2024 AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TRIALS
G’day Mates. I hope you enjoyed some stellar performances yesterday and are excited for today’s events, as many of the stars from yesterday are back for more. Kaylee McKeown, Elijah Winnington, and Sam Short are all back in the water as they look to qualify in a second event.
We start the morning off with a bang, like yesterday the very first heat of the morning will see a World Record holder, as McKeown will look to the 100 back to her event list alongside the 200 IM. While the only swimmer entered under 58, that doesn’t mean she isn’t without competition. Mollie O’Callaghan, a World Record holder in her own right, enters as the second seed. While seeded over a second faster than the #3 seed, O’Callaghan will have a hungry pack of determined youngsters behind her led by Iona Anderson and Jaclyn Barclay.
The next event progressed from one of Australia’s strengths to its weakness. Jenna Strauch and Abbey Harkin will duel it out in the 100 breast, vying for a spot on the medley relay and in the individual event. While Strauch has the only entry time under the 1:06.31 qualifying time, 3rd seed Ella Ramsay could be in the hunt, as she already made the team in the 200 IM and could be riding a wave of momentum.
The Multi-Class 50 free comes next and will be a fast affair as 11 men and 16 women will all vie for a coveted spot in tonight’s final. Having a second swim in the para events affords the athletes another shot to earn more points, as qualification to the team will have to wait until the end of the meet.
The men’s 100 back is sandwiched in between the para 50 free and para 100 fly, and will see Isaac Cooper and Bradley Woodward chase down the stiff qualifying time of 53.21. Neither of the top two seeded Aussies have entries under that mark, but it certainly could be within reach. Australian record holder Mitch Larkin, whose best sits at 52.11, is your 8th seed and will need to be on point to make it back to the final.
After the MC 100 fly, the men’s 200 free sees the return of Winnington and Short. Both will look to put up strong performances this morning against the likes of Maximillian Giuliani, Thomas Neill, Alex Graham, Kai Taylor, Flynn Southam, Matt Temple, and Zac Incerti (to name a few). With some many names all desperate for a ticket to Paris, it may be harder to make the top 8 this morning, than tonight, where six of the eight finalists will likely be on the plane to Paris.
Whole Meet Prelims Heat Sheet
Women’s 100 Backstroke – Prelims
- World Record: 57.33 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2023
- Australian Record: 57.33 – Kaylee McKeown, 2023
- Swim Australia OQT: 59.62
- 2021 Time to Final: 1:01.37 – Abbey Webb
Top 8
- Mollie O’Callaghan (STPET) – 58.73
- Kaylee McKeown (GUSC) – 59.03
- Hannah Fredericks (STPET) – 59.72
- Iona Anderson (BRW) – 59.96
- Jacyln Barclay (STPET) – 1:00.30
- Minna Atherton (BOND) – 1:00.90
- Layla Day (BOND) – 1:00.01
- Emily Seebohm (STMAR) – 1:01.02
McKeown wasted no effort establishing herself as the dominant swimmer in the first heat. McKeown easily led the first heat into the halfway wall, flipping in 28.63, flipping ahead of up-and-coming Jacyln Barclay and Bronte Job. McKeown looked smooth and controlled, not really going to her legs in the closing meters, and cruised to the wall in 59.03. Barclay had a good swim and put herself into a good spot for tonight’s final, finishing in 1:00.30.
MOC showed off her back half speed in the second heat as she pushed the pace in the closing meters. Out in 28.87, O’Callaghan had a strong run into the finish and went around McKeown to take over the top time in the morning in a swift 58.73. Her teammate, Hannah Fredericks, also got under the 1:00 barrier, hitting the wall in 59.72, just .03 off her entry time.
The third heat (and final) of circle-seeded heats was a slower affair. Top seed in the heat and third overall, Iona Anderson cruised into the wall in 59.96, .72 off her entry time. Anderson has been as fast as 58.53, so will look to drop a lot of time this evening. Veteran swimmers Minna Atherton and Emily Seebohm finished in 1:00.90 and 1:01.02 and sit in 6th and 8th position, so hopefully should move through.
