FINALS
Women’s 100 free multi-class
Maddison Elliott posted the top-ranked time with a 1:05.34, while Rachael Watson finished second overall in 1:31.78. Ellie Cole picked up third with a 1:02.69.
=== A - Final ===
1 ELLIOTT, MADDIS 17 NUSW 1:06.64 1:05.34 971
r:+0.73 31.25 1:05.34 (34.09)
2 WATSON, RACHAEL 24 CHAND 1:29.53 1:31.78 928
41.17 1:31.78 (50.61)
3 COLE, ELLIE S9 24 CHRD 1:03.18 1:02.69 925
r:+0.82 30.19 1:02.69 (32.50)
4 PATTERSON, LAKE 17 UNAQ 1:07.41 1:06.51 921
r:+0.85 32.33 1:06.51 (34.18)
5 CORRY, TAYLOR S 21 NBAY 1:03.61 1:01.88 881
r:+0.79 29.50 1:01.88 (32.38)
6 MCCONNELL, ASHL 20 MVC 1:05.20 1:05.22 821
r:+0.76 31.69 1:05.22 (33.53)
7 THOMAS KANE, TI 14 RAVN 1:17.06 1:17.14 820
r:+0.79 36.61 1:17.14 (40.53)
9 BEECROFT, EMILY 16 TRL 1:06.27 1:06.15 787
r:+0.74 31.77 1:06.15 (34.38)
=== B - Final ===
8 JONES, JENNA S1 15 SPRW 1:04.00 1:03.14 804
r:+0.70 30.00 1:03.14 (33.14)
10 MURPHY, MONIQUE 21 MVC 1:04.41 1:04.71 765
r:+0.87 31.27 1:04.71 (33.44)
11 DEDEKIND, KATJA 14 UQSC 1:05.29 1:04.59 751
r:+0.75 31.31 1:04.59 (33.28)
12 COOK, AMY S14 17 SLCA 1:05.00 1:05.46 745
r:+0.78 30.91 1:05.46 (34.55)
13 LUCY, JADE S14 19 SLCA 1:06.38 1:05.97 727
r:+0.78 31.62 1:05.97 (34.35)
14 SLACK, ELIZABET 19 LCOV 1:10.21 1:09.73 672
r:+1.12 32.77 1:09.73 (36.96)
15 BOTHA, MEGAN S1 18 CAA 1:08.35 1:09.49 622
r:+0.71 33.40 1:09.49 (36.09)
Men’s 100 free multi-class
Daniel Fox earned the top-ranked time in finals with a 53.72, while Joshua Alford was second overall in 54.60. Matthew Levy wound up third overall in 1:02.06.
=== A - Final ===
1 FOX, DANIEL S14 24 CHAND 53.52 53.72 988
r:+0.73 25.80 53.72 (27.92)
2 ALFORD, JOSHUA 20 TNGV 55.01 54.60 941
r:+0.73 26.89 54.60 (27.71)
3 LEVY, MATTHEW S 29 CRAN 1:01.99 1:02.06 919
r:+0.80 29.82 1:02.06 (32.24)
4 CROTHERS, ROWAN 18 YERPK 54.01 52.38. 916
r:+0.73 25.68 52.38 (26.70)
5 DISKEN, TIMOTHY 19 PLC 56.79 56.33 890
r:+0.71 27.40 56.33 (28.93)
6 IRELAND, JACK S 16 GLAD 55.93 55.90 877
r:+0.76 26.56 55.90 (29.34)
7 HALL, BRENDEN S 22 LAWNT 57.55 57.24 848
r:+0.91 27.68 57.24 (29.56)
8 JASON, BRAEDAN 17 SPRTN 53.89 53.81 844
r:+0.64 26.13 53.81 (27.68)
=== B - Final ===
9 HARRISON MURRAY 18 SPRTN 54.95 54.72 803
r:+0.70 25.89 54.72 (28.83)
9 HAANAPPEL, MATT 21 RND 1:09.48 1:09.49 803
r:+0.84 33.27 1:09.49 (36.22)
11 TIDY, JEREMY S1 28 NUN 55.37 55.14 785
r:+0.75 26.73 55.14 (28.41)
12 TEMPLETON, JACO 20 SPRTN 56.18 55.40 773
r:+0.67 26.58 55.40 (28.82)
13 SCHEFMAN, CAMER 22 ACACI 59.14 59.27 735
r:+0.70 28.38 59.27 (30.89)
14 ISHERWOOD, CORD 17 CARL 1:13.17 1:13.85 669
r:+0.57 35.25 1:13.85 (38.60)
-- COX, OLIVER S9 19 SYDU 1:01.51 DQ
r:+0.76
Men’s 200 breast
Matthew Wilson took home the 200 breast title with a time of 2:09.90, just off Australia’s Olympic Qualifying Time of 2:09.64. That’s a huge time drop for the 17 year old, who previously had a personal best of 2:11.23.
