2021 Australian Olympic Trials: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

SWIMMING AUSTRALIA OLYMPIC TRIALS

It’s the second day of competition in Adelaide as the Australians will be selecting their Olympic and Paralympic team for Tokyo. SwimSwam’s devoted Australian Trials channel has all the information on the meet that you need. Subscribers of Amazon Prime can watch the event live.

This morning’s session will feature prelims of the women’s 100 back, women’s and men’s 100 fly (MC), women’s 100 breast, men’s and women’s 50 free (MC), women’s 400 free, men’s 50 breast (MC), and men’s 200 free prelims.

The qualifying criteria for Tokyo is not quite as black and white as other countries, but swimmers will need to finish in the top two tonight while swimming under the Australian Olympic Qualifying Time (equal to 8th place at the 2019 World Championships) to earn an individual spot. For relay consideration, swimmers need to swim in the A-final of the respective event.

Women’s 100 Back – Prelims

  • World: 57.57 28/07/2019 Regan Smith, USA
  • Commonwealth: 57.63 16/05/2021 Kaylee McKeown, AUS
  • Australian: 57.63 15/05/2021 Kaylee McKeown, USC Spartans
  • All Comer: 57.63 15/05/2021 Kaylee McKeown, USC Spartans
  • OQT: 59.71
  • Meet Qualifying: 1:05.68

Top 8:

  1. Kaylee McKeown (USCS) -58.57
  2. Madison Wilson (MARI) – 59.58
  3. Emily Seebohm (GUSC) – 59.83
  4. Mollie O’Callaghan (STPTET) – 59.93
  5. Atherton (MBAY) – 1:00.06
  6. Job (RACK) – 1:00.81
  7. Unicomb (GUSC) – 1:01.15
  8. Webb (GIND) – 1:01.37

Unsurprisingly, Kaylee McKeown put up the fastest time of the morning, winning the first heat of the day with a 58.57. McKeown has had a blistering 2021, having set the Commonwealth and Australian records in this event just last month with a 57.63.

Four other women were under 1:00 this morning. Madison Wilson was the only other competitor under the Australian Olympic Qualifying Time of 59.58, although swimmers need to hit that mark in finals in order to make the team. Emily Seebohm will be striving to make the Australian Olympic team for the 4th-straight time after qualifying 3rd this morning with a 59.83, and Mollie O’Callaghan also dipped under a minute with a 59.93.

Women’s 100 Fly MC – Prelims

Top 8 (Based on score):

  1. Paige Leonhardt (S14) – 901 – 1:05.92
  2. Taylor Corry (S10) – 830 – 1:07.75
  3. Jasmie Greenwood (S14) – 816 – 1:07.00
  4. Ruby Storm (S14) – 783 – 1:09.09
  5. Emily Beecroft (S9) – 692 – 1:10.65
  6. Victoria Jessamine (S14) – 677 – 1:12.51
  7. Tahlia Blanshard (S7) – 665 – 1:25.60
  8. Amy Cook (S14) – 629 – 1:14.33

2016 Paralympian Paige Leonhardt had the fastest time, and the highest score, of the morning, with a 1:05.92, almost three-tenths faster than her seed time.

Men’s 100 Fly MC – Prelims

Top 8 (Based on score):

  1. William Martin (S9) – 1063 – 57.72
  2. Timothy Hodge (S9) – 911 – 1:00.76
  3. Alex Saffy (S9)- 894 – 1:01.16
  4. Benjamin Hance (S14) – 844 – 57.63
  5. Hugh Gillham (S10) – 799 – 58.96
  6. Brenden Hall (S9) – 794 – 1:03.62
  7. Harrison Vig (S9) – 788 – 1:03.78
  8. Liam Schluter (S14) – 775 – 59.28

Like Leonhardt, William Martin had the fastest time (57.72) and the highest score (1063) of anyone in this event today. Not only that, but the commentators suggested that he may have broken the S9 world record, and according to the World Para Swimming website, it does appear that he broke his own words record, which he previously set at 58.28 in April.

Women’s 100 Breast – Prelims

  • World: 1:04.13 25/07/2017 Lily King, USA
  • Commonwealth: 1:05.09 20/03/2006 Leisel Jones, AUS
  • Australian: 1:05.09 20/03/2006 Leisel Jones, Commercial
  • All Comer: 1:05.09 20/03/2006 Leisel Jones, Commercial
  • OQT: 1:06.97
  • Meet Qualifying: 1:14.34

Top 8:

  1. Chelsea Hodges (STHP) – 1:06.17
  2. Jenna Strauch (BOND) – 1:06.37
  3. Jessica Hansen (CRUI) – 1:06.96
  4. Georgia Bohl (GUSC) / Abbey Harkin (STPE)- 1:07.04
  5. (tie)
  6. Tessa Wallace (USCS) – 1:07.50
  7. Leiston Pickett (MARI) – 1:08.10
  8. Zoe Deacon (NUN) – 1:08.34

Top-seeded Chelsea Hodges put up the fastest time of the morning out of the first heat, touching in 1:06.17, nearly six-tenths faster than her seed time of 1:06.76. While perhaps not quite as strong as the 100 back, this is shaping up to be another event where the Australian women should get two individual qualifiers after what could be a very tight race this evening. Both Jenna Strauch (1:06.37) and Jessica Hansen (1:06.96) were under the Australian OQT of 1:06.96, while Georgia Bohl and Abbey Harkin are not far off of it, both touching in 1:07.04.

