Commonwealth Games: Kaylee McKeown Tops Kylie Masse in 100 Back Duel
The battle of two of the world’s most prominent backstrokers did not disappoint Sunday, with scarcely a tenth of a second separating Kaylee McKeown and Kylie Masse.
McKeown got to the wall first at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the Australian world-record holder clocking in at 58.60 seconds. In the process, she took the CG title and Games record that had belonged to Masse from the 2018 edition. Masse earned silver in 58.73.
The two backstrokers have collided time and again through the years. Masse did the 100-200 double at the 2018 Commonwealth Games to go with silver in the 50 back. She was second in the 100 back to American Regan Smith at the 2022 World Championships, with McKeown scratching that event. McKeown won gold in Tokyo last summer, where she did the 100-200 double.
Sunday’s tilt was as advertised. Masse took the final out faster, touching in 28.56, .19 up on McKeown. But the Aussie had more coming home, closing in 29.85 to Masse’s 30.17. That was enough to get 0.13 seconds ahead of her at the wall and take .03 off the Games record form 2018.
Third place went to Medi Harris of Wales, the first Welsh medal of the swimming competition. She clocked in at 59.62. Minna Atherton of Australia was fourth in 1:00.02.