Nicholas Schafer finished second overall in a time of 2:10.75 with Jake Packard claiming third in 2:12.65.
=== Finals ===
1 WILSON, MATTHEW 17 SOSC 2:10.68 2:09.90. 934
r:+0.64 29.51 1:02.35 (32.84)
1:35.61 (33.26) 2:09.90 (34.29)
2 SCHAFER, NICHOL 24 ACQUA 2:11.62 2:10.75. 916
r:+0.70 29.48 1:02.55 (33.07)
1:36.31 (33.76) 2:10.75 (34.44)
3 PACKARD, JAKE 21 SPRTN 2:12.19 2:12.65 877
r:+0.66 29.20 1:02.67 (33.47)
1:36.98 (34.31) 2:12.65 (35.67)
4 BREMER, LENNARD 21 WCA 2:12.85 2:13.45 862
r:+0.61 29.86 1:03.54 (33.68)
1:37.98 (34.44) 2:13.45 (35.47)
5 TIERNEY, JOSHUA 20 TSS 2:14.13 2:13.63 858
r:+0.68 30.15 1:03.92 (33.77)
1:37.86 (33.94) 2:13.63 (35.77)
6 HARLEY, GEORGE 17 BRW 2:14.10 2:13.79 855
r:+0.67 30.80 1:05.23 (34.43)
1:39.47 (34.24) 2:13.79 (34.32)
7 MILLIGAN, ALEX 18 UWSC 2:13.72 2:13.90 853
r:+0.68 30.03 1:03.79 (33.76)
1:37.92 (34.13) 2:13.90 (35.98)
8 CAVE, DANIEL 17 MVC 2:14.89 2:14.79 836
r:+0.66 30.63 1:05.52 (34.89)
1:40.41 (34.89) 2:14.79 (34.38)
Women’s 200 fly
Madeline Groves and Brianna Throssell each punched their ticket to Rio as both cleared the Australian Olympic Qualifying time of 2:07.69.
Groves clocked a top-ranked time of 2:05.47 to move ahead of Natsumi Hoshi’s 2:06.32 for the top ranking in the world.
Throssell finished second overall in 2:06.58 to move to fifth in the world rankings as the second 200 fly option for Australia at the Olympics.
Laura Taylor placed third overall in 2:10.19.
