McKeon Now Wears 200 Free World Rankings Crown – 1:55.56

NEW SOUTH WALES STATE OPEN C’SHIPS

Capping off a stellar meet here in New South Wales, 26-year-old Olympian Emma McKeon fired off the #1 time in the world in the women’s 200m freestyle.

After establishing herself as the 2nd-seeded swimmer behind Madi Wilson durig last night’s heats (1:59.23 to Wilson’s 1:58.77) Griffith’s McKeon unleashed a super quick time of 1:55.56 to beat Wilson by over a second in this morning’s final.

Opening in 55.95 and bringing it home in 59.61, McKeon’s 1:55.56 result tonight overtakes the previous season-leader in the world rankings, Yang Junxuan of China. Yang held a super quick 1:55.65 from January, but McKeon slid under that mark by .09 to wear the crown.

McKeon owns a lifetime best of 1:54.55 in this 2free event, a time she cracked at the 2019 World Championships Trials before dropping the event in Gwangju. Her time this morning checks-in as the 8th fastest time of this versatile Aussie’s career.

For her part, although Wilson settled for silver this morning, her speedy result of 1:56.85 ties the 2nd fastest time of the 26-year-old Marion swimmer’s career. Wilson has been as fast as 1:56.60 at this same meet last year, but still now becomes the 6th fastest swimmer in the world this season.

Another swimmer who tied the 2nd best time of her career in an event was 19-year-old Kaylee McKeown in this morning’s 200m IM field. The USC Spartan led the women’s heats last night in a cool 2:14.85 before digging deep to come up with a mighty 2:09.94 to climb atop the podium.

Splitting 28.54/32.95/37.47/30.98, McKeown’s effort sits 2nd only to her PB of 2:08.23 from last December’s Queensland Championships. That ranks the teen as the #1 swimmer in the world this season.

Additional Winners:

  • Hunter’s Meg Bailey got her hand on the wall first in the women’s 200m fly, posting 2:10.39 for the gold.
  • The men’s 100m fly saw Edward Marks get it done for gold in 52.90, the only sub-53 second time of the field. Olympian David Morgan was in the mix as the bronze medalist in 53.13, while backstroking ace Mitch Larkin posted 53.61 to rank 5th in the morning final.
  • Georgia Bohl topped the women’s 50m breast field in 31.05 while Daniel Cave cruised to the 200m breast win in 2:15.61. Of note, the World Championships silver medalist in this event, Matt Wilson, raced last night in the heats, collecting the top seed in 2:11.76 before opting out of this morning’s final.
  • Jack Cartwright proved the quickest 50m freestyler, with the 22-year-old St. Peters Western athlete checking in at 22.33 while Cameron McEvoy and New Zealand’s Michael Pickett finished in 22.69 and 22.82 for silver and bronze, respectively.
  • 19-year-old Se-Bom Lee topped the men’s 400m IM field in 4:23.83.
  • Madi Wilson claimed gold in the 50m back in a time of 28.09, beating out Rockingham’s Holly Barratt by just .01 this morning.
  • Mitch Larkin was this morning’s 100m back winner in 54.14.

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kevin
3 years ago

I have been disappointed with our efforts at the last 2 olympics given the hype with having so many number 1 rankings going into those Olympics. But i feel with sailor boy and the Dutchman gone and the trials approx 5 weeks prior to the games Australia may come up to expectations .Rohan Taylor new head coach has been going about his business methodically pointing to a strong Olympics.

Chris
3 years ago

Just earlier today Siobhan Haughey posted a 1:55.81 200 fr in Hong Kong.

Gheko
3 years ago

1.54.70 was set as the world leading swim by Yang 2 weeks ago.

David
3 years ago

Abby Wood went faster on 200im in Manchester.

Gheko
Reply to  David
3 years ago

Yeah but she did not have Kaylees work load, She is training through this meet.

Verram
3 years ago

Yeah I thought some Chinese girl got the Asian record recently 1:54.7?

Huge surprised that matt Wilson would opt out of the 200 final given it’s his home pool at sopac

Miss M
Reply to  Verram
3 years ago

He was sick … cold symptoms apparently. Given health restrictions, anyone with even the mildest symptoms have to isolate and get tested for COVID in NSW.

Gheko
3 years ago

Matt Wilson won silver not bronze in 2019 Worlds

Pacific Whirl
3 years ago

Yang’s time at the beginning of the month was forgotten here.

Snarky
3 years ago

Aussies. Working on the pre-Olympic times only to crash and burn at the event. Sorry but when will they learn!

Jacqueline Lynda Wakefield
Reply to  Snarky
3 years ago

Ridiculous comment !!!!

Sam
Reply to  Snarky
3 years ago

You’re not sorry . And in July you’ll be proven incorrect . Love how anyone else going fast in the world gets praise. You may have forgotten Horton, Chalmers and 4×100 relay in Rio . Plus other minor medalists. Plus Seebohm battling illness etc

Gheko
Reply to  Sam
3 years ago

He wasn’t born in 2016!

Oceanian
Reply to  Snarky
3 years ago

lol – plenty of countries have swimmers that crash & burn at a major, particularly the top nations for some events where you pretty much have to swim a medal-winning time at trials to even qualify for your nation’s team.

commonwombat
Reply to  Snarky
3 years ago

Clearly you’re only seeing what your wanting to see because on the evidence of this meet; those who were notably fast (McKeon, McKeown Jr) are generally quick year round rather than clear unmistakable evidence of swimmers peaking at the wrong time. Yes, I’ll agree AUS Swimming didn’t help itself in the past with timing of its Trials but still holding Nationals in April remains a head-scratcher but I doubt there will be too many still peaking in April this year.

Auzzie
Reply to  Snarky
3 years ago

I think many have overlooked that this meet can/could be a selection meet for the Olympics. Although way down the list of possible selection meets should Covid hamper any upcoming meets the athletes were well aware they needed to post times to ensure their selection, even though in hard training. Those of slighter builds, usually the women, possibly found it easier to post fast times while in heavy training as their recovery is usually better.

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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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