2026 Australian Swimming Trials: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

2026 AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING TRIALS

• Monday, June 8 – Saturday, June 13, 2026
• Sydney, Australia
• Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre
• LCM (50 meters)
• Meet Central
• Commonwealth Selection Criteria
• Pan Pac Selection Criteria
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• Storylines To Watch
• Live Recaps:
  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2

HEAT SHEET (ALL PRELIMS)

How ya goin’, Swim fans?

It’s the 3rd day of the 2026 Australian Swimming Trials, and while there is plenty of fast swimming on tap this morning, all eyes will be on the fair dinkum Cameron McEvoy.

The sprint star and world record holder makes his first appearance at the meet, taking on his bread-and-butter event, the 50-free, where he is the top seed by .29. To note, McEvoy entered the meet with a seed of 21.14, and not his season best (and world record) time of 20.88 from the China Open this past March.

McEvoy likely will be saving his best for tonight but surely will be targeting a mark better than that of 20.81, as that is the time produced by Kristian Gkolomeev at the Enhanced Games, a competition that not only allowed the use of banned super-suits but also World Aquatics-banned supplements and medications to augment their performances. You can see the Aussie’s immediate response to the result and the meet here, as he creatively posted two Instagram stories, one quoting celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay saying “Seriously?! Thats all you got!” and another with no words but showing basketball GOAT Michael Jordan squaring off against the Monstars in the 1997 movie Space Jam.

McEvoy won’t be the only one in the 50 free to draw attention, as 2nd seed Jamie Jack is also entered with a time under the qualifying standard, with the 23 St. Peters Westerns product coming in with a seed of 21.43. Keep an eye on Isaac Cooper, who won the 50 back two days ago, but pulled out of the 100 back finals last night. Also be on the lookout for Flynn Southam, who is slotted to be swimming in the 2nd heat, but withdrew from his first race of the meet yesterday, the 200 free.

While Mollie O’Callaghan also withdrew from her lone race yesterday, the 100 back, expect to see her in the very first race of the day, as reigning World and Olympic champion is the top seed by a wide margin. 400 Free champion Lani Pallister returns to the pool and will look to add another event to her line-up. The pair aren’t the only swimmers under the qualifying standard of 1:56.03, as the 3rd seed Meg Harris joins them in the sub-1:56 club. More known as a sprinter, Harris, the reigning Olympic and Commonwealth Games silver medalist (and reigning World Champion), popped off this past December with a new personal best of 1:55.97.

After a so-so performance in the prelims of the 100 breaststroke yesterday, Sienna Toohey blasted her way to a new Age-Group record and win in finals, hitting a mark of 1:05.97. What’s more important is she took the race out in 30.58, which is less than .20 off her seed time in this morning’s 50 breaststroke, so if she looks a little slow this morning, don’t fret, as she has shown the ability to turn on the power in the final. She, Mia O’Leary and Sienna Harben are the only entrants seeded under 31.00 and will have their work cut out for them to hit the 30.37 qualifying standard.

The men’s 200 fly, 50 breaststroke and early heats of the 800 free round out the program. Harrison Turner has been turning heads this week, hitting new PBs in the 200 free and finishing 3rd in the 200 free last night, likely earning a berth on the 4×200 free relay and spot on the roster. This morning he returns to the pool in 200 fly, his best event. The 2025 Singapore bronze medalist is the only athlete under the qualifying standard, as is Sam Williamson in the 50 breaststroke.

Women’s 200 Freestyle – Prelims

• World Record: 1:52.23 – Ariarne Titmus (St Peters Western), 2024
• Commonwealth Record: 1:52.23 – Ariarne Titmus (St Peters Western), 2024
• Australian Record: 1:52.23 – Ariarne Titmus (St Peters Western), 2024
• All-Comers Record: 1:52.23 – Ariarne Titmus (St Peters Western), 2024
• SwimAustralia Qualifying Time: 1:56.03

Top 8:

