Aussie Trials Day 2: King Kyle Strikes Again, While Titmus Slays

2018 AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING TRIALS

Day 1 Prelims Recap/Day 1 Finals Recap

Day 2 Prelims Recap

MEN’S 400 FREE (FINAL)

  • Australian National Record – 3:40.08, Ian Thorpe, 2002
  • ‘A’ Cut – 3:46.14
  • ‘B’ Cut – 3:48.15
  • GOLD – MACK HORTON, 3:45.51
  • SILVER – JACK MCLOUGHLIN, 3:45.80
  • BRONZE – DAVID MCKEON, 3:47.39

Olympic gold medalist in this event, Mack Horton, capitalized on his 2nd seeded prelims swim to take the national title tonight in 3:45.41. Battling with Chandler’s Jack McLoughlin, Horton came out on top by less than half a second, closing in 27.21 to secure the win. Horton’s winning time from Rio, fully tapered, was 3:41.55, so the 21-year-old has proven he is most likely the one to beat come April.

Post-race, Horton reportedly talked about how his 200m freestyle race from last night may have impacted his time in the 400m today, so he is considering dropping the 200m freestyle as an individual event at the Commonwealth Games.

McLoughlin missed out on the 200m freestyle final on night 1 and had to make the most of this race to claim a spot on the roster. His silver medal-winning 3:45.80 effort also dips under the 3:46.14 Australian Swimming-dictated qualifying standard, giving the Chandler swimmer an opportunity to represent his nation at a home turn Games.

Both Horton and McLoughlin sit only behind Horton’s Olympic nemesis Sun Yang of China in the world rankings.

2017-2018 LCM MEN 400 FREE

SunCHN
YANG
09/01
3.41.94
2Mack
HORTON
AUS3.43.7604/05
3Jack
McLOUGHLIN
AUS3.44.2008/11
4Mykhaylo
ROMANCHUK
UKR3.45.1808/03
5James
GUY
GBR3.45.3204/05
View Top 26»

Finishing 3rd tonight was 25-year-old veteran David McKeon, who slid from his first seed from this morning. He dropped almost 2 seconds between is 3:49.42 AM effort and his 3:47.39 time from tonight, but was a clear 3rd place swimmer between the 2 battling 3:45 athletes.

Of note, 17-year-old Bond swimmer Elijah Winnigton captured a very respectable 4th place finish, clocking 3:50.00. That checks-in as Winnington’s personal best and puts him right on the cusp of breaking 3:50 for the first time.

WOMEN’S 100 BREAST (FINAL)

  • Australian National Record – 1:05.09, Leisel Jones, 2006
  • ‘A’ Cut – 1:06.81
  • ‘B’ Cut – 1:07.58
  • GOLD – GEORGIA BOHL, 1:07.22
  • SILVER – LEISTON PICKETT, 1:07.56
  • BRONZE – JESSICA HANSEN, 1:07.64

The top 3 finishers all scored times under the 1:08 threshold in the women’s 100m breaststroke, but none was able to approach the 1:06.81 A qualifying standard for an automatic Commonwealth Games roster slot.

Leading the way tonight was 20-year-old Georgia Bohl, the Griffith University swimmer who had a rough 2017 battling injuries. Tonight she managed to clock her fastest effort since March 2017, touching in 1:07.22 for gold. That time would have won Bohl silver at the 2014 edition of the Commonwealth Games, a competition in which tonight’s silver medalist, Leiston Pickett, finished in 5th.

Pickett was looking for a consecutive Australian national title in this event, but fell just .34 short, earning a mark of 1:07.56. Right behind her was Nunawading’s Jessica Hansen, rounding out the top 3 in 1:07.64.

The 200m breaststroke winner found herself off the podium, as Taylor McKeown stopped the clock at 1:08.20 in her secondary event.

The top 3 women tonight are represented among the top 5 performers in the world so far this season, with Hansen’s 1:07.02 from the Victoria Open topping the trio.

2017-2018 LCM WOMEN 100 BREAST

YuliyaRUS
EFIMOVA
06/29
1.04.98
2Lilly
King
USA1:05.3607/28
3Molly
HANNIS
USA1.05.7807/28
4reona
AOKI
JPN1.05.9004/05
5Katie
MEILI
USA1.06.1907/28
View Top 26»

WOMEN’S 50 FLY (FINAL)

  • Australian National Record – Cate Campbell, 25.47, 2018
  • ‘A’ Cut – 25.73
  • ‘B’ Cut – 26.49
  • GOLD – CATE CAMPBELL, 25.51
  • SILVER – HOLLY BARRATT, 25.94
  • BRONZE – 26.35

After a thrilling morning swim that established a new national record in 25.47, multi-Olympic medalist Cate Campbell cooled the jets just a tad to finish with the 50m butterfly title in 25.51. That still comfortably clears the A cut and further give C1 fuel to give this event a solid shot in April.

