2024 Australian Olympic Trials
Good day, guys. I hope you enjoyed some great performances yesterday and are excited for today’s events, as many of yesterday’s stars are back for more. Kylie McKeownElijah Winnington, and Sam Short They are all back in the water looking to qualify in the second event.
We start the morning off with a bang, just like yesterday, the first heat of the morning will see the world record holder, with McKeon looking to line up the 100th event list alongside the 200th IM. While the only swimmer entering the competition was under 58 years old, that doesn’t mean it’s not devoid of competition. Molly O’Callaghan, a world record holder in her own right, enters as the second seed. While she is seeded more than a second faster than the No. 3 seed, O’Callaghan will have a hungry group of determined youngsters behind her led by Iona Anderson And Jacqueline Barclay.
The next event evolved from one of Australia’s strengths into its weakness. Jenna Strauch And Abby Harkin They will compete in the 100-meter dash, compete for a spot in the medley relay and in the individual event. While Strauch had the only entry time under the qualifying time of 1:06.31, seeded third Ella Ramsay She could be in the chasing phase, as she already made the team in the 200m marine and could be riding a wave of momentum.
The Multi-Class 50 Free Championship is up next and will be a quick affair as 11 men and 16 women will compete for a coveted spot in tonight’s final. Swimming for the second time in a Paralympic competition gives athletes another opportunity to earn more points, as qualifying for the team will have to wait until the end of the meet.
The men’s 100 backstroke falls between the para 50 free and the para 100 fly, we’ll see Isaac Cooper And Bradley Woodward Chasing a brutal qualifying time of 53.21. Neither of the top two ranked Australians have entries under that mark, but it could certainly come in handy. Australian record holder Mitch Larkinwhose best score is 52.11, is your eighth seed and should be ready to make it back to the final.
Following the MC 100, the men’s 200 free saw the return of Wennington and Short. Both will look to put in strong performances this morning against the likes of him Maximilian Giuliani, Thomas Neill, Alex Graham, Kay Taylor, Flynn Southam, matt temple, And Zach Ancerti (For example but not limited to). With so many names desperate for a ticket to Paris, it may be harder to make the top eight this morning, than tonight, when six of the eight finalists are likely to be on the plane to Paris.
Full heat sheet for Prelims meet
Women’s 100 backstroke – preliminary heats
- World record: 57.33 – Kylie McKeown (Australia), 2023
- Australian record: 57.33 – Kylie McKeown2023
- Swimming Australia (or QT): 59.62
- 2021 final time: 1:01.37 – Abby Webb
Top 8
- Molly O’Callaghan (STPET) – 58.73
- Kylie McKeown (GUSC) – 59.03
- Hannah Fredericks (STPET) – 59.72
- Iona Anderson (BRW) – 59.96
- Jacqueline Barclay (STPET) – 1:00.30
- Mina Atherton (Bond) – 1:00.90
- Lily’s Day (Bond) – 1:00.01
- Emily Seebohm (Stmar) – 1:01.02
McKeown wasted no effort in establishing herself as the dominant swimmer in the first heat. McKeown easily led the first heat to the center wall, turning in 28.63, holding off in front of rookie Jacelyn Barkley and Bronte Job. Looking smooth and in control, McKeown didn’t really go for her legs in the closing metres, and cruised to the wall in 59.03. Barkley swam well and put herself in good stead for tonight’s final, finishing in 1:00.30.
MOC showed half of her backhand speed in the second round as she pushed the pace in the closing metres. Out in 28.87, O’Callaghan built a strong lead at the finish and passed McKeown for first place of the morning with a speed of 58.73. Her teammate, Hannah Fredericks, also entered under the 1:00 barrier, hitting the wall in 59.72, just 0.03 off her entry time.
The third (and final) of the circuit-classified heats was slower. Seeded first in the heat and third overall, Iona Anderson cruised to the wall with a time of 59.96, 0.72 off her entry time. Anderson came in at 58.53, so we’ll be looking to lose a lot of time this evening. Veteran swimmers Mina Atherton and Emily Seebohm finished in times of 1:00.90 and 1:01.02 and are sitting in sixth and eighth, so hopefully they will advance.
Women’s 100 meter breaststroke – preliminary
- World record: 1:04.13 – Lily King (USA), 2017
- Australian record: 1:05.09 – Liesl Jones, 2006
- Swimming Australia (OQT): 1:06.31
- 2021 final time: 1:08.34 – Zoe Deacon
Top 8
- Jenna Strauch (Miami) – 1:07.58
- Abby Harkin (STPET) – 1:07.59
- Ella Ramsay (Chand) – 1:07.70
- Matilda Smith (Miami) – 1:08.03
- Sienna Tuohy (ALB) – 1:08.04
- Michaela Smith (GUSC) – 1:09.05
- Isabella Johnson (Cruz) – 1:09.24
- Zoe Deacon (Nun) – 1:09.44
Jenna Strauch, the 200m silver medalist from Budapest, played to her strengths as she swam a strong 50m backstroke to pass early leader Sienna Toohey. Strauch, who was on her way back from a knee injury, was behind the 15-year-old at the turn but chased her down to win the race in 1:07.58, with Tuohy finishing the other side in 1:08. He ranked second with a time of 1:08.04
Abby Harkin entered the meet as the second seed and will likely enter tonight’s finals in the same position, as she won the second heat with a time of 1:07.59, 0.01 behind early leader Strauch. Harkin broke through the field and won the heat by about a second and a half as Michaela Smith finished second with a time of 1:09.05.
Continuing last night’s success, Ella Ramsay swam a strong and smooth swim in the heat, hitting the wall in a time of 1:07.70. Ramsay, who finished second in the 200 IM, faced a late challenge from Matilda Smith, but held on with Smith. With three swimmers under 1:08 and two just over it, it will be a close race in tonight’s final as they all chase a qualifying time of 1:06.31.
Sally Hunter (nee Foster), 39, a four-time world championship medalist, finished ninth in the heats with a time of 1:09.63, losing the final by 0.19.
Men’s Multi-Class 50 Freestyle – Preliminaries
Top 8
Women’s Multi-Class 50 Freestyle – Preliminaries
Top 8
Men’s 100 backstroke – preliminary heats
- World record: 51.60 – Thomas Ciccone (ITA), 2022
- Australian record: 52.11 – Mitch Larkin2015
- Swimming Australia (OQT): 53.21
- 2021 Time to final: 55.03 – Travis Mahoney
Top 8
Men’s Butterfly Multiclass 100 – Introductory
Top 8
Women’s Multi-Class Butterfly 100 – Preliminaries
Top 8
Men’s 200 freestyle – preliminary heats
- World record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann (Germany), 2009
- Australian record: 1:44.06 – Ian Thorpe, 2001
- Swimming Australia (OQT): 1:45.97
- 2021 final time: 1:47.43 – Matthew Temple
Men’s 50 multi-stroke breaststroke – preliminary
Top 8