=== Finals ===
1 GROVES, MADELIN 20 STPET 2:09.04 2:05.47Q 915
r:+0.72 27.54 59.33 (31.79)
1:32.05 (32.72) 2:05.47 (33.42)
2 THROSSELL, BRIA 20 PERC 2:09.17 2:06.58Q 891
r:+0.74 28.78 1:01.19 (32.41)
1:33.63 (32.44) 2:06.58 (32.95)
3 TAYLOR, LAURA 16 TSS 2:11.60 2:10.19 819
r:+0.69 28.89 1:01.88 (32.99)
1:35.71 (33.83) 2:10.19 (34.48)
4 STUART, ALICE 18 TSS 2:11.37 2:11.09 802
r:+0.65 29.51 1:02.95 (33.44)
1:37.07 (34.12) 2:11.09 (34.02)
5 MEE, NICOLE 23 SOSC 2:12.08 2:12.44 778
r:+0.75 29.33 1:03.23 (33.90)
1:37.70 (34.47) 2:12.44 (34.74)
6 GOOD, ALEXANDRA 18 SYP 2:14.30 2:14.51 742
r:+0.75 29.30 1:03.14 (33.84)
1:38.17 (35.03) 2:14.51 (36.34)
7 WASHER, EMILY 19 CARL 2:14.02 2:14.62 740
r:+0.77 28.85 1:02.28 (33.43)
1:37.47 (35.19) 2:14.62 (37.15)
8 GILMOUR, TIANNI 20 PWCAL 2:14.39 2:14.77 738
r:+0.77 29.93 1:03.78 (33.85)
1:38.66 (34.88) 2:14.77 (36.11)
Men’s 100 free
Cameron McEvoy turned in a textile best swim of 47.04 in the men’s 100-meter free to throw down the gauntlet to the rest of the world. That’s faster than the previous textile best of 47.10 clocked by James Magnussen at the 2012 Australian Championships.
McEvoy came up just short of Cesar Cielo’s techsuit-fueled world record of 46.91 from the 2009 World Championships.
McEvoy also broke the Commonwealth and Australian record of 47.05 set by Eamon Sullivan back in 2008.
Kyle Chalmers, just 17, uncorked a blistering 48.03 for second to earn the second spot on the Olympic squad, downing the world junior record of 48.25 set by Brazil’s Matheus Santana in 2014.
James Roberts placed third overall in 48.32, while Olympic silver medalist James Magnussen took fourth in 48.68 to miss a chance at swimming the individual event in Rio. He did make the 400 free relay squad.
=== Finals ===
1 MCEVOY, CAMERON 21 BOND 48.09 47.04! 991
r:+0.61 22.54 47.04 (24.50)
2 CHALMERS, KYLE 17 MARI 49.06 48.03. 931
r:+0.68 23.20 48.03 (24.83)
3 ROBERTS, JAMES 24 SOMGC 49.04 48.32Q 914
r:+0.67 23.08 48.32 (25.24)
4 MAGNUSSEN, JAME 24 RAVN 49.21 48.68 894
r:+0.75 23.27 48.68 (25.41)
5 ABOOD, MATTHEW 29 CBRA 48.89 48.89 883
r:+0.69 23.37 48.89 (25.52)
6 STOCKWELL, WILL 20 COMM 49.29 48.96 879
r:+0.65 23.44 48.96 (25.52)
7 GERRARD, JACK 21 MVC 49.33 49.28 862
r:+0.73 23.83 49.28 (25.45)
8 TO, KENNETH 23 TRGR 49.19 49.35 858
r:+0.67 23.29 49.35 (26.06)
Women’s 800 free relay
1 RAVN 'A' 8:19.30 8:19.19 793
1) VAN DONGEN, AMY 17 2) r:0.68 MATSUO, AMI 19
3) r:0.10 ROBERTSON, CLARE 17 4) r:0.25 ADAMS, OLIVIA 17
r:+0.69 28.83 1:00.16 (1:00.16)
1:32.92 (1:32.92) 2:04.94 (2:04.94)
2:33.60 (28.66) 3:04.04 (59.10)
3:35.70 (1:30.76) 4:07.44 (2:02.50)
4:36.47 (29.03) 5:08.87 (1:01.43)
5:41.48 (1:34.04) 6:13.52 (2:06.08)
6:42.11 (28.59) 7:13.50 (59.98)
7:46.14 (1:32.62) 8:19.19 (2:05.67)
2 YERPK 'A' 8:22.00 8:22.38 778
