Aussies Order a Mc-Double of Top Swims Behind Emma McKeon & Kaylee McKeown
The Mc-Aussie Stars were in fine form on Friday morning, as the Australian Championships on the Gold Coast rolled on. Expected to be headliners for the Dolphins at the rapidly approaching Olympic Games in Tokyo, Emma McKeon and Kaylee McKeown sent notice to the world with eye-catching performances in the 100-meter butterfly and 200 individual medley, respectively.
In the 100 butterfly, McKeon was easily the class of the field, as she took command from the start and maintained that dominance throughout the two laps. McKeon posted a time of 56.44, the second-fastest time in the world this year, behind only the 56.20 of American teenager Claire Curzan from last weekend. McKeon also wasn’t far off her Australian record of 56.18.
McKeon’s outing not only produced an Australian All-Comers record, it backed up her strong efforts in freestyle action earlier in the meet. Although she scratched the final, McKeon recorded a 1:55.79 mark in the 200 freestyle on the opening day of competition. She also claimed victory in the 100 freestyle on Thursday morning, thanks to a time of 52.49.
For McKeown, her focus during the morning finals, which mimic what will be seen at the Olympics, was on the 200 medley. McKeown chose to skip the 200 backstroke, an event in which she is an Olympic-medal favorite. That decision proved beneficial as McKeown led wire to wire and put together a winning time of 2:09.78.
Provided she takes care of business at the Australian Trials, McKeown will be in contention for Olympic medals in both backstroke events and the 200 medley.