1. Mollie O’Callaghan (STPET) – 1:56.28
2. Lani Pallister (STPET) – 1:56.37
3. Milla Jansen (STPET) – 1:56.71
4. Inez Miller (HLDR)/Meg Harris (RACKL) – 1:57.30
6. Hannah Casey (BOND) – 1:57.49
7. Maria Fernanda Costa (BRA) – 1:57.81
8. Jenna Forrester (STPET) – 1:57.95
9. Brittany Castelluzzo (TTG) – 1:57.98

With the heats being swum fast to slow, former World Record holder Mollie O’Callaghan got things off to a fast start, with the Olympic champion opening in 26.64 to lead the field. O’Callaghan continued to lead at the 100, hitting the halfway mark in 56.75, but certainly had slowed her pace as her 2nd 50 was just 30.11. Her slackening off the pace allowed both Olivia Wunsch (29.32) and Jenna Forrester (29.89) to creep within striking range as the pair touched .06 and .92 back. O’Callaghan and Wunsch were still close at the 150, but the experience of the elder swimmer was too much as she pulled ahead of the group to take the win in 1:56.28, nearly three seconds off her season best and world leading time of 1:53.52 from the China Swimming Open. Wunsch paid for her early speed and was passed by both Forrester and a hard-charging Inez Miller, who touched 2nd at 1:57.30 with Forrester taking 3rd at 1:57.95.

The 2nd heat was a very similar story with Lani Pallister hitting the halfway point in 56.63, after opening in 27.12. She was closely followed at both of the first two turns by Hannah Casey, who trailed by just .12 at the 100-meter mark. Casey stuck with Pallister, but the experience of the distance star was too much, and Pallister pulled her way into the lead, hitting the wall in 1:56.37, less than half a second off her season best of 1:55.66, while Casey took 2nd in the heat at 1:57.49.

The last heat saw 50 free world champion Meg Harris open up in a swift 56.61 but unlike the previous heats, the top seed was not in the lead as she was trailing the 19-year-old Milla Jansen, who, hit the halfway mark at 56.54, with Harris back by just .07. The two continued to battle over the next 50 but Jansen pulled away on the last 50 to take the heat in in a time of 1:56.71, over half a second off her seed time and personal best of 1:57.29, proving that her recent move to the Boxall led St. Peters Western team has been fruitful as she now ranks tied for 18th in the World this season. Harris took 2nd in the heat ahead of Maria Costa, who is visiting from Brazil, 1:57.30 to 1:57.81.

Men’s Multi Class 200 Individual Medley – Prelims

The final of men’s MC 200 IM tonight is looking to shape up to be a barn burner as all eight finalists scored over 700 points. Leading the way is Timothy Hodge, an SM9 athlete, whose 2:17.88 leads the way as he earned 878 points. The six-time Paralympic medalist will be pressed by both Ricky Betar (SM14) and Callum Simpson (SM8), who joined Hodge with over 800 points as they hit the wall in 2:11.44 (868pts.) and 2:29.83 (816pts.).

Men’s Multi Class 150 Individual Medley – Prelims

It was a duel between SM3 athletes Grant “Scooter” Patterson and Ahmed Kelly as the pair duked it out in the MC 150 IM. Kelly had the better start, but Patterson’s backstroke prowess was too much as he pulled his way into the lead and never looked back, hitting the wall at 3:10.98, earning 590 points. Kelly also was in the 500 points range, earning 546 points thanks to his 3:16.01.

Women’s Multi Class 50 Freestyle – Prelims

The splash and dash is set to be a thrilling race tonight as Jasmine Greenwood, an S10 athlete, set a very high bar, earning 884 points thanks to her 28.24 prelims time. The reigning 200 IM Commonwealth Games champion was just .40 off her seed time, a margin nearly equaled by her nearest competitors, Kirralee Hayes (S13) and Madeline McTernan (S14), whose 28.30 and 28.16 earned them 827 and 790 points respectively.