1) LEVINGS, AMY 24 2) r:0.49 MITCHELL, CAITLIN 25
3) r:0.45 TONKS, LORNA 27 4) r:0.38 RETTIE, LAUREN 19
r:+0.74 29.06 1:00.64 (1:00.64)
1:32.31 (1:32.31) 2:03.44 (2:03.44)
2:32.09 (28.65) 3:03.93 (1:00.49)
3:37.21 (1:33.77) 4:09.58 (2:06.14)
4:38.23 (28.65) 5:10.08 (1:00.50)
5:43.43 (1:33.85) 6:16.73 (2:07.15)
6:46.04 (29.31) 7:18.08 (1:01.35)
7:50.89 (1:34.16) 8:22.38 (2:05.65)
3 NWD 'A' 8:27.42 8:24.40 768
1) DUNCAN, ABBY 17 2) r:0.42 DUNCAN, EMMA 21
3) r:0.70 BASTIAN, TESS 16 4) r:0.33 CEPLITE, (V), KISTA 16
r:+0.66 28.48 1:00.69 (1:00.69)
1:33.40 (1:33.40) 2:04.82 (2:04.82)
2:34.11 (29.29) 3:06.34 (1:01.52)
3:39.19 (1:34.37) 4:11.12 (2:06.30)
4:40.58 (29.46) 5:13.19 (1:02.07)
5:46.05 (1:34.93) 6:18.44 (2:07.32)
6:47.87 (29.43) 7:20.42 (1:01.98)
7:52.46 (1:34.02) 8:24.40 (2:05.96)
SEMIFINALS
Women’s 100 free
The sisters Campbell were at it again. Cate Campbell unleashed a 52.41 to break the Australian All-Comers record of 52.62 set by Cate back in 2014. The time shot Campbell to the top of the world rankings as well.
Sister Bronte qualified second overall in 52.78 to move to second in the world, tied with previously top-ranked Sarah Sjostrom (52.78).
Emma McKeon raced her way to third overall in 52.98 to stand fourth in the world, while Brittany Elmslie qualified fourth in 53.62.
=== Semi-Finals ===
1 CAMPBELL, CATE 23 COMM 53.25 52.41A 980
r:+0.79 25.12 52.41 (27.29)
2 CAMPBELL, BRONT 21 COMM 53.73 52.78Q 960
r:+0.68 25.37 52.78 (27.41)
3 MCKEON, EMMA 21 STPET 54.11 52.98Q 949
r:+0.71 25.68 52.98 (27.30)
4 ELMSLIE, BRITTA 21 BGRAM 53.64 53.62Q 915
r:+0.75 25.96 53.62 (27.66)
5 WILSON, MADISON 21 STPET 54.40 54.26 883
r:+0.70 26.19 54.26 (28.07)
6 JACK, SHAYNA 17 COMM 55.11 54.39 877
r:+0.73 26.15 54.39 (28.24)
7 BARRATT, BRONTE 27 STPET 54.68 54.40 876
r:+0.67 26.64 54.40 (27.76)
8 NGAWATI, KOTUKU 21 MVC 54.88 54.59 867
r:+0.67 26.55 54.59 (28.04)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
9 COUTTS, ALICIA 28 REDLA 54.88 54.67 864
r:+0.75 26.32 54.67 (28.35)
10 SEEBOHM, EMILY 23 BGRAM 55.07 54.74 860
r:+0.70 26.24 54.74 (28.50)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
11 BUCHANAN, CARLA 20 ACACI 55.63 54.99 849
r:+0.71 26.84 54.99 (28.15)
12 GILLETT, CHELSE 19 SPRTN 55.44 55.09 844
r:+0.67 26.69 55.09 (28.40)
13 WRIGHT, MELANIE 29 STHPT 55.13 55.28 835
r:+0.74 26.77 55.28 (28.51)
14 D'CRUZ, MARIEKE 30 SOSC 55.56 55.44 828
r:+0.70 26.20 55.44 (29.24)
15 COONEY, GEMMA 16 RIVER 55.60 55.75 814
r:+0.75 27.23 55.75 (28.52)
16 MATSUO, AMI 19 RAVN 55.79 56.43 785
r:+0.72 27.22 56.43 (29.21)
Men’s 200 back
Mitch Larkin, the clear top backstroker in Australia, turned in a 1:54.68 to lead the way in semis. That swim is the top ranked 200 back in the world, jumping ahead of Xu Jiayu’s time of 1:54.79 from China.