30-year-old World Championships athlete Holly Barratt was also under the 26-second threshold, stopping the clock at 25.94, while Maddie Groves touched in 26.35 to claim the bronze.

Bronze medalist from the 2014 edition of the Commonwealth Games, Brittany Elmslie, found herself off the podium, winding up 5th with a time of 26.73.

MEN’S 50 FLY (FINAL)

  • Australian National Record – 22.73, Matt Targett, 2009
  • ‘A’ Cut – 23.31
  • ‘B’ Cut – 23.67
  • GOLD – CAMERON JONES, 23.74
  • SILVER – WILLIAM YANG, 23.86
  • BRONZE – DAVID MORGAN, 23.94

The men’s 50m butterfly saw Cameron Jones snag the victory, earning a time of 23.74, just .04 quicker than his AM swim. Behind him was 19-year-old William Yang of Knox Pymble. Yang bumped up his standing from 3rd after prelims to 2nd place, touching in 23.86.

Also claiming a mark under the 24-second threshold was David Morgan, the butterfly maestro who competes at all 3 distances of the stroke. Morgan delved into 23-point territory for just the 2nd time of his career, earning a final time of 23.94 for the bronze.

MEN’S 100 BREAST (FINAL)

  • Australian National Record – 58.58, Brenton Rickard, 2009
  • ‘A’ Cut – 59.24
  • ‘B’ Cut – 1:00.35
  • GOLD – JAKE PACKARD, 59.74
  • SILVER – MATTHEW WILSON, 1:00.10
  • BRONZE – LIAM HUNTER, 1:00.25

After firing off a top-5 career fastest mark of 59.57 to claim the #1 seed, Spartan swimmer Jake Packard remained as the only sub-minute swimmer tonight in a slightly slower time of 59.74. Australia came up medal-less in this event at the 2014 edition of the Commonwealth Games and would love to get a horse in the race against England’s Adam Peaty on their home turf come April.

Packard’s 59-pointer from this morning ranks as the 2nd fastest in the world this season, tied with China’s Qin Haiyang. Even with the Commonwealth Games 5 weeks out and the final still yet to contest tonight, it’s got to make Packard feel good to see his name ranked above the so-far untouchable Adam Peaty.

2017-2018 LCM MEN 100 BREAST

AdamGBR
PEATY
08/04
57.10*WR
2James
WILBY
GBR58.6408/04
3Yasuhiro
KOSEKI
JPN58.8608/22
4Anton
CHUKOV
RUS58.9608/04
5Zibei
YAN
CHN58.9709/01
View Top 26»

Matt Wilson improved on his 1:00.20 morning effort to take silver in 1:00.10 to add another medal to his 200m breaststroke gold from night 1, with Liam Hunter rounding out the top 3 in 1:00.25. That’s quicker than his 1:00.39, a mark which represented the first time the Chandler swimmer moved into 1:00-ground.

WOMEN’S 100 FREE (FINAL)

  • Australian National Record – 52.06, Cate Campbell, 2016
  • ‘A’ Cut – 53.20
  • ‘B’ Cut – 54.90
  • GOLD – CATE CAMPBELL, 52.37
  • SILVER – BRONTE CAMPBELL, 52.96
  • BRONZE – EMMA MCKEON, 53.49

Making yet another world-class 100m freestyle look easy was speed maestro Cate Campbell, taking the women’s race decisively in a time of 52.37. That matches her time produced at the NSW Championships and ranks her as #1 in the world, while also giving the Chandler swimmer her 5th LCM national title in this event. Additionally, tonight marks at least the 20th time the 25-year-old has clocked a 52-point effort, a landmark threshold she makes look routine.

Having taken time off after Rio and opted out of the 2017 World Championships, C1 says she is ‘at peace’ with swimming in both mind and body. That spirit is rubbing off on her sister, Bronte Campbell, as the 2015 double world champion also dipped under 53 seconds to notch a silver medal effort of 52.96. That’s Bronte’s first sub-53 second 100 freestyle since back in 2016, an indication that her broken-down body is indeed holding on until she can take her scheduled post-Commonwealth Games break.

