Meg Harris Bests Cate Campbell In 100 Free On Day 1 Of 2024 Brisbane Championships

2024 BRISBANE SENIOR METRO CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • Friday, March 8th – Sunday, March 10th
  • Brisbane Aquatic Center
  • LCM (50m)
  • Results

Opting out of next weekend’s New South Wales State Championships, Aussie megastars Cate Campbell, Meg Harris and Zac Stubblety-Cook took to Brisbane waters to compete at the Senior Metro Championships.

With the Australian National Championships happening next month and then the all-important Aussie Olympic Trials taking place in June, these Metro Championships serve as an in-season tune-up for the athletes.

To kick things off, Campbell raced in the women’s 100, freestyle where she notched a solid mark of 53.42.

However, it was Rackleys’ Meg Harris who got to the wall first, capturing gold in a mighty 53.17.

C1 was faster on the front half, opening in 25.59 to Harris’ 25.86; however, Harris busted out a head-turning back half of 27.31 to C1’s 27.83 to get the job done.

Harris result would overtake C1’s Brisbane Record of 53.33 put on the books over a decade ago in 2013. Her performance this evening represents the 3rd-fastest time of her career, one which boasts a PB of 52.92 from 2021.

Harris now checks in as the 9th-fastest performer in the world this season. C1 remains in the 10th spot with her season-best 53.23 notched at last December’s Queensland Championships.

2023-2024 LCM Women 100 Free

2Marrit
STEENBERGEN
NED52.2602/16
3Mollie
O'CALLAGHAN
AUS52.2704/17
4Meg
HARRIS
AUS52.6004/17
5Junxuan
YANG
CHN52.6804/23
6Shayna
JACK
AUS52.7612/11
7Kate
DOUGLASS
USA52.9804/11
8Emma
MCKEON
AUS53.0002/23
9 Torri
HUSKE
USA53.0804/11
10 Anna
HOPKIN
GBR53.0902/16
View Top 32»

As for former world record holder Stubblety-Cook, the 25-year-old Chandler ace posted a time of 59.97 to top the men’s 100m breaststroke podium.

ZSC split 28.71/31.26 to grab the gold, surpassing Olympian Christian Sprenger‘s Brisbane Record in the process. Sprenger previously held the benchmark at 1:00.15 from 2008.

Additional Notes

  • 18-year-old Edward Sommerville of Brisbane Grammar earned gold in his age group’s 100m freestyle final. He clocked 49.50, a time which crushed Isaac Cooper‘s former Brisbane Record of 50.33 from 2022.
  • Tommy Neill registered a time of 49.94 to win the men’s 19&O 100m free after hitting 49.37 in the prelims. He produced the sole sub-50-second time of the pack.
  • The women’s 18-year-old 100m breaststroke saw Tiana Kritzinger post a time of 1:11.72 for the victory. Although her time of 1:11.28 from the morning was swifter, both outings overtook the previous Brisbane Record of 1:12.05 Piper Brien turned in last year.
  • 19-year-old Ella Ramsay produced a time of 1:08.01 to take the women’s 19&O 100m breast event.

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Daniel
1 month ago

7:48 for Short in 800 Free.

1:59 for Hartwell in 200 Back.

2:16 for Seebohm in 200 Back. Less than 6 months since giving birth – pretty remarkable.

Last edited 1 month ago by Daniel
Troyy
Reply to  Daniel
1 month ago

Lily Price went a small PB in the 100 fly as well 57.64

Swemmer
1 month ago

AUS women are going to be so incredibly dominant in the 100 free that Cate Campbell will be lucky to grab a relay spot

john26
Reply to  Swemmer
1 month ago

Based on their times so, it seems at least one of the Campbells will get on the relay team. It’ll be a major accomplishment from one of the younger relay contenders to drop enough time to bump one of them out. It looks like it’ll take at least a 53.2

BennyBD
Reply to  Swemmer
1 month ago

If they are taking 6 swimmers for the relay then I would say they both have a good chance.

Martini
Reply to  BennyBD
1 month ago

If C1 and C2 get on the relay team as the 5th and 6th fastest swimmers, they will *more likely* be just swimming the heats (unless they prove themselves final-worthy whilst swimming the heats) – and I wonder if they would still be happy to get on the plane to Paris with that in mind.

Sub13
Reply to  Martini
1 month ago

Of course they’d want to swim finals but no one’s going to give up an Olympic appearance and free gold medals out of arrogance

BennyBD
Reply to  Martini
1 month ago

It would be their 4th and 5th Olympics. I imagine they would be ecstatic to be on the team and get another medal even if they only get to swim heats. Just the whole Olympic experience would be worth it.

commonwombat
Reply to  Martini
1 month ago

Whilst they would both clearly love to swim finals, both have demonstrated throughout their career a legitimate commitment to relays and in particular this one.

Sub13
Reply to  Swemmer
1 month ago

I don’t think that’s accurate. I expect MOC, McKeon, Jack and Harris to go 52. Wilson is pregnant so she’s out. The next two fastest Australians since Tokyo are C1 and C2 with 53.2 and 53.4. Wunsch is most likely spoiler with a 53.7 but we know she’s capable of faster based on her multiple 52 mid splits.

It’s certainly possible that Cate doesn’t get a relay spot, but right now she’s primed for a clear 5th place so she wouldn’t be “lucky” to get one.

commonwombat
Reply to  Sub13
1 month ago

I actually wouldn’t be surprised to see C2 finish ahead of big sister. Whilst C1 is still capable of the spectacular 50 time; her ability to back up through the rounds & through a meet has declined whereas C2 is more consistent.

Do agree that the Fukuoka quartet have a likely mortage on the finals lineup, barring outside factors. Nationals will probably give us a clearer guide as to the time ranges.

Robbos
Reply to  commonwombat
1 month ago

I agree, I think C1, if she qualifies for 50, may get a shot at the 4×100, but if not she may struggle to be in top 6 due to having to go thru the rounds.

Pan Fan
Reply to  Robbos
1 month ago

After all these years, Cate Campbell still stubbornly refuse to train 200 to improve her back half.

commonwombat
Reply to  Pan Fan
1 month ago

She started out as a 50 specialist and that was the event where she first made her mark (bronze Beijing 2008/Rome 2009) and it wasn’t until 2013 that she really made any real international mark as a 100 swimmer.

She does have a 1.58.1 200 PB but it also has to be recognised that she’s had to nurse injuries through her career (was sidelined for much of 2008-2012 quadrennial) so that may’ve seen her training adjusted accordingly.

C2, despite never seriously swimming the 200, DOES have the better back half and that is why I have the sneaky suspicion she may get the upper hand.

Joel
Reply to  Pan Fan
1 month ago

That’s harsh. Injuries has a LOT to do with this.

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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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