Titmus And O’Callaghan To Showdown In The 200 Free On Final Night Of Australian Champs

by Ben Dornan 36

April 19th, 2023 Australia, International, News

2023 AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

There weren’t any eye-popping swims during the fourth and final heats session at the 2023 Australian Championships. The swims that did occur, however, set up what should be an exciting final session of racing.

In the men’s 100 freestyle, event favorite Kyle Chalmers started fairly strong with a 49.15 in the prelims, which is well off his entry time of 47.36. He has been strong this season in the short course pool and is now making the transition to his long course season, meaning that a big swim might be in store for him in the final. He isn’t up against any other men who came into the meet with a 47, but Flynn Southam will certainly put up a fight. His prelims time was a 48.72 and he’s been as quick as a 48.23 before. Southam has been on an upward trajectory of late and this race will serve as good practice for later in the year when he vies for a spot on the World Champs team. He was out-swum by Kai Taylor with a 48.65 and was faster than Jack Cartwright with a 49.41 as well.

Right after the men’s 100 free, the women took to the 200 freestyle. Mollie O’Callaghan put up another top prelims time here with a 1:57.85, getting in with a faster time than Ariarne Titmus. Titmus is the Australian record-holder and reigning Olympic champion in this event and hit a 1:53.09 PB back in 2021. O’Callaghan is a solid 200 freestyler as well, holding a best time of 1:54.01, and will be a good racing partner for Titmus in the final.

Other women in the top five for the 200 freestyle are Olympian Madi Wilson (1:58.50), Kaylee McKeown, who got 4th in the prelims with a 1:58.93 despite this being a slightly-off event for her, and Brianna Throssell (1:59.08). Lani Pallister, Shayna Jack, Jenna Forrester, and Meg Harris all crack 2 minutes as well and will race in the final.

Olympic bronze medalist in the 400 IM Brendon Smith swam his signature event on day four, posting a 4:23.99. That’s a pretty relaxed swim from Smith considering his lifetime best is 4:09.27. Smith will likely shave some time off a hit a new season-best tonight. Se-bom Lee was the #2 entrant here with a 4:14.77 and he was 6th overall in prelims with a 4:26.81. William Petric holds the top seed heading into finals at a 4:22.91, while Thomas Hauck (4:24.22), Joshua Staples (4:24.98), and Elliot Rogerson (4:25.19) form a trio from 3rd-5th.

We will also see the final stroke 50 during day four finals as Samuel Williamson leads the way into the men’s 50 breaststroke with his 27.61. He’s been as quick as a 26.97 and was seeded first from the outset, but Joshua Yong (28.20), Joshua Collett (28.31), Grayson Bell (28.31), and others are right on his tail. Two other events from prelims were the women’s 200 backstroke (where world record holder Kaylee McKeown was absent) and the men’s 200 butterfly, featuring top seeds from Hannah Fredericks (2:13.37) and Matthew Temple (2:00.69), respectively. Emma McKeon was slated to race the 100 buttefly but dropped out, leaving Alexandria Perkins in the top spot (58.55).

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Oceanian
1 year ago

Thanking the old gods and the new that You-know-who will be asleep during tonight’s session…

Sub13
Reply to  Oceanian
1 year ago

I legitimately don’t know who “you know who” is because there are so many of them now lol

torchbearer
1 year ago

My guess is Titmus leads the 150m mark…..and then……

Troyy
1 year ago

Forrester didn’t scratch any of her three events.

Sub13
Reply to  Troyy
1 year ago

We’ve got a fighter on our hands!

Awsi Dooger
1 year ago

Apparently Titmus thinks she’s ready. On her Instagram story she just posted 2 fingers for 2 free and wrote, “Last one, fast one.”

Sub13
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
1 year ago

That’s just a saying. I wouldn’t read into it. I’m almost certain MOC comes out on top tonight.

Vinay
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

Titmus will come up with sickness excuses

Hooked on Chlorine
Reply to  Vinay
1 year ago

What’s yours? That a five-year-old girl stole your lunch money and you’ve never gotten over it?

Vinay
Reply to  Hooked on Chlorine
1 year ago

Truth has hurt you mate

Vinay
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
1 year ago

Go to see she is relishing challenge offered by mollie

Vinay
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
1 year ago

Titmus has no chance against mollie who is younger and quicker

jeff
Reply to  Vinay
1 year ago

22 isnt exactly old for the 200 free…

Troyy
Reply to  jeff
1 year ago

Pellegrini swam her best time not in a supersuit at 30

Sub13
1 year ago

My money is on MOC. Titmus has been sick and looks in heavy training while MOC has been close to her PBs. I say both go between 1:54 mid and 1:55 low.

Jack
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

Lol. Titmus and Mollie train together….same squad/ same amount of days rested!

Steph
Reply to  Jack
1 year ago

it feels like half of SPW rested whilst the others didn’t

Troyy
Reply to  Jack
1 year ago

Jack and Mollie are in the sprint group and Titmus in the distance group so they don’t always train together.

Sub13
Reply to  Jack
1 year ago

I heard a rumour that’s it’s possible for two swimmers to have the same coach but not have identical training. Who knows if that’s true though?

Troyy
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

Our discussion of the moderation got removed.

Sub13
Reply to  Troyy
1 year ago

Shocking lol

Vinay
Reply to  Jack
1 year ago

Mollie is younger and quicker than titmus at same age

Vinay
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

Forget sickness excuses titmus is no match for mollie who is quicker and younger at same age

Vinay
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

Anything less than 153 for mollie is a disappointment

Sub13
Reply to  Vinay
1 year ago

1:53 mid would make her the third fastest performer of all time. So you think anything less than third fastest all time at an in-season meet is unacceptable?

Dude get a hobby lol

Vinay
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

Anything less than 1:53 mid for mollie is disappointing

Emily Se-Bom Lee
Reply to  Vinay
1 year ago

I guess mcintosh was a disappointment then

Fraser Thorpe
Reply to  Emily Se-Bom Lee
1 year ago

Massively – because she is quicker and younger at the same age.

Not sure how you can be ‘younger at the same age’, but then I don’t function in the same level as Vinay

Vinay
Reply to  Fraser Thorpe
1 year ago

Micintosh is quicker and younger than mollie

Fraser Thorpe
Reply to  Vinay
1 year ago

Yes, but more importantly is she also younger at the same age?

Robbos
Reply to  Fraser Thorpe
1 year ago

Not many do!!!!

Vinay
Reply to  Emily Se-Bom Lee
1 year ago

Mcintosh is younger and quicker than mollie

Robbos
Reply to  Vinay
1 year ago

I think you are wrong!!!! Mollie quicker than Summer.

Vinay
Reply to  Robbos
1 year ago

Mollie is older than summer

Robbos
Reply to  Vinay
1 year ago

Yes you right there. Yeah & I’m older than my younger brother.

Vinay
Reply to  Robbos
1 year ago

Hahaha