Australian Women Crush World Record in 400 Free Relay

On the first day of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, the Australian women have broken the World Record in the 400 free relay.

The team of Bronte CampbellMel SchlangerEmma McKeon, and Cate Campbell combined for a 3:30.98, which broke the old World Record of 3:31.72 swum by the Netherlands at the 2009 World Championships.

The Australian coaches made a gutsy call, pulling out three of the four prelims swimmers including Alicia Coutts, but it was the right call based on the results. The final splits:

  • Bronte Campbell – 53.15
  • Mel Schlanger – 52.76
  • Emma McKeon – 52.91
  • Cate Campbell – 52.16

Mel Schlanger, back from injury, was brilliant just as she was in prelims. Bronte Campbell’s lead-off split was itself a new Commonwealth Games Record in the individual 100 free; and Emma McKeon, on her third race of the session, went under 53 as well. They just missed becoming the first relay to ever have all four swimmers under 53 seconds, and Cate Campbell on the anchor may have even left some in the water, but was still more than fast enough for the record.

The comparative splits from the old record:

  • Inge Dekker – 53.61
  • Ranomi Kromowidjojo – 52.30
  • Femke Heemskerk – 53.03
  • Marleen Veldhuis – 52.78

This also broke the old Australian, Oceanic, and Commonwealth Games record of 3:32.43 done by Cate Campbell, Bronte Campbell, Emma McKeon, and Alicia Coutts at Worlds last year. That’s an interesting comparison as it was done by 75% of the same group just one year ago.

  • Cate Campbell – 52.33
  • Bronte Campbell – 53.47
  • Emma McKeon – 53.19
  • Alicia Coutts – 53.44

This relay was almost as fast as the Australian National Record in short course meters, which is just .06 faster.

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Liquidassets
9 years ago

Congrats to the Ozzie women studs, the time is amazing, especially for McKeon on her 3rd swim of the day coming back from injury and the 200 supposedly her better event. They are so dominant; the US women went 3:32 last year and will be hard-pressed to better that this summer even if Coughlin can make the team and pull another 52.9 out of her hat. They say that NCAAs are skewed toward sprinters but relatively few if the 47+ scy sprinters there have been able to successfully transition to even the 53+ range in LCM, let alone 52s.

O_O
Reply to  Liquidassets
9 years ago

To be fair 47 doesn’t convert to 52 using a conversion tool or just using a little logic. Going 52 is like going 45 high 46 low.

liquidassets
Reply to  O_O
9 years ago

I agree, to clarify, what I meant was that the 47+ women should all theoretically be swimming 53+ and many are not even doing that, while the Ozzie women are all at least 53 consistently flatstart and almost all 52+ on relay now except the younger Campbell. The US women aren’t close to that and I doubt they will be this summer even after tapers. Though I’d love them to prove me wrong.

In general I feel that the SCY training advantages/disadvantages ratio is still overall a bit advantageous for the NCAA/HS swimmers, except I’m not sure about that for the sprints; especially given the NCAA emphasis on sprint events; the US has fallen behind and I’m not sure… Read more »

Reply to  liquidassets
9 years ago

I think would be great if NCAA swimming used 25meter pools(instead yards).The transition to LCM would be smaller.

PP
Reply to  DDias
9 years ago

There’s such a huge difference between LCMs and SCYs our Aussie swimmers mainly race in LCMS hence the better sprinters. Instead of spending so much time underwater they’re actually swimming!

john26
9 years ago

A perfect race would’ve brought this team under 3:30. I would suspect that we’ll see this sooner rather than later. It’s amazing how fast this team has grown up. They were 3:33 for gold two years ago. And now we’re talking about being 4 seconds faster by Rio. Amazing.

The third women’s relay record will most likely go down at pan pacs, and you’ve gotta wonder whether a single male WR will even go down at all this year (again). The only vulnerable suspects are the breaststroke records.

Rafael
Reply to  john26
9 years ago

Sun Yang (if focused) can probably take down the 400 free on Asian Games.. is the one closest to being broken.

aswimfan
Reply to  john26
9 years ago

John, I agree with you regarding the Australian girls going faster in ideal race.
Schlanger was 0.3 seconds faster in the prelims, mcKeon already had four swims in the day, and I still think Cate is better in the lead off and Bronte or Schlanger in the anchor as Cate takes less advantage of the flying start.

mcgillrocks
9 years ago

Cate was 52.09 last year, and of course 52.3 flat start. I’d say if everything aligns then she could split 51.6 before 2017.

Pvdh
9 years ago

HOLY! Campbell sisters are unbeatable.

bobo gigi
Reply to  Pvdh
9 years ago

A Swedish swimmer disagrees with you.

Swam
9 years ago

4 LCM WR’s so far this year. All on the women’s side. Last year it was 5…and most of the championship meets haven’t started yet! Women’s swimming is at one of its all-time highs right now across the board.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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