Joshua Beaver qualified second in a time of 1:57.42 with Matson Lawson posting a third-seeded time of 1:59.43.
=== Semi-Finals ===
1 LARKIN, MITCH 22 STPET 1:57.27 1:54.68. 929
r:+0.65 26.72 55.84 (29.12)
1:25.28 (29.44) 1:54.68 (29.40)
2 BEAVER, JOSHUA 23 NUN 1:59.65 1:57.42 865
r:+0.60 27.17 56.77 (29.60)
1:26.99 (30.22) 1:57.42 (30.43)
3 LAWSON, MATSON 23 TGSH 2:00.58 1:59.43 822
r:+0.59 27.81 58.19 (30.38)
1:28.92 (30.73) 1:59.43 (30.51)
4 LUDLOW, TRISTAN 18 STPET 2:01.41 1:59.51 821
r:+0.65 27.86 58.05 (30.19)
1:28.99 (30.94) 1:59.51 (30.52)
5 GILLILAND, JARE 21 CHAND 1:59.84 1:59.78 815
r:+0.68 28.08 58.29 (30.21)
1:29.23 (30.94) 1:59.78 (30.55)
6 GROENEWALD, NIC 18 NUN 2:01.43 2:00.22 806
r:+0.57 28.33 58.57 (30.24)
1:29.17 (30.60) 2:00.22 (31.05)
7 EDMONDS, BEN 24 MARI 2:00.92 2:00.61 799
r:+0.58 27.91 58.09 (30.18)
1:29.21 (31.12) 2:00.61 (31.40)
8 BRIDGE, KEELAN 22 SYDU 2:02.56 2:01.50 781
r:+0.57 28.47 59.01 (30.54)
1:30.02 (31.01) 2:01.50 (31.48)
Women’s 200 breast
Taylor McKeown tracked down the top time in semis with a 2:24.77, while Georgia Bohl placed second in 2:24.91. Tessa Wallace wound up third in 2:25.53.
=== Semi-Finals ===
1 MCKEOWN, TAYLOR 21 SPRTN 2:27.38 2:24.77 887
r:+0.70 32.48 1:09.10 (36.62)
1:46.60 (37.50) 2:24.77 (38.17)
2 BOHL, GEORGIA 18 STPET 2:33.08 2:24.91 884
r:+0.64 32.07 1:09.18 (37.11)
1:46.35 (37.17) 2:24.91 (38.56)
3 WALLACE, TESSA 22 PWCAL 2:33.73 2:25.53 873
r:+0.72 33.03 1:09.92 (36.89)
1:47.53 (37.61) 2:25.53 (38.00)
4 HANSEN, JESSICA 20 NUN 2:34.90 2:26.98 847
r:+0.68 32.65 1:09.44 (36.79)
1:47.52 (38.08) 2:26.98 (39.46)
5 HUNTER, SALLY 30 MARI 2:30.71 2:27.68 835
r:+0.74 32.89 1:10.50 (37.61)
1:48.39 (37.89) 2:27.68 (39.29)
6 STRAUCH, JENNA 19 UNAQ 2:30.89 2:28.87 815
r:+0.71 33.66 1:10.67 (37.01)
1:49.12 (38.45) 2:28.87 (39.75)
7 BEALE, SARAH 15 ACACI 2:32.02 2:30.22 794
r:+0.69 34.27 1:13.07 (38.80)
1:51.56 (38.49) 2:30.22 (38.66)
8 TONKS, LORNA 27 YERPK 2:36.80 2:32.10 765
r:+0.69 33.10 1:10.56 (37.46)
1:50.12 (39.56) 2:32.10 (41.98)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
9 MILLIKIN, CARLE 21 TRGR 2:34.02 2:33.65 742
r:+0.74 34.14 1:13.05 (38.91)
1:53.19 (40.14) 2:33.65 (40.46)
10 SHERIDAN, CALYP 17 BGRAM 2:35.62 2:33.72 741
r:+0.68 34.49 1:13.70 (39.21)
1:53.89 (40.19) 2:33.72 (39.83)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
11 SMITH, MIKAYLA 17 NUN 2:35.98 2:33.79 740
r:+0.63 34.05 1:12.86 (38.81)
1:53.13 (40.27) 2:33.79 (40.66)
12 SCOTT, AISLING 23 BGRAM 2:33.05 2:34.87 724
r:+0.73 33.74 1:12.13 (38.39)
1:52.07 (39.94) 2:34.87 (42.80)
