circled seeded heats left.

When the heats were over, relay bronze medalist Kai Taylor finished on the outside looking in. His 1:47.10 placed him 9th overall, .06 back from 8th place. Brendon Smith‘s 1:49.52 was the 16th fastest time this morning.

Men’s MC 50 Breaststroke – Prelims

Jake Michel dropped a monster of a swim as his 29.42, while just a drop of .16 from his seed raked in 920 points in the MC system, placing the SB14 swimmer ahead of fellow SB14, Andrew Callum (33.27-636pts) and Grant Scotter Patterson, who still spotting a beard, earned 505 points via his 1:03.61 in the SB2 category.

Women’s MC 50 Breaststroke – Prelims

19-year-old SB7 athlete Jordan Berryman will lead the field in tonight’s final as her 42.38 (758 pts) leads the field by a wide margin as the next closest swimmer (by points) was fellow SB7 athlete Ruby Halliday. Halliday swam 45.24 this morning to earn 623 points.

Men’s 100 Backstroke – Prelims

• World Record: 51.60 – Thomas Ceccon, ITA (2022)
• Australian Record: 52.11 – Mitch Larkin, (2015)
• AllComers Record: 52.38 – Mitch Larkin, AUS (2019)
• 2024 Trials Winner: Isaac Cooper – 53.46
• SwimAustralia Qualifying Time: 53.93

Top 8

1. Bradley Woodward (MING) – 54.45
2. Enoch Robb (GUSC) – 54.66
3. Thomas Henderson (BGRAM) – 54.82
4. Joshua Edwards-Smith (GUSC) – 54.92
5. Stuart Swinburn (COSAC) – 55.40
6. Adam Graham (MNLY) – 55.81
7. Ryder Lambert (STHPT) – 55.90
8. Thomas Prowton (HLDR) – 55.96

Bradley Woodward, the top seed, trailed at the 50, sitting behind Kalani Ireland, but Woodward, who gets better as the distances get longer, nearly even split his race, going out in 26.91 and closing in 27.54 to go over the top of Ireland and take the heat 1 win in 54.45. After initially placing 2nd, Ireland was disqualified. If a reason is announced, this post will be updated. Bumping up to the 2nd spot was Stuart Swinbur,n who was nearly a second back of Woodward, hitting the wall in 55.40.

Heat 2’s Enoch Robb nearly overtook the top time as he stopped the clock in 54.66, just .21 off of Woodward’s time. Robb opened half a second faster at 26.41 but didn’t have the 200 pedigree that Woodward had, as he came home in 28.25.

The last heat saw the 3rd seed Joshua Edwards-Smith touch ahead of Thomas Henderson 26.84 to 26.98 but the 6th seed Henderson kept his speed through the last 50 better and took over the lead towards the finish to touch in 54.82, exactly a tenth ahead of his competition.

Men’s 100 Butterfly – Prelims

• World Record: 49.45 – Caeleb Dressel, USA (2021)
• Australian Record: 50.25 – Matthew Temple (2023)
• AllComers Record: 50.45 – Matthew Temple, AUS (2021)
• 2024 Trials Winner: Matthew Temple – 51.15
• SwimAustralia Qualifying Time: 51.62

Top 8

1. Jesse Coleman (BOND) – 51.51
2. Matthew Temple (MARI) – 51.65
3. Thomas Nankervis (GUSC) – 52.33
4. Harrison Turner (NCOLL) – 52.35
5. Joseph Hamson (KPSC) – 52.73
6. Alex Quach (SOSC) – 52.74
7. Ben Armbruster (BOND) – 52.79
8. Jack Carr (STAND) – 53.40

Top seed Matthew Temple opened up the race in 24.17, a half a second ahead of Harrison Turner, who was 24.72. Temple continued to build his lead as he would go on to win in 51.65, closing in 27.48. Turner held on to the 2nd position as he came home in 27.63 to touch 2nd in 52.35. While an add of .15, it was a very strong swim, considering he just placed 7th in the 200 free just four events earlier.

After placing 2nd last night in the 50 back but not making the standard, the #2 seed, Ben Armbruster, touched in 52.79 to win the 2nd heat. It wasn’t a swift swim for the 2024 Olympian as he stopped the clock in 52.79 and sits 4th with one circle-seeded heat remaining. The whole heat was slower as Armbruster added 1.62 to his seed, and Jack Carr‘s addition of .74 slots him into 5th overall with a time of 53.40.

The last heat saw the #3 seed Jesse Coleman swim exactly his entry time of 51.51. Out in 23.85, much faster than Temple and Armbruster, Coleman closed in 27.66 to overtake the top of the leaderboard and will occupy lane 4 tonight in the final. The only swimmer under the standard this morning, Coleman was 4th last summer and has put himself into a good position tonight.

Shadowing Coleman over the course of the 100 was Thomas Nankervis, the #6 seed. The Griffith University swimmer sliced .39 off his entry time as his 24.31/28.02 secured him the 3rd seed into tonight’s final with a time of 52.33, a strong improvement upon his 8th place finish last summer.