Women’s 50 Breaststroke – Prelims

• World Record: 29.16 – Ruta Meilutytė (LTU), 2023
• Commonwealth Record: 29.72 – Lara van Niekerk (RSA), 2022
• Australian Record: 30.05 – Chelsea Hodges (AUS), 2022
• All-Comers Record: 30.15 – Chelsea Hodges (AUS), 2022
• SwimAustralia Qualifying Time: 30.37

Top 8:

1. Sienna Toohey (ALBU) – 30.71
2. Mia O’Leary (GUSC) – 31.08
3. Lily Koch (MVC) – 31.22
4. Sienna Harben (GUSC) – 31.38
5. Sienna Walo (STHPT) – 31.71
6. Kyla Brown (BOND) – 31.72
7. Tilly King (BOND) – 31.84
8. Matilda Smith (MIAMI) – 31.91

We’ve hit some technical difficulties at the pool, with the event getting through only the first four of 13 heats before being stopped for repairs. However, with the circle-seeded heats completed, we very likely have our top 8 for the final tonight.

After her very impressive performance last night in the 100 breaststroke, 17-year-old Sienna Toohey posted a mark of 30.71 in the first heat. While .32 off her seed, Toohey was 30.58 opening her race last night, so expect her to be faster tonight as she chases the very stiff qualifying standard of 30.37.

Toohey was the lone swimmer to break 31.00 this morning, as Mia O’Leary and Lily Kock will look to join her under that mark tonight. The pair are set to flank her in the final after qualifying 2nd and 3rd with their 31.08 and 31.22 performances this morning. Sienna Harben was nearly half a second off her seed, but safely made the final in 4th with her prelims time of 31.38

Men’s 50 Freestyle – Prelims

• World Record: 20.88 – Cameron McEvoy (AUS), 2026
• Commonwealth Record: 20.88 – Cameron McEvoy (AUS), 2026
• Australian Record: 20.88 – Cameron McEvoy (AUS), 2026
• All-Comers Record: 21.19 – Ashley Callus (North End), 2009
• SwimAustralia Qualifying Time: 21.77

Top 8:

1. Jamie Jack (STPET) – 21.60
2. Cameron McEvoy (SOMAQ) – 21.72
3. Ollie Moclair (SOSC) – 21.83
4. Flynn Southam (BOND) – 21.97
5. Isaac Cooper (STAND) – 21.98
6. Ben Armbruster (BOND) – 22.02
7. Thomas Nowakowski (USCS) – 22.12
8. Jack Cartwright (STPET) – 22.36

After the dust settled, five swimmers broke the 22-second barrier this morning in the prelims of the men’s 50 free, but the swimmer who earned lane 4 in the final tonight was a little unexpected, as Jamie Jack posted the fastest time of the morning.

The 2nd seed coming in, Jack, who trains at St. Peters Western, cut .11 off his season best of 21.71 from April’s Australian Open, and he now ranks 8th in the world thanks to his 21.60. Jack, despite the strong swim, will not be the favorite in the final tonight; Cameron McEvoy in the heat prior posted a very smooth 21.72. The World Record holder looked very smooth and appeared to be slicing through the water with ease and looked to almost step off the gas in the closing meters, especially when compared to Ollie Moclair, who was one lane below him, and was wildly charging to the finish, earning the 3rd seed with his 21.83.

Joining the aforementioned trio under 22 was Flynn Southam and Isaac Cooper, who were 21.97 and 21.98, respectively. It’s a strong performance for Southam, as he cut .23 from his seed time, especially considering that the 21-year-old Bond swimmer pulled out of the prelims of the 200 free yesterday.

While Southam’s drop from seed was impressive, it pales in comparison to the 27-year-old Jack Cartwright, who entered the meet as the 44th seed with a time of 23.23, and nearly cut a full second off that as he earned the last spot in the final tonight with his prelims result of 22.36. Cartwright, if he were to make the Pan-Pac team, would be one of the few returners for the Dolphins as he earned a trio of silver medals back in 2018.

Men’s 200 Butterfly – Prelims

• World Record: 1:50.34 – Kristóf Milák (HUN), 2022
• Commonwealth Record: 1:52.96 – Chad le Clos (RSA), 2012
• Australian Record: 1:54.17 – Harrison Turner (AUS), 2025
• All-Comers Record: 1:52.09 – Michael Phelps (USA), 2007
• SwimAustralia Qualifying Time: 1:54.94

Top 8:

1. Matthew Temple (MARI) – 1:55.78
2. Harrison Turner (NCOLL) – 1:56.30
3. Matt Sates (V.) (RSA) – 1:58.38
4. Se-Bom Lee (SOSC) – 1:59.46
5. Alex Quach (NCOLL) – 1:59.48
6. William Jordan (BGRAM) – 1:59.63
7. Caio Gallo (LOGVI) – 1:59.85
8. Caleb Dryer (CARL) – 2:00.07
9. Sean Alcorn (PAQ) – 2:00.19

Matthew Temple continued exactly where he left things off last night, as the 100 fly brought some early speed to the 200 fly. The 4th overall seed, Temple opened the race in 25.06 and 29.48 to hit the halfway point in 54.54, ahead of reigning World bronze medalist and Australian Record holder Harrison Turner, who hit the wall .30 back at 54.84.

Turner used his 200 pedigree to pull himself into the lead, and was .02 ahead with a 50 left, but Temple found another gear and used a great turn to come home in the field’s lone sub-31 last 50 of 30.73 to take the heat win and post the overall fastest time in the field, going 1:55.78. His time this morning is just half a second shy of his personal best from the 2021 Olympic Trials. Temple has eschewed the event recently, not contesting it at trials last year.

Turner will take lane 5 tonight, as he finished just behind Temple at 1:56.30.

Men’s Multi Class 50 Freestyle – Prelims

The crowd was treated to a World Record as Benjamin Hance, an S14 athlete, hit the wall in 22.94, slicing .02 off the old mark that was set back in April of this year. Hance, whose result scored 1003 points, easily led the field, but Rowan Crothers and Tom Gallagher were not far back, as the pair of S10 rivals were separated by just .07, with Crothers recording a mark of 23.57 (949 pts) to Gallagher’s 23.64 (940 pts)

Men’s 50 Breaststroke – Prelims

• World Record: 25.95 – Adam Peaty (GBR), 2017
• Commonwealth Record: 25.95 – Adam Peaty (GBR), 2017
• Australian Record: 26.32 – Samuel Williamson (AUS), 2024
• All-Comers Record: 26.58 – Cameron van der Burgh (RSA), 2018
• SwimAustralia Qualifying Time: 26.93

Top 8:

Women’s Multi Class 200 Individual Medley – Prelims

Three swimmers eclipsed the 700-point barrier this morning, with Steph Bruzzese and her 2:33.06 leading the way. The SM14 athlete earned 739 points thanks to her swim and currently sits less than a second off her entry time of 2:32.27. Behind her, but by less than 25 points, were Lake Patterson and Jasmine Fullgrabe, who were locked in battle in the closing meters, with Patterson charging home to earn the 2nd-most points this morning, collecting 716 points thanks to her time of 2:42.29.

Men’s 800 Freestyle – Time Final (Early Heats)

• World Record: 7:32.12 – Zhang Lin (CHN), 2009
• Commonwealth Record: 7:37.76 – Samuel Short (AUS), 2023
• Australian Record: 7:37.76 – Samuel Short (Rackley), 2023
• All-Comers Record: 7:40.39 – Samuel Short (Rackley), 2023
• SwimAustralia Qualifying Time: 7:46.36

Top 8:

1. Kim Woomin (V.) (KOR) – 7:53.42
2. Tomo Shadforth (MIAMI) – 8:02.68
3. Kyle Lee (NCT) – 8:04.56
4. Alessio Macri (NCT) – 8:10.88
5. Harry Hay (MVC) – 8:13.41
6. Cameron Ricchini (MIAMI) – 8:16.07
7. Brayden Woodford (ENGA) – 8:17.11
8. James Smith (DAR) – 8:17.43
9. Braden Fyneman (UWSC) – 8:18.20

Despite entering as the 4th seed, Korea’s Kim Woomin was relegated to the preliminary heats of the men’s 800, as visiting athletes are prevented from swimming in the A-final, despite the event being a timed final.

Kim quickly established himself as the front-runner, opening his race up in 1:54.38, the lone swimmer under 1:58, and the Korean never looked back as he continued to hold 29 highs and 30 lows throughout the remainder of the race, eventually hitting the at 7:53.42, seven seconds off his season best of 7:46.41 from March’s Korean Nationals.

Tomo Shadforth put forth a very strong effort to take second in the heats and his new apparent personal best of 8:02.68 currently stands as the time to beat.