Swimming news:
2014 Australian Nationals – Men’s 100 Freestyle – FINALS – Reported by Braden Keith
Fast forward to the second event of the night, and 19-year old Cameron McEvoy turned effectively dead-even with James Magnussen 22.75-22.76. While normally, that’s a perfect position for Magnussen to be in, and he’s generally a much better closer than McEvoy.
On this day, however, Magnussen didn’t have his typical closing speed, and McEvoy’s was better than we’ve seen in the past, and the result was the teenager toppling the World Champion 47.65-47.92.
That swim for McEvoy moves him into 4th on Australia’s all-time list – he sits behind just a suited Eamon Sullivan; Magnussen c. 2011, and James Roberts, who didn’t even qualify for this final. Magnussen’s still the world-leader this year with a swim from January, but unlike past Australian relays that have fallen apart at the ‘big meet,’ this one feels like it might hold together a bit better.
2014 LCM MEN 100 FREE TYR WORLD RANKING
MAGNUSSEN
47.59
| 2 | CAMERON MCEVOY |
AUS | 47.65 | 04/03 |
| 3 | NATHAN ADRIAN |
USA | 48.26 | 01/17 |
| 4 | ZETAO NING |
CHN | 48.41 | 01/31 |
| 5 | TAE HWAN PARK |
KOR | 48.42 | 02/28 |
| 6 | TOMMASO D’ORSOGNA |
AUS | 48.72 | 04/04 |
| 7 | DANILA IZOTOV |
RUS | 48.83 | 03/25 |
| 8 | FLORENT MANAUDOU |
FRA | 48.79 | 03/23 |
| 9 | NIKITA LOBINSTEV |
RUS | 48.82 | 02/23 |
| 10 | KENNETH TO |
AUS | 49.03 | 04/03 |
Tommaso D’Orsogna took 3rd in the race in 48.72, and Kenneth To rounded out the top 4 in 49.23. Those four, plus Roberts and Luke Percy (who tied for 10th in the semi-finals 49.92), are all very young, but so too is Alexander Graham – the 5th place finisher in 49.30. Graham is a bit of ‘new blood’ in this group, having been very good in the Age Group circuit the last few years, and we might see him overtake a relay spot by Worlds in 2015, at least.
The Australian men still haven’t figured this group out for a big relay swim yet, but they’re young enough that they’ve got plenty of time to work on it.
The australian 400 free relay just got THAT much stronger…
I assumed those were for cameras
Overhead cameras
Men’s 100 free final
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N0JEYIB7W8
What are thye lamp post things behind the blocks? You see them in a lot of major meets but I never understood what they were used for.
This guy could be a 47.4 100m freestyler and a possible a sub 1:44 200 freestyler before it is all said and done
Let’s take things slowly.
As much as I am a fan, I never really thought he would become an individual medal contender in Rio, but my view changed in the past three days and now suddenly I think he can be in the conversation for medal prediction for both 100 and 200 in Rio.
However, I am still concerned he is going to hit the plateau sooner than the big guys like Manaudou or even Magnussen (yes, I still believe Magnussen can still improve).
I am already very surprised that he is already this fast.
I am hoping he is swimming next to Morozov in Kapan or Rio and use him as the rabbit again, just like in Barcelona.
For me personally this is all very nice since I’ve been following mcEvoy since his junior days even before he won junior worlds.
I also used to read his blog, because he is studying a subject which I have keen interest in: theoretical physics. In high school, mcEvoy was known to have photographic memory.
What’s amazing about mcEvoy is that his improvement rate is so steady and constant every year!
I was honestly very concerned that he’d hit the ceiling very soon due to his smallish stature – for an elite male sprinter. Now I have a glimmer of hope that he keeps on improving until 2016.
I agree. Back in 2008 I raced against him at age nationals, leading off in a relay, we were both 13. But at 12 he was winning national age medals and my coach at the time had said he would be a superstar one day
McEvoy is amazing…we are seeing a new generation of guys not so big(around 6-1) and crazy fast with him and Morozov.
Does Magnussen’s facial hair grow at an alarming rate? Dude’s always stubbly.