Men’s 50 Free MC – Prelims

Top 8 (Based on score):

  1. Rowan Crothers – 905 – 23.94
  2. Jacob Templeton – 851 – 24.48
  3. Matthew Levy – 823 – 28.87
  4. Tom Gallagher – 814 – 24.80
  5. William Martin – 812 – 25.73
  6. Timothy Disken – 808 – 25.77
  7. Oscar Stubbs – 787 – 25.13
  8. Hugh Gillham – 745 – 25.55

Men’s 100 Back – Prelims

  • World: 51.85 13/08/2016 Ryan Murphy, USA
  • Commonwealth: 52.11 6/11/2015 Mitch Larkin, AUS
  • Australian: 52.11 6/11/2015 Mitch Larkin, SPW
  • All Comer: 52.38 10/06/2019 Mitch Larkin, SPW
  • OQT: 53.40
  • Meet Qualifying: 58.74

Top 8:

  1. Mitch Larkin (STPE) – 53.04
  2. Isaac Cooper (RACK) – 53.79
  3. Bradley Woodward (MING) – 54.47
  4. Tristan Hollard (STHP) – 54.56
  5. Kai Van Kool (GUSC) – 54.68
  6. William Yang (LNSC) – 54.75
  7. Ty Hartwell (CHAN) – 55.00
  8. Travis Mahoney (MARI) – 55.03

In the first heat, Mitch Larkin rocketed out and never slowed down, taking his heat by the better part of a second, touching in 53.04. Isaac Cooper knocked nearly three quarters of a second of his time to take 2nd in the heat, and overall, with a 53.79. Those were the only two men under 54.47, and with the Australian OQT set at 53.40, the rest of the field will need some big drops from prelims to challenge for an individual Olympic berth.

Women’s 400 Free – Prelims

  • World: 3:56.46 12/08/2016 Katie Ledecky, USA
  • Commonwealth: 3:58.76 25/07/2019 Ariarne Titmus, AUS
  • Australian: 3:58.76 21/07/2019 Ariarne Titmus, SPW
  • All Comer: 3:58.37 23/08/2014 Katie Ledecky, USA
  • OQT: 4:07.10
  • Meet Qualifying: 4:26.87

Top 8 (Pending Slower Heats)

  1. Ariarne Titmus (STPE) – 4:04.91
  2. Leah Neale (CHAN) – 4:06.66
  3. Lani Pallister (GUSC) – 4:06.76
  4. Moesha Johnson (TSS) – 4:06.94
  5. Kiah Melverton (TSS) – 4:06.99
  6. Tasmin Cook (UWSC) – 4:07.35
  7. Madeline Gough (TSS) – 4:07.18
  8. Mikayla Messer (NCOL) – 4:08.30
  9. Dahlas Rogers (USCS) – 4:11.13

Yesterday, the Australian men surged in the 400 free. Today, the women took the first step toward a similar surge with four women going under the Australian OQT in prelims. Remember, that time is based on what it took to make the final at the 2019 World Championships, meaning that five women this morning were fast enough to have made that final in Gwanju.

Unsurprisingly, Ariarne Titmus led the way with a 4:04.91 in the first heat. She’s seeded with her Australian record time of 3:58.76, and watch for her to get closer to that mark tonight. Behind Titmus, Leah Neale (4:06.66), Lani Pallister (4:06.76), Moesha Johnson (4:06.94), and Kiah Melverton (4:06.99) were all under the OQT mark of 4:07.10. Additionally, Madeline Gough went from a 4:07.91 seed time to a 4:07.18 prelims swim, and Tasmin Cook was seeded with a 4:06.48, but had the 6th-fastest swim of the morning with a 4:07.35. The bottom line is that this is shaping up to be yet another great race tonight.

Women’s 50 Free MC – Prelims

Top 8 (based on score)

  1. Katja Dedekind – 915 – 27.47
  2. Kirralee Hayes – 864 – 28.00
  3. Keira Stephens – 859 – 28.79
  4. Rachael Watson – 843 – 40.09
  5. Natalie Shaw – 783 – 29.69
  6. Jenna Jones – 766 – 29.15
  7. Poppy Richards – 724 – 32.27
  8. Poppy Wilson – 697 – 30.87

Katja Dedekind shaved 0.05s off of her seed time to swim a 27.47, good for the highest point total of the morning.

Men’s 50 Breast MC – Prelims

  1. Ahemd Kelly (SB3) – 54.13
  2. Grant Patterson (SB2) – 1:00.35

All eyes were on the middle of the pool for this event, as Kelly and Patterson were the only two men entered here, and pushed each other for the entire length of the pool.