WOMEN’S 100 Breaststroke – Prelims
- World Record: 1:04.13 – Lilly King (USA), 2017
- Australian Record: 1:05.09 – Leisel Jones, 2006
- Swim Australia OQT: 1:06.31
- 2021 Time to Final: 1:08.34 – Zoe Deacon
Top 8
- Jenna Strauch (MIAMI) – 1:07.58
- Abbey Harkin (STPET) – 1:07.59
- Ella Ramsay (CHAND) – 1:07.70
- Matilda Smith (MIAMI) – 1:08.03
- Sienna Toohey (ALBU) – 1:08.04
- Mikayla Smith (GUSC) – 1:09.05
- Isabella Johnson (CRUIZ) – 1:09.24
- Zoe Deacon (NUN) – 1:09.44
The 200 silver medalist from Budapest, Jenna Strauch, played to her strengths as she swam a strong back 50 to pass the early leader, Sienna Toohey. Strauch, who is on the comeback trail from a knee injury, was behind the 15-year-old at the turn but chased her down to take the heat win in 1:07.58, with Toohey finishing just on the other side of 1:08, taking second in 1:08.04
Abbey Harkin entered the meet as the second seed and will likely enter the finals tonight in the same position, as she won the second heat in 1:07.59, .01 behind the early leader, Strauch. Harkin really pulled through the field and won the heat by nearly one and a half seconds as Mikayla Smith finished in second place in 1:09.05.
Continuing last night’s success, Ella Ramsay swam a strong and smooth heat swim, hitting the wall in 1:07.70. Ramsay, who placed second in the 200 IM, faced a late challenge from Matilda Smith, but she held on, with Smith. With three swimmers under 1:08 and two just over it, it’ll be a tight race in the final tonight as they all chase the 1:06.31 qualifying time.
39-year-old Sally Hunter (nee Foster), a four-time World Championship medalist, placed 9th in the prelims in a time of 1:09.63, missing out on the A-Final by .19.
MEN’S MULTI CLASS 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS
Top 8
- Tom Gallagher S10 (SOMGC) – 23.51 (956 pts.)
- Rowan Crothers S10 (YERPK) – (870 pts.)
- Alexander Tuckfield S10 (SSST) – 24.55 (840 pts.)
- Riley Moore S10 (WOYW) – 26.20
- Ben Popham S9 (HLDR) – 26.27
- Luke Holder S10 (HORN) – 27.12
- Hamish Keenan S9 (PROP) – 28.40
- Daniel Rigby S9 (KPSC) – 28.73
The splash and dash saw swimmers ranging from S3 to S10 all vie for a spot in tonight’s final. Sporting a nice mustache, Tom Gallagher surged past Tokyo Paralympic champion Rowan Crothers and took the win in 23.51, a drop of .06 from seed. Crothers finished second in 24.26 and may have been holding something back as he was .84 off his seed.
Gallagher’s swim this morning already dipped under the qualifying standard, but he cannot rest on his laurels as swimmers tonight could put up higher point totals.
WOMEN’S MULTI CLASS 50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS
Top 8
- Alexa Leary S9 (STHIL) – 28.04
- Keira Stephens S10 (STHPT) – 28.83
- Katja Dedekind S13 (YERPK) – 28.41
- Jenna Jones S12 (USCS) – 29.03
- Rachel Watson S3 (CHAND) – 40.76
- Hannah Price S10 (CMBT) – 30.45
- Michelle Fawer S10 (ENGA) – 31.43
- Sarah Howe S10 (BGOLD) – 31.68
The women’s 50 free was a subdued affair, with many of the swimmers saving their best for tonight. Alexa Leary will take the center lane this evening, but will face pressure from Katj Dedekind, who was 28.41 this morning but had an entry time of 26.56.
MEN’S 100 Backstroke – Prelims
- World Record: 51.60 – Thomas Ceccon (ITA), 2022
- Australian Record: 52.11 – Mitch Larkin, 2015
- Swim Australia OQT: 53.21
- 2021 Time to Final: 55.03 – Travis Mahoney
Top 8
- Bradley Woodward (MING) – 53.78
- Isaac Cooper (STAND) – 53.91
- Enoch Robb (ALLSA) – 54.58
- Mitch Larkin (CHAND) – 54.76
- Stuart Swinburn (COSAC) – 54.79
- James Bayliss (CHAND) – 54.82
- Joshua Edwards-Smith (GUSC) – 55.03
- Lewis Blackburn (STAND) – 55.24
Isaac Cooper showed off his speed early in the race, taking out the first 50 fast, hitting the wall in 25.85. Cooper held on to the win, finishing in 53.91. It was a comfortable margin as Stuart Swinburn took second, nearly a full second behind at 54.79.
A much faster heat, the second heat saw Bradley Woodward overtake Cooper’s spot atop the field. Woodward was out quite a bit slower, flipping in 26.48, but surged over the last 50 meters to hit the wall in 53.78. Also swimming well in the heat were Enoch Robb and Mitch Larkin. The pair finished behind Woodward in times of 54.58 and 54.76, respectively, and currently sit in 3rd and 4th with one circle seeded heat remaining.
The third heat of the men’s 100 back was a much slower affair. Lewis Blackburn and Se-Bom Lee dueled with each other over the 100 but didn’t have the speed to keep up with the previous heats’ swimmers. Blackburn got the best of Lee, hitting the wall in 55.24 as compared to Lee’s 55.30. Blackburn is in the hot seat as he currently sits in 8th place and could be bumped from the A-final. The top seed in the heat, visiting athlete Mark Nikolaev add close to two seconds to his seed time to finish in 55.95.
MEN’S MULTI CLASS 100 Butterfly – PRELIMS
Top 8
- Benjamin Hance S14 (STAND) – 56.13 (899 pts.)
- Timothy Hodge S9 (ACUB) – 1:00.46 (846 pts.)
- Alex Saffy S10 (BUN) – 57.78 (823 pts.)
- Cole Pearse S10 (NUN) – 58.27
- Lewis Bishop S9 (RACKL) – 1:01.53
- Liam Schluter S14 (USCS) – 59.06
- Declan Budd S14 (KPSC) – 59.69
- William Martin S10 (NCOLL) – 59.82
While it looked like a piano was dropping on his back in the closing meters, S14 swimmer Benjamin Hance absolutely smashed the first heat of the 100 fly. Out in 25.50, Hance held on and managed to hit the wall in 55.90, coming home in 30.63. Hance’s swim was just off .23 from his seed time, but he cleared the qualifying time in his category.
WOMEN’S MULTI CLASS 100 Butterfly – PRELIMS
Top 8
- Ruby Storm S14 (STAND) – 1:09.66 (751 pts.)
- Jasmine Greenwood S10 (CRUIZ) – 1:09.04 (745 pts.)
- Taylor Corry S14 (KPD) – 1:09.92 (743 pts.)
- Emily Beecroft S9 (USCS) – 1:09.56 (725 pts.)
- Poppy Wilson S10 (YERPK) – 1:09.92 (718 pts.)
- Kael Thompson S14 (SCGS) – 1:12.26 (673 pts.)
- Montana Atkinson S14 (HELEN) – 1:12.72 (660 pts.)
- Jasmin Fullgrabe S9 (MARI) – 1:13.35 (618 pts.)
Paige Leonhardt, who entered this morning with the fastest entry time, was disqualified in the heats of the 100 fly and must look to other events to book her ticket to Paris. Should she be selected for a different event, she could be afforded the opportunity to swim in this event at the games. It’ll be a tight race this evening between Ruby Storm and Jasmine Greenwood; as points-wise, they were nearly inseparable, with just 6 points separating the two and only eight between the top three.
MEN’S 200 Freestyle – Prelims
- World Record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann (GER), 2009
- Australian Record: 1:44.06 – Ian Thorpe, 2001
- Swim Australia OQT: 1:45.97
- 2021