Following up on her 2 silver medals from night 1 was Emma McKeon, claiming bronze in the race in a solid 53.49. The surprise came in 4th place finisher Brianna Throssell, however, as the 200m butterfly specialist notched a huge PB to wind up on the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay.

Entering this meet Throssell’s 100m free personal best sat at 54.78, which she neared with her 54.80 morning outing. After missing out on the 200m fly roster spot last night, Throssell is most likely looking for any opportunity to put herself on the Aussie roster for the Games and she most likely achieved that in this race.

Also producing relay-worthy swims were 5th place Shayna Jack, who touched in 54.20 for 5th, while Brittany ElmslieEmily Seebohm and Madi Wilson finished in that order with respective times of 54.43, 54.69 and 54.97.

WOMEN’S 400 FREE (FINAL)

  • Australian National Record – 4:02.86, Ariarne Titmus, 2017
  • ‘A’ Cut – 4:06.48
  • ‘B’ Cut – 4:10.57
  • GOLD – ARIARNE TITMUS, 4:02.36
  • SILVER – JESS ASHWOOD, 4:07.73
  • BRONZE – MIKKAYLA SHERIDAN, 4:10.85

17-year-old Ariarne Titmus already put on a show night 1 of these Australian Championships, winning the women’s 200m freestyle in a wicked-fast 1:55.76 and the Tasmanian teen was back it on night 2. Competing in the 400m freestyle, the event in which she finaled in Budapest, Titmus scorched a new personal best mark of 4:02.36 to establish a new Australian national record.

Entering tonight’s race, Titmus’ fastest was the 4:02.86 clocked at the Queensland Championships, a mark that surpassed the previous NR of 4:03.34 held by Jess Ashwood since 2015. Titmus’ 4:02.36 result this evening gives the teen her 2nd national title in as many days, as well as provides a 2nd Commonwealth Games qualifying cut.

Ashwood comfortably cleared the B standard, touching in 4:07.73 for 2nd, while Mikkayla Sheridan also landed on the podium with a bronze-worthy effort of 4:10.85.

MEN’S 100 FREE (FINAL)

  • Australian National Record – 47.04, Cameron McEvoy, 2016
  • ‘A’ Cut – 48.31
  • ‘B’ Cut – 48.93
  • GOLD – KYLE CHALMERS, 48.16
  • SILVER – JACK CARTWRIGHT, 48.60
  • BRONZE – CAMERON MCEVOY, 48.62

The 2 men on the bottom of the prelim order, Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers and fellow 19-year-old Jack Cartwright, rocketed to the top of the men’s 100m freestyle race to snag gold and silver when all was done and dusted.

Both men made it into the final by the skin of their teeth, tying for the final slot in matching morning times of 49.17. Tonight, however, the teens threw the speed down in a big way, with Chalmers dropping over a second to win in 48.16, while Cartwright was right behind in 48.60.

Finishing 3rd was Bond’s Cameron McEvoy, who was on a little road to redemption after finishing last in the final of the men’s 200m freestyle. McEvoy, who remains as the fastest 100m freestyler ever in a textile suit with his 2016 effort of 47.04, touched in a modest 48.62 to stake a claim to a relay spot.

Unfortunately for James Magnussen fans, the 26-year-old former 2-time world champion will not get a chance to defend his 2014 Commonwealth Games title in this event. The comeback kid indeed finished in the top 4, but manged just 48.79 to fall shy of a top 3 finish needed to qualify individually in the event.

For Chalmers, he has voiced concern over being seeing as a ‘one-hit wonder’ after claiming gold in Rio. His national title tonight, on top of his 200m freestyle title from night 1, leaves no doubt the kid is the real deal.

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Verram
6 years ago

Also will there be another Nationals/Trials later this year for the Pan Pacd?

The commentators have been big to call how many national titles certain swimmers have won but I wonder whether this officially counts as a national title or will there be another Trials later this year

KEVIN
Reply to  Verram
6 years ago

Its called 2018 Pan Pacific Championship Trials July 1 to 4 so no not National

Torchbearer
6 years ago

Nice new pic of Kyle there too…

KEVIN
6 years ago

The Australian team can have a maximum of 50 able body swimmers. Leaving plenty of scope for the selectors to pick swimmers with non A qualifying times . Given the games are in Australia the selectors will be keen to have representatives in all events. Therefore a B time will be enough for some swimmers to get picked.

Robbos
Reply to  KEVIN
6 years ago

This is for Comm games, good for swimmers to get some int’l experience especially at home.
The Aussies trying a new format, having the trials closer to games. After being spanked by the US at the last Olympics, the Aussies are not busting out fast times at trials as much & then come int’l event swim a whole darn slower, whereas the US swimmers are opposite, they swim faster then their trial times generally.