Men’s 200 Free – Prelims

  • World: 1:42.00 28/07/2009 Paul Biedermann, GER
  • Commonwealth: 1:44.06 25/07/2001 Ian Thorpe, AUS
  • Australian: 1:44.06 25/07/2001 Ian Thorpe, SLC Aquadot
  • All Comer: 1:43.86 27/03/2007 Michael Phelps, USA
  • OQT: 1:45.76
  • Meet Qualifying: 1:54.22

Top 8:

  1. Alexander Graham (BOND) – 1:45.22
  2. Elijah Winnington (STPE) – 1:46.44
  3. Kyle Chalmers (MARI) – 1:46.45
  4. Thomas Neil (RACK) – 1:46.56
  5. Jack McLoughlin (CHAND) – 1:46.84
  6. Clyde Lewis (BOND) – 1:47.10
  7. Matthew Temple (NUN) – 1:47.43
  8. Mack Horton (MVC) – 1:47.54

For the first time tonight, the swimmer whose named headed the psych sheet did not swim the fastest time of the morning. Instead, #2 seed Alexander Graham knocked 0.47s off of his seed time to win the first heat in 1:45.22, registering the fastest prelims time by well over a second. He was the only man under the Australian OQT of 1:45.76. Clyde Lewis was seeded with a 1:44.90, but swam the 6th-fastest time of the morning with a 1:47.10.

After a cracking swim yesterday in the 400 free, Elijah Winnington put up the 2nd-fastest time of the morning with a 1:46.44, followed closely by Kyle Chalmers (1:46.45), Thomas Neil (1:46.56) and Jack McLoughlin (1:46.84). Matthew Temple qualified 7th with a 1:47.43, while Mack Horton only squeaked into tonight’s final after Zac Incerti drew a DQ for moving on the blocks before the start.

2012 and 2016 Olympic Cam McEvoy finished 17th after going 1:49.26, almost two seconds slower than his seed time.

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Jdm
3 years ago

Where was Cartwright?

Eric the eel > Phelps
3 years ago

I’m about to say it :

  • WR for McKeown tonight
  • 1.44 low for Graham
  • and 3.57 for titmus
Torchbearer
Reply to  Eric the eel > Phelps
3 years ago

Well hope I do see it there tonight!…..But wouldn’t bet on it,

commonwombat
Reply to  Eric the eel > Phelps
3 years ago
  1. Quite plausible but no “done deal”.
  2. Suspect you’re being somewhat optimistic. If there’s going to be any sub 1.45, more likely to be higher side.
  3. Don’t think so. Would be pleasantly surprised if she even breaks 4.00
Joel
Reply to  commonwombat
3 years ago

You’ve lost your touch cw. 1 and 3 done

ooo
Reply to  Eric the eel > Phelps
3 years ago

2 out of 3. Not bad at all!

Eric the eel > Phelps
3 years ago

I think Mcevoy couldn’t handle pressure after 2016, he was a gold medal favorite in each of his races and was a let down at rio. He never bounced back from that

Last edited 3 years ago by Eric the eel > Phelps
Aquajosh
3 years ago

Mack Horton got touched by an angel to be able to get into that final. Sad for McEvoy though.

Gheko
3 years ago

Zac Incerti won his DQ appeal and is in the 200m final, along with Mack Horton.

Verram
Reply to  Gheko
3 years ago

Where did u find this news ? I’m glad he can swim finals

Joel
Reply to  Verram
3 years ago

Swimming Australia website has finals programme sheets for tonight

Oceanian
Reply to  Joel
3 years ago

Good – I’d like to see Zac swim again. May put some extra fire in his belly.

Oceanian
Reply to  Oceanian
3 years ago

Just noticed now that Zac has been reinstated in the results, he had the fastest last 50, ahead of Chalmers.

commonwombat
3 years ago

Thoughts

W100BK: McKeown 58.57 – business as usual. A 2nd qualifier is likely but I’m struggling to see another sub59 and if so, it would be marginal. Seebohm probably the most likely suspect but no lock. Atherton looks way off. Interesting to see Wilson return to swimming back but not seeing her anywhere her 2015 level. O’Callaghan not without a shot but think its maybe a year early.

W100BRS: Stellar heat times from Hodges and Strauch and these times are probably nearing the upper end of “realistic” expectations. Also pleasing to see Hansen back under 1.07. The one precautionary note is that Hodges has been swimming quick heat times in previous meets (Nats & Sydney) but has NOT replicated in… Read more »

Nick
Reply to  commonwombat
3 years ago

I think the issue with Cook was more the finals being in the morning and heats at night, not the issue of backing the swim up. Just that her heat swim was more her final swim if you get me

commonwombat
Reply to  Nick
3 years ago

Could be, however its a reality she’s going to need to face. Hodges was similar at both Nats and Sydney.

Drama King
3 years ago

Sneaky good times for Harkin and Wallace. Bodes well for their 200 breast.

Drama King
3 years ago

Decent swim by Clyde Lewis. Can he get back to his 1.44 high or 1.45 low times ?
He is really needed for 4*200 relay.

Troyy
Reply to  Drama King
3 years ago

He went the exact same time in the prelims at trials in 2019 placing #3 but placed #6 this time.

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