Australia’s stars were out in their Rio Farewell Tour at the 2016 Grand Prix. There was also a bit of an international presence as well. After some solid swims in the morning, the bar rose again at night, just a month out from Rio.
Cate Campbell took nearly two tenths off her prelims time (24.23) with a 24.04 to win the 50 freestyle. That time was a new meet record and is the second fastest in the world this year, though she already owns the first with a 23.84. That swim is certainly a promising sign, with just over a month until the start of the Rio Games. Sister Bronte finished second in 24.47, .3 faster than this morning, and only .23 off her season’s best.
“While this is really nice and it’s a great confidence booster you can’t read too much into it” Cate told Swimming Australia.
In the 100 freestyle the top three men were all under meet record time. Cameron McEvoy got his hand to the wall first in 48.43. Just .06 behind him was James Magnussen in 48.49 for silver. For Magnussen that was his fastest time post-shoulder surgery. Kyle Chalmers touched in 48.80 for bronze.
After the race Magnussen told Swimming Australia:
“It has been pretty demoralising knowing what you can do and feeling those physical limitations. So with my body starting to catch up with my mind it is so encouraging and gives me so much motivation for post Olympics. It is getting the strength in my left arm to sit up on my stroke; I’ve got a kind of unique technique; it takes a lot of strength and energy which is partly the reason I needed the shoulder re-construction.”
Jessica Ashwood swam an 800 freestyle meet record 8:21.16 to open the finals session. New Zealand’s Lauren Boyle was also under the old mark with an 8:25.62.
Mitch Larkin destroyed the field with a meet record 53.22 to win the men’s 100 backstroke.
Minna Atherton stopped the clock in meet record time of 2:08.00 to win the women’s 200 backstroke, over a second ahead of the field. Seventeen year old Matthew Wilson dominated the men’s 200 backstroke with a 2:!3.83, just .2 shy of the meet record.
Alicia Coutts lowered her own 200 IM prelims meet record when she touched in 2:11.18 to win the women’s 200 IM. A second back was Taylor Mckeown in 2:12.16. Mckeown was back with a 1:07.52 to win the 100 breaststroke by over three seconds.
David Morgan was the only swimmer under two minutes (1:59.31) on his way to the top of the 200 butterfly podium.
Bronte Barratt led three women under two minutes in the 200 freestyle. Barratt finished in 1:56.53 while Leah Neale (1:58.97) and Ashwood (1:59.85) were also under the marker.
Emma McKeon clocked a 57.82 to win the women’s 100 fly. Also joining her under a minute were Korea’s Sehyoen An (58.50) and Gemma Cooney (58.95).
In a tight battle in the men’s 400 freestyle David McKeon out touched Daniel Smith 3:48.52 to 4:48.76. Park Tae Hwan was just behind in 3:49.18.
Thomas Fraser-Holmes was nine seconds ahead of the field with 1 4:15.84 to grab gold in the men’s 400 IM.
In the multiclass 100 butterfly final, Madelein Scott took gold in 1:11.23. Scott also took home the win in the multiclass 200 IM with a 2:38.04. Brenden Hall won the men’s 400 freestyle multiclass in 4:12.51, just faster than Rowan Crothers in 4:12.85.
With a 39.75 Rachael Watson was victorious in the multiclass 50 freestyle. Jeremy McClure took the 100 backstroke title in 1:10.73. Daniel Fox took the men’s 100 freestyle multiclass with his 55.51. With a 2:15.19 Monique Murphy won the women’s multiclass 200 freestyle. Ahmed Kelly took the 50 breaststroke in 53.86. Matthew Levy was first to the wall in the 50 butterfly with a 31.94.
Swimming Australia contributed to this report.
View live results here: 2016 Swimming Australia Grand Prix: Live Results – Results