2024 VICTORIAN OPEN LONG COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Friday, February 23rd – Sunday, February 25th
- Melbourne Sports Centres Outdoor Pool (MSAC)
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
- Livestream
As the 2024 World Championships from Doha, Qatar wrapped up last night, psych sheets for this year’s Victorian Open Long Course Championships have been released.
The three-day competition taking place at the Melbourne Sports Centres Outdoor Pool (MSAC) represents one of the major opportunities for Olympic hopefuls to hone their craft ahead of the Australian National Championships in April, as well as the all-important Olympic Trials in June.
Olympic champion and world record holder Kaylee McKeown is among the high-profile female athletes. The 22-year-old Griffith star is set to race six events, including the 50m/100m back, 200m IM, 100m breast, 100m free and 400m free.
The 400m free in particular is an off-event for the woman who is the reigning 100m and 200m backstroke Olympic champion as well as the 2023 world champion in all 3 backstroke distances.
Mckeown owns a lifetime best of 4:10.67 in the 4free, a time she established at the 2020 Medal Shots LC Prep Meet. At these championships, she’ll race against teammate Lani Pallister as well as Western Melbourne Olympian Tamsin Cook.
The most decorated Australian Olympian of all time, Emma McKeon, is also entered in this competition. She’s expected to race in the women’s 50m/100m fly and 50m/100m free events.
In all 4, she’ll meet the likes of Japanese Olympian Rikako Ikee, with Ikee also entered in the 200m free.
23-year-old Ikee has been stationed in Australia since last fall, continuing her training under Michael Bohl until the Japanese Olympic Trials on the agenda for next month.
The key men’s competitors for this Vic Open include Cody Simpson and Isaac Cooper, the latter of whom became world champion in the 50m backstroke in Doha.
25-year-old William Yang is another one to watch, with the Sopac Swim Club athlete continuing to come back to form after undergoing back surgery last year.
Additional Notable Entrants
- Zac Reid (NZL)
- William Petric
- Se-Bom Lee
- Olivia Wunsch
- Bowen Gough
- Matt Wilson
53.00 for Emma. Yang with another 48.5. Mckeown with 1.07 in 100 Breaststroke, followed by a solid 2nd in 100 Free.
She didn’t progress from the 100 Free heat (was 11th), but pleased to see that 16yo Sylvia Czajko is racing again.
The finals program has her in the final.
Even better – thanks Troyy.
Is Matt Wilson coming back into the breaststroke conversation after a few years off the radar? 27.7 for the 50 prelims which is only .2 from his pb
48.5 from Yang in 100m Free the clear highlight of this morning’s heats.
Pretty cruisy first 50. Maybe he can go a PB in the final?
He looked good. Probably needs Simpson to push him early on.
The women’s 100m free has more top-end talent, but the men’s trials will be a bloodbath for the 2nd spot. Will be a group of late 47’s vying for it.
Emma a big watch so to Oliva Wunsch …… How good is womens backstroke Kayleen Isona and Barclay
It will be interesting to see how Emma McKeon shapes up after recovering from her muscle tear. Hopefully she will swim fly and free!
International Live Stream: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTsoFxwO7_epq2wxSMOsM2g
Australian Live Stream: https://kayosports.com.au/freebies
What time do prelims/finals start local time?
Heats 9am and Finals 6pm local (AEDT)