KEVIN
Reply to  Robbos
6 years ago

Yes the trials approx 5 weeks before the games Robbo about time they mirror the USA . Pan Pac trials 7 weeks before whereby in the past we have always trialled 3 months before . It will be very interesting to see the times the Aussies do at the Comm games compared to the trials .I am hoping many will go faster at the games the swimmers are talking about 10 days hard training after the trials then taper again .

Robbos
Reply to  KEVIN
6 years ago

Yes, it will be interesting to see how we go. At Rio, the Aussies went in as No 1 in the world after trials swim in quite a few events & not 1 of them came home with the bacon, our only gold medalists were the women’s free relay & both Chalmers & Horton were outsiders. While the US, surpassed their no 1 standings at the Olympics.

Joel
Reply to  KEVIN
6 years ago

Interesting to see how the mid distance swimmers can possibly taper again in such a short time period. Is that why the Anericans do so well at sprints but not mid distance ? ( except Ledecky )

Sum Ting Wong
Reply to  Robbos
6 years ago

I think we are not used to outdoor pools having major meets anymore & times are slownow & will be slow at CGs too .

Verram
6 years ago

A bit concerned about the amount of swims being slower in finals than their heats swims ..

Oceanian
Reply to  Verram
6 years ago

I’m thinking this is mainly due to not being fully rested/tapered, but it will be interesting to see how the Aussies do in a month’s time coming off this unfamiliar lead-in to (what we still consider) a major.

JJFlash
Reply to  Verram
6 years ago

There’s a few issues with the venue.

No shade for spectators or swimmers, apart from a couple of tents for the special chosen few.
Saw quite a few swimmers looking like cooked lobsters.

A number of spectators required medical treatment due to sitting out in the hot sun for many hours.
The venue also ran out of drinks for spectators and swimmers yesterday. BYO essential.

That for sure would sap the strength of a few competitors from heats to finals.

It’s drummed into people in Queensland to be sun smart, but then we end up with a venue that is basically a big frying pan to cook everyone.

Yozhik
6 years ago

It is a usual situation that after trying to keep steady pace in 400 race a swimmer swims fast last fifty releasing whatever left in the tank. But do it by almost by 1.5 sec faster as Titmus did looks surprising.
Does it mean that her pace in the middle of the distance could’ve been faster?

BGSWIM
Reply to  Yozhik
6 years ago

Judging by the coaches reports later that night, she turned off the gas between 250-300 as she was a clear two body lengths ahead much to her coaches dismay as she was on par with a sub 4 swim. She got sight of him in the last 100 to pick it up and that is why she went low 31 for the last lap.

Yozhik
Reply to  BGSWIM
6 years ago

Last 100 [31.66 – 30.31]

Fair Play
6 years ago

Not to mention a new S8 World Record for Lakeisha Patterson who swam up a class in the S9 Parasport 100fs event and who nearly outswam Aussie S9 Paralympic Champion Ellie Cole. How ridiculous is Patterson’s intentional misrepresentation of a disability going to get before the IPC investigate. I suppose they could wait until she’s won the S9 event at Commonwealth Games or breaks a World Record in the S9 classification…….Patterson is making a mockery of the IPC classification system……she started off her career with a national classification of S10 then went to S9, then internationally classified as a S7 appealed and then a S7 again, then to a S8 and now she’s swimming times equivalent to the greats of… Read more »

LMA
Reply to  Fair Play
6 years ago

Lakeisha Patterson is guilty of Intentional Misrepresentation, she most certainly is not S7, S8, S9 nor S10 – she is guilty of FRAUD. Patterson is protected only because of the likes of John Bertram and his personal and business association with Ms Gina Rinehart and others at the pointy end in business & sport. Sport, not just for the disabled, has completely lost its way, it isn’t only Mark Anderson who needed to move on out! Shame this fraudulent ‘World Record’ has dimmed some incredible performances – Titmus, Cartwright etc., not to mention upstaging and humiliating the field of genuine S9 competitors. Bertrands time is up IMO, time to sail off into the sunset!!

Disheartened
Reply to  Fair Play
6 years ago

Why on earth would she be S10?
NE / IM is the only satisfactory outcome.

Matterson
6 years ago

Sure hope McEvoy isn’t fully rested…pretty tough competition for him so far!

marklewis
6 years ago

In the 100 free, Cate’s splits were 25.40 and 26.97 for 52.37.

Looks like she held back a little in the first 50.

About Retta Race

Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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