2024 VICTORIAN OPEN LONG COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Friday, February 23rd – Sunday, February 25th
- Melbourne Sports Centres Outdoor Pool (MSAC)
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
- SwimSwam Preview
- Live Results
- Livestream
The 2024 Victorian Open Long Course Championships began today in Melbourne, with action spanning Friday through Sunday. The competition marks a tune-up racing opportunity on the road to two big Aussie competitions. The first is the Australian National Championships in April followed by the Olympic Trials slated for June.
Among those diving in on day one at the MSAC was 22-year-old Olympic champion Kaylee McKeown.
Bypassing the 200m backstroke event, McKeown instead tried on the 100m breast/100m freestyle double, putting up impressive performances in each.
First, in the 100m breast, the Griffith ace logged a time of 1:07.01 to beat the field handily. McKeown opened in 31.87 and closed in 35.14 to register the only outing under 1:10 in the final.
McKeown’s time was within striking distance of her best-ever time in the 1breast, a mark of 1:06.86 turned in at the 2023 edition of these championships. Her 1:07.01 now represents her 2nd-best performance and bodes well for her 200m IM.
Just 3 races later, McKeown got wet again, next in the 100m free where she hit a solid 54.35 (26.76/27.59).
Although Olympic teammate Emma McKeon dominantly took the gold in 53.00, McKeown’s mark checks in as the 3rd-quickest time of her career. Her personal best is represented by the 54.29 notched in 2021 so tonight’s 54.35 result fell just .06 outside of that.
McKeown is set to take on the 50m/100m back, 400m free and 200m IM later at this meet.
Why isn’t Kaylee doing 400im anymore? Seriously think she could give McIntosh a run for her money
Most elite swimmers these days have to make choices. She’s sacrificing “could give McIntosh a run for her money” for “I’m the favorite for gold in the backstrokes”.
Can this Australian Woman’s 4x100m freestyle relay be the best relay ever can have all 4 swimmers to 8 in the world
Rikako swam well in the 50fly too!
What cant this woman swim?
Butterfly
William Yang 48.52 100 free is a nice return from surgery only 0.14 off his PB.
Cody Simpson dislikes this
It’s really sad for Australia’s medley relay hopes that Kaylee has been the best breast stroker across 2023-2024. Hopefully Hodges and Straunch can get back into 1:05 split territory because Abbey Harkin just isn’t cutting it
Hodges is out with a back injury so it essentially gets down to Strauch as I’m not seeing any of the 1.07s breaking out.
Is she definitely out for Paris?
I think it was another hip surgery.
Molly can go backstroke and Shayna anchor
If only we had the same embarrassment of riches that we have in freestyle. However, I’ll happily settle for just one great breaststroker not prone to injury at this point in time.
They are coming, but Paris is be a few years too soon.
I would love to see a duel between Kaylee McKeown and Kate Douglass in the 100 breast and 200 free, since they could be very evenly matched.
In fact, I would like them both to swim the 4×200 relay in Paris.
They seem like two very versatile swimmers to me and it would be fun to see them in that competitive relay between Australia and USA.
They are remarkably similar in certain aspects (insane versatility, fast breaststroke), but KD hasn’t yet found the same success in her specialty stroke as McKeown has in hers (but maybe that’s because KD doesn’t yet know what her specialty stroke is).
as douglass is pretty good equally in various styles. Its best category is 200 IM, which brings them all together. so that’s their specialty, I think we’re all pretty aware.
Far be it from me to imply that KD is somehow “less of a swimmer” or whatever. What I meant was the following:… Read more »
Is she a freestyler? She is pretty great at the sprint frees, but doesn’t touch the 200, so no, she isn’t really. Is she a breaststroker? Her 200 is possibly the best of the (internationally competing) World right now, but her 100 isn’t really on par with it, and she doesn’t touch the 50. So no, she isn’t really. Is she a butterflier? She rarely races it in LCM, and doesn’t touch the 200, even though her best 100 time should be in medal contention at any competition – so she isn’t really a butterflier either.
Does Kate Douglass swim the 200 free? Not sure if ever seem a recorded time for her
I think she scored in a time trial at UVA 1:52:84 WR. It’s a shame it didn’t count
Hahahahahhahaha wtf. Another one using the extremely reliable coaches watch with no video
I think this one is straight up trolling.
Lol yes I mean that last post was obviously a joke (or troll, one or the other)
Untapered, unrested, no racing suit, and hand watch!
From a push
Wunsch swam the 50 fly and 100 free heats but scratched the finals for some reason.
Off topic, but you are my hero.
Glad you’re able to comment again 👍