2026 Australian Open: McKeown Eschews 50 Back For 200 IM In Day 3 Prelims

2026 AUSTRALIAN OPEN

• Monday, April 6th – Wednesday, April 8th
• Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, Southport, Queensland, Australia
• Prelims M 9am local (7pm ET previous night)/Finals at 6pm local (4am ET)
• LCM (50m)
• SwimSwam Preview #1
• SwimSwam Preview #2
• Meet Central
• Start List
• Day 1 Recap | Day 2 Prelims Recap
• Live Results
• Livestream (Aussie only or use VPN)

Kaylee McKeown went with the 200 IM over the 50 back this morning, taking 2nd behind Jenna Forrester in a time of 2:14.61. The USC Spartans swimmer owns a personal best of 2:06.63, set at the 2024 Australian Trials, but was relatively relaxed on her swim this morning which included a 34.81 backstroke split. Forrester took lane 4 for tonight’s final with a swim of 2:14.48, with 2025 World semi-finalist Tara Kinder in 6th in 2:16.53.

With no McKeown in the field, it was left to 100 fly world bronze medalist Alexandria Perkins to claim top spot in the women’s 50 back, with McKeown’s USC Spartans teammate notching 27.89 as the only woman under 28 seconds. That is a quarter of a second off her best time of 27.65, while a pair of New Zealand swimmers will flank her tonight as Savannah Martin (28.04) and Amber George (28.21) were the next fastest this morning.

Matt Temple was the fastest qualifier in the men’s 100 fly in 52.24, two seconds off his best of 50.25. Harrison Turner was 52.40 for 2nd, while Ben Armbruster will be on the other side of Temple tonight after clocking 52.64. Isaac Cooper swam 53.45 for 6th in this race.

Sam Williamson was 2nd in the 50 breast heats in 27.49, a quarter second behind last night’s 100 breast champion Gideon Burnes‘ 27.24. The women’s event saw two women under 31 second with Mia O’Leary clocking 30.76 to Sienna Toohey‘s 30.82.

William Petric and Lewis Clareburt will be in the middle lanes in the men’s 400 IM tonight, reprising their battle in the 200 IM yesterday. Clareburt took the win then in 1:58.42 to Petric’s 1:59.22, with both swimmers on the back end of a double with the 200 free where Clareburt set a huge new New Zealand record of 1:45.57.

No one got under 2:00 in the men’s 200 back, with Stuart Swinburn the fastest qualifier in 2:00.50. Josh Edwards-Smith, the fastest entry, made it through in 5th in 2:02.89 but was six seconds off his entry time of 1:56.28. The silver medalist in the 100 last night, Enoch Robb, was 2nd in 2:01.80.

The men’s 50 free saw a no show from Kyle Chalmers after his 50 fly Australian All-Comers record of 22.77 last night, with Jamie Jack taking top spot in 22.19. The St Peters Western swimmer owns a best of 21.43 from earlier in the season, and will look to stamp his authority on the event tonight to position himself favorably for an international team spot at Trials. Isaac Cooper (22.54, 6th) and Flynn Southam (22.63, 7th) made it through to the final as well.

The top three seeds in the women’s 200 free were separated by just 0.20 seconds, with Mollie O’Callaghan taking top spot in 1:58.23. Erika Fairweather (1:58.29) and Lani Pallister (1:58.43) will flank her tonight in what looks like the race of the day, while Maria Costa (1:58.80) and Milla Jansen (1:58.82) were also under 1:59 this morning.