13 CICCHITTI, SOFI 17 NEWMK 2:35.57 2:35.27 719
r:+0.69 34.79 1:14.08 (39.29)
1:54.21 (40.13) 2:35.27 (41.06)
14 VASTA, PARIS 16 LVN 2:36.76 2:35.43 716
r:+0.70 34.67 1:14.48 (39.81)
1:55.19 (40.71) 2:35.43 (40.24)
15 VAN BREUGEL, CA 22 WOYW 2:36.59 2:35.50 715
r:+0.79 34.07 1:13.53 (39.46)
1:54.18 (40.65) 2:35.50 (41.32)
16 EVERINGHAM, MEK 18 PTMQ 2:36.70 2:36.72 699
r:+0.73 34.55 1:14.02 (39.47)
1:54.84 (40.82) 2:36.72 (41.88)
Men’s 200 IM
Thomas Fraser-Holmes crushed the field with a time of 1:57.92, while Justin James qualified second into finals with a 2:00.42. Travis Mahoney qualified third in 2:00.48.
Fraser-Holmes moved to fifth in the world rankings with his swim heading into finals.
=== Semi-Finals ===
1 FRASER-HOLMES, 24 MIAMI 1:59.72 1:57.92Q 903
r:+0.66 25.35 55.24 (29.89)
1:29.72 (34.48) 1:57.92 (28.20)
2 JAMES, JUSTIN 23 MACKA 2:01.86 2:00.42 848
r:+0.66 25.34 55.64 (30.30)
1:30.19 (34.55) 2:00.42 (30.23)
3 MAHONEY, TRAVIS 25 NUN 2:03.24 2:00.48 847
r:+0.70 26.10 56.00 (29.90)
1:31.43 (35.43) 2:00.48 (29.05)
4 TRANTER, DANIEL 24 TRGR 2:02.12 2:00.55 845
r:+0.71 25.64 55.88 (30.24)
1:30.13 (34.25) 2:00.55 (30.42)
5 LEWIS, CLYDE 18 STPET 2:03.24 2:00.69 842
r:+0.67 25.88 56.15 (30.27)
1:31.76 (35.61) 2:00.69 (28.93)
6 BOSKOVIC, KAZIM 20 SYDU 2:01.92 2:00.87 838
r:+0.67 26.10 55.70 (29.60)
1:31.13 (35.43) 2:00.87 (29.74)
7 ELLIOTT, TOMAS 21 SOSC 2:03.54 2:01.67 822
r:+0.69 26.85 58.51 (31.66)
1:32.29 (33.78) 2:01.67 (29.38)
8 GILLILAND, JARE 21 CHAND 2:03.36 2:02.12 813
r:+0.65 26.45 57.71 (31.26)
1:32.99 (35.28) 2:02.12 (29.13)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
9 TRAIFOROS, JAME 19 TRGR 2:04.89 2:02.96 796
r:+0.71 26.85 57.52 (30.67)
1:33.25 (35.73) 2:02.96 (29.71)
10 SHERINGTON, CAL 18 CARL 2:05.82 2:04.87 760
r:+0.66 26.71 58.07 (31.36)
1:35.30 (37.23) 2:04.87 (29.57)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
11 TOWNSEND, LOUIS 18 RACKL 2:06.67 2:04.92 760
r:+0.60 26.08 59.02 (32.94)
1:34.96 (35.94) 2:04.92 (29.96)
12 HINDS-SYDENHAM, 19 SOSC 2:04.46 2:05.17 755
r:+0.71 26.44 58.16 (31.72)
1:35.76 (37.60) 2:05.17 (29.41)
13 WOOLLEY, JUSTIN 23 MVC 2:05.82 2:05.89 742
r:+0.71 26.57 59.80 (33.23)
1:34.83 (35.03) 2:05.89 (31.06)
14 OLIVER, DOUGLAS 20 YERPK 2:06.42 2:06.06 739
r:+0.78 26.94 59.57 (32.63)
1:36.50 (36.93) 2:06.06 (29.56)
15 SMITH, JAKE 18 BRW 2:06.93 2:06.20 737
r:+0.69 26.99 59.43 (32.44)
1:36.08 (36.65) 2:06.20 (30.12)
16 FISK, LIAM 20 NUN 2:06.19 2:06.26 736
r:+0.61 26.24 58.84 (32.60)
1:35.43 (36.59) 2:06.26 (30.83)
Swimming Australia Press Release:
