Four Women Finish Under 54 Seconds in 100 Free Prelims at Australian Championships

2023 AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • April 17 – 20, 2023
  • Marine Parade, Southport, Queensland
  • Gold Coast Aquatic Centre
  • Long Course Meters
  • Meet Central
  • Entry Sheets
  • Prelims at 10 a.m. AEST / 8 p.m. EST; finals at 6 p.m. AEST / 4 a.m. EST
  • Preview
  • Live results

Four women went sub-54 times in the 100 free prelims at the 2023 Australian Championships on Monday morning in Queensland.

World and Commonwealth Games champion Mollie O’Callaghan led the speedy quartet with a 53.52, just a few tenths ahead of Shayna Jack (53.72) and reigning Olympic champion Emma McKeon (53.81). Meg Harris also reached the wall under the 54-second mark with a 53.91. The stacked field didn’t stop after the top four as four-time Olympian Cate Campbell (54.17) and two-time Olympian Madi Wilson (54.19) weren’t far behind.

For O’Callaghan, it was her first time swimming the event this year since she skipped the 100 free at last month’s NSW State Open Championships. That meet saw Jack produce the second-fastest time in the world this season with a 53.12. O’Callaghan is tied for sixth in the world this season with Campbell, who also clocked a 53.52 at last month’s Brisbane Senior Metro Championships in her first meet since the Tokyo 2o21 Olympics. McKeon is also ranked inside the top 10 this season with a 53.55 from the NSW State Open Championships.

2022-2023 LCM Women 100 Free

2Sarah
Sjostrom
SWE52.2407/23
3Shayna
Jack
AUS52.2807/23
4Siobhan
Haughey
HGK52.4907/28
5Emma
McKeon
AUS52.5206/17
View Top 26»

The Australians’ prelims performance a reminder of their dominance in the women’s 4×100 free relay. They have won the event at every major international long course meet dating back to the 2017 World Championships, breaking a pair of world records along the way.

In other action from Monday’s prelims, 21-year-old Kaylee McKeown qualified second in the women’s 200 IM with a 2:13.91 behind 19-year-old Jenna Forrester. Zac Stubblety-Cook, who broke the men’s 200 breast world record at this meet last year, paced the 100 breast prelims with a 1:00.62 ahead of fellow 24-year-old Matthew Wilson.

Kyle Chalmers qualified second in the men’s 50 fly with a 23.64 behind 20-year-old Ben Armbruster (23.42). Cody Simpson snuck into the 10-person final in the last qualifying spot with a 24.34. In the men’s 400 free, 19-year-old Samuel Short (3:48.32) edged top-seeded 22-year-old Elijah Winnington by a second and a half. Jenna Strauch comes into tonight’s final as the top seed in the women’s 50 breast with a 31.66 while Ty Hartwell (1:59.22) and Bradley Woodward (1:59.40) were the only men under two minutes in the 200 back.

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Lap counter
1 year ago

Aussies sure love their freestyle!

torchbearer
1 year ago

Just an observation- this is an outdoor pool and it was really windy this morning….not sure if it will affect times.
At least 2 world records have been set in this pool in the recent past.

Sub13
Reply to  torchbearer
1 year ago

It’s quite windy still but didn’t seem to affect times this morning… at least in our strong events

ian
1 year ago

no country will get near McKeon, OÇallaghan, Jack and Campbell all would push for individual medal at worlds

Demarrit Steenbergen
Reply to  ian
1 year ago

The US can put up a relay threat is 3 52.5s and a 53.0. This doesn’t account for a potential Simone return to form. We shall see, but I think you are right.

Sub13
Reply to  Demarrit Steenbergen
1 year ago

Lol what? Who tf are the four swimmers?

Manuel is literally the USA’s only swimmer to ever go under 52.5.

Then you have Comerford with a 52.59 which is well beyond her current ability.

Huske and Weitzeil are both 52.9s.

The next fastest active swimmer is Erika Brown with a 53.42.

To get a 53 and 3 52.5s you’d need 4 swimmers with a 53 flat or better. USA has 2.

If we’re playing fantasy league then Australia has the potential for 4 51 splits.

Emmy27
1 year ago

Results this week will definitely be interesting, especially with some being tapered while others seem to only have some degree or not at all. Definitely intrigued to see what records are broken and who may be holding back for trials in Melbourne.

I’m guessing Armbruster won on appeal to be swimming in the 50 fly tonight? He was originally DQ’d for not lifting his head before the 15m mark.

Last edited 1 year ago by Emmy27
phelpsfan
1 year ago

How can I watch it? I’m from Canada

Nono
Reply to  phelpsfan
1 year ago
phelpsfan
Reply to  Nono
1 year ago

Great thanks!

Joel
Reply to  phelpsfan
1 year ago

9Now app. Not sure if it’s geoblocked.
Then replays on Australian dolphins YouTube the next day usually.

Troyy
1 year ago

Jamie Perkins was only 8:43 in the 800. Hopefully she can get up for the 200. Needs to be faster than Casey’s 1:59.11 to get an individual spot.

Sub13
1 year ago

You missed Sjostrom’s 52.99 from yesterday! But I imagine that will probably be knocked off the top spot tonight anyway

Swimmerguy94
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

There was an article on it…

Troyy
Reply to  Swimmerguy94
1 year ago

Sure but it’s missing from the ranking. Haughey has also gone 53.10 now as well.

Sub13
Reply to  Swimmerguy94
1 year ago

Yea, but it’s missing from this ranking and is not mentioned in this article. Sjostrom is incorrectly listed as 4th.

Miss M
1 year ago

Reposting in a better place.

Relatively unsurprising for the 100 free:
MOC
Jack
McKeon
Harris
Campbell
Wilson
Jansen
Throssel
McKeown
Perkins

19 year old Bentley with a 0.74 drop to hit 55.37 and finish 11th is good, but it looks like it will take a 54.50 to make the final at trials once you factor in Wunsch, Casey and DeLuitis.

Neale a little off for 12th, but seems to swim faster tapered.

Sub13
Reply to  Miss M
1 year ago

To my knowledge, trials only has 8 in a final rather than 10. I think it’ll be faster than a 54.50 to make the trials final.

In 2021, 8th in prelims was 54.32. In 2022, 8th was a 54.72 with McKeon, C1 and C2 missing. Assuming 2/3 of them would have gone under 54, 6th was 54.17.

Miss M
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

Very true. It could realistically take sub 54 just to make the final.

Some huge talent is going to be left behind.

About Riley Overend

Riley is an associate editor interested in the stories taking place outside of the pool just as much as the drama between the lane lines. A 2019 graduate of Boston College, he arrived at SwimSwam in April of 2022 after three years as a sports reporter and sports editor at newspapers …

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