Next generation swimming sensation Kaylee McKeown set the pool alight on the second night of finals at the 2016 Georgina Hope Foundation Australian Age Championships at the SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre in Adelaide.
The 14-year-old Sunshine Coast swimmer, who is the younger sister of Commonwealth Games gold medallist and world championship representative Taylor McKeown, is proving swimming is in her genes after setting a new Australian Age record in the girl’s 14 years 200m backstroke.
Finishing over 11 seconds clear of the field, Kaylee built up an early lead and couldn’t be caught as she hit the wall in an impressive time of 2:10.07 to erase Elizabeth Beisel’s record from 2007.
With the Hancock Prospecting Australian Swimming Championships (April 7-14) just around the corner, Kaylee’s time would not be out of place in an open final.
With the likes of World Championship representatives Emily Seebohm, Madi Wilson and Hayley Baker as well as Junior World Champion Minna Atherton all clocking internationally competitive times, it looks like backstroke could be the way forward for the Aussie women.
This was Kaylee’s second title for the Championships so far after taking out the 200m individual medley last night.
The silver medal went to Savannah Van Nieuwburg (TSS Aquatics QLD) in 2:21.53 with Antonia Hurd third in 2:22.14.
Swimming Australia contributed this report.
Georgina Hope Foundation 2016 Australian Age Swimming Championships, SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre, FINALS, Day Two:
MEN
12/13 years
100m butterfly Thomas Hauck (All Saints QLD) 59.69, Bailey Coleman (Southside Aquatics QLD) 1:00.51, Nathan Tran (Nunawading VIC) 1:00.91
200m individual medley Thomas Hauck (All Saints QLD) 2:14.52, Thomas Neill (Rackley QLD) 2:17.15, Andy Zhu (Sunnybank QLD) 2:17.24
14 years
1500m freestyle Jack Wilson (Breakers WA) 16:22.71, Nick Jennens (Carlile NSW) 16:27.25, James Otley-Doe (TSS Aquatics QLD) 16:34.12
200m backstroke Nick Jennens (Carlile NSW) 2:07.17, Se-Bom Lee (Cherrybrook Carlile NSW) 2:08.31, Oliver Nash (MVC VIC) 2:08.32
15 years
200m butterfly Elijah Winnington (Bond QLD) 2:03.62, Oskar Robinson (Cotton Tree QLD) 2:06.96, Joshua Knight (Kawana Waters QLD) 2:07.04
100m freestyle Elijah Winnington (BOND QLD) 50.81, Leon McAlister (Carlile NSW) 51.90, Aaron Mansfield (Kawana Waters QLD) 52.50
16 years
100m breaststroke David Schlicht (MLC VIC) 1:03.53, Heath Macleod (MLC VIC) 1:03.68, Nathan Zhu (TigerSharks VIC) 1:04.25
50m freestyle Jordan Brunt (Southport QLD) 23.44, Joseph Jackson (Brisbane Grammar QLD) 23.45, Jacob Whale (Flyers Swim Club VIC) 23.92
400m freestyle Nathan Robinson (St Peters Western QLD) 3:56.52, Zachary Attard (Cherrybrook Carlile NSW) 3:56.58, Ethan McAleese (Rockingham QLD) 3:59.48
17/18 years
400m individual medley Jacob Vincent (Miami QLD) 4:22.94, Theodoros Benehoutsos (Greece) 4:23.83, Callum Sherrington (Carlile NSW) 4:24.07
100m backstroke Clyde Lewis (St Peters Western QLD) 55.19, Tristan Ludlow (St Peters Western QLD) 55.93, Jack Cartwright (St Peters Western QLD) 55.99
WOMEN
12/13 years
100m butterfly Lydia Murray (St Peters Western QLD) 1:02.52, Brooke Napper (All Saints QLD) 1:04.03, Sophie Botterill-James (Hobart Aquatic Centre TAS) 1:04.54
200m individual medley Jenna Forrester (St Peters Western QLD) 2:20.98, Shikira-Lee Matheson (St Peters Western QLD) 2:21.86, Georgina McCarthy (NZL) 2:22.85
14 years
200m backstroke Kaylee McKeown (Pelican Waters QLD) 2:10.07, Savannah Van Nieuwburg (TSS Aquatics QLD) 2:21.53, Antonia Hurd (Helensvale QLD) 2:22.14
800m freestyle Phoebe Walker (St Peters Western QLD) 8:57.59, Laticia-Leigh Transom (Brisbane Grammar QLD) 9:00.39, Jacinta Essam (Tuggeranong Vikings ACT) 9:01.31
15 years
200m butterfly Kara Svenson (Plane Creek QLD) 2:14.47, Charlotte Mitcell (TSS Aquatics QLD) 2:16.09, Madisyn Armstrong (Miami QLD) 2:17.00
100m freestyle Emily Liu (Marion SA) 55.71, Eliza King (Rackley QLD) 56.93, Natasha Ramsden (Abbotsleigh NSW) 57.02
16 years
100m breaststroke Bec Cross (Gininderra ACT) 1:11.62, Madison Thompson (Pelican Waters Calouondra QLD) 1:11.73,Ashleigh Glover (UWA West Coast WA) 1:11.96
50m freestyle Elli Mackay (St Peters Western QLD) 25.63, Julia Hawkins (Nunawading VIC) 25.83, Tanya Stovgaard (Southport QLD) 26.36
400m freestyle Laura Taylor (TSS Aquatics, QLD) 4:16.62, Madeleine Gough (TSS Aquatics, QLD) 4:17.62, Connie McClelland (MLC Aquatic VIC) 4:17.84
17/18 years
400m individual medley Acacia Wilden-Snedden (St Peters Western QLD) 4:50.80, Xanique Taylor Rolls (St Peters Western QLD) 4:55.99, Rachel Wood (The Hills NSW) 4:56.84
100m backstroke Elyse Woods (MVC VIC) 1:02.46, Ryleigh Lammert (Marlin Coast QLD) 1:02.47, Micaela Habib (Marion SA) 1:03.53