Records tumbled, heroes were made and dreams were realised and shattered in equal measure. If ever a race was to live up to its hype, it was the men’s 100m freestyle at the 2016 Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships at the SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre in Adelaide.
Cameron McEvoy broke the 100m freestyle Commonwealth, Australian and All-Comers records in a blindingly fast final swim of 47.04 seconds. The time puts the 21-year-old tantalisingly close to the World Record (46.91) set by Cesar Cielo in the 2009. Only two other swimmers have been faster – Cielo and Alain Bernard (46.94) –both in the super-suit era.
“It felt no different to any other race,” McEvoy said.
“If I had known I was that close [to the World Record], then there might have been something else in me that would have pushed me a bit further. But it’s a 0.52 PB off the PB I did in Perth. It’s unbelievable.
“It puts me into a good position come Rio, but in saying that there is a history of world number ones’ going in first and not coming out with the gold and the Olympics is notorious for not always producing the best time to win it.
“I’m very much aware of that and I’m very much aware that everyone else in the world will be sitting on their couch watching this race and firing them up getting ready for training at 5am just to beat me. So although its good, I can’t sit back and relax and think that that’s going to come without any more effort it Rio – I have a lot to do.”
From the gun, the race was McEvoy’s, but it was anyone’s guess who would take the coveted second individual Olympic berth on offer. In the end it was 17-year-old Kyle Chalmers (Marion, SA), using his vocal home crowd to push him to the wall in a massive new personal best time of 48.03.
“I had to stay calm in that first 50,” Chalmers said.
“I could see when I was breathing that I was pretty close to them which I knew was good for me because my back end is always the strongest part of my race. So I just enjoyed the race and enjoyed the experience racing against those bigger guys.
“It means a lot to me and also to the state. It’s good for me to get up there tonight and do it not just for me but for South Australian swimmers and people that have come out to support tonight.”
It wasn’t the night for dual World Champion and London Olympic silver medallist James Magnussen, who was gracious in defeat. Magnussen was fourth in 48.68 – missing the individual spot – with lack of time and race practice after shoulder surgery proving too much for the 24-year-old.
The top six swimmers all clocked under 49 seconds. London Olympic relay swimmer James Roberts, who has flown under the radar for much of the last four years, finished third in 48.32, veteran sprinter Matt Abood was fifth just behind Magnussen in 48.89 and William Stockwell knocked even more off his personal best to clock 48.96.
Not content to let the men have all the sprinting spotlight, Cate Campbell threw down the fastest women’s 100m freestyle time in the world this year, and her fastest since the World Championships in 2013, when she hit the wall tonight in 52.41.
Campbell broke her own All-Comers record in the semi-final swim, with sister Bronte Campbell recording the equal second fastest swim this year with her blistering 52.78 in the lane next to Cate. Emma McKeon who already has Olympic nominations in the 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly also swam under 53 seconds in the first semi-final, clocking 52.98 for a new personal best. The final is setting up to be as big a showdown as the men’s.
“I think that showed that everyone is on edge – no one is taking their foot off the pedal,” Cate said.
“That’s the fastest swim I have had in three years so I’m extremely pleased with that. I didn’t expect it to be that fast but knew I had to get in touch with what I want to do tomorrow night. I didn’t just want it to be a throw away swim, I wanted it to be competitive and something that I can build on tomorrow.
“I tend to do my best swims when I surprise myself. I’m definitely not going to be taking too much expectation into tomorrow night.
Madeline Groves defended her Australian title and locked in another race in Rio when she took out the women’s 200m butterfly in 2:05.47 – a time that would have won gold at last year’s World Championships in Kazan. The 20-year-old from St Peters Western will now race the 100/200 double in Rio and will be a serious contender there.
“The pressure wasn’t entirely off and I had to do a good time and I really wanted to win the event too. It’s actually my fourth title in the 200 fly now which I am really happy about. The first one I won was actually in this pool and I was way off qualifying so it’s great to be back here and get a bit of redemption and win it and make the time this year.
She will be joined in Rio by 20-year-old Brianna Throssell from Perth City, WA. Throssell, who was fourth in the event at the 2015 World Championships, set a new personal best time of 2:06.58 to place second and get under the Olympic qualifying time. Along with Groves, she could be in the mix for a medal in Rio.
Teenager Matthew Wilson came agonisingly close to realising his Olympic dream tonight, missing the 200m breaststroke qualifying time by just 0.26 of a second. The 17-year-old schoolboy who lives in the Blue Mountains and undergoes intense logistics to train each day at Sydney’s SOPAC pool, came into the meet with a personal best time of 2:11.23. He has improved on this in each race, finishing the final on 2:09.90.Nicholas Schafer was second on 2:10.75 whilst 100m champion Jake Packard was third on 2:12.65.
Paralympian Daniel Fox secured his third Australian title for the meet, winning the Multi-Class 100m freestyle in 53.72 (988 points). Fox was unable to replicate his morning swim that saw him within a fraction of his own world record, but the 24-year-old from Chandler is certainly showing all the right signs in his preparation for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Joshua Alford (Tuggeranong Vikings, NSW) took silver in 54.60 (941 points) and Matthew Levy (Cranbrook Eastern Edge, NSW) took bronze in 1:02.06 (919 points).
In the women’s Multi-Class 100m freestyle, London Paralympic bronze medallist Maddison Elliott was victorious in 1:05.34 – 971 points. Elliott is the World Record holder in her S8 class and will be looking for another podium finish in the 100m come Rio. Rachael Watson showed she will be a force to be reckoned with in the S4 class, finishing with the Multi-Class silver medal on 1:31.78 (928 points). Ellie Cole was third in 1:02.69 (925 points).
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Nice swim by Big Mc but enjoy it while you can ( see Stev Holland) because the guy who set American/NCAA records in the 50-100 yard frees last month in Atlanta is gonna go 20 Flat/ :45 flat @. Onaha and then 19-plus/44-low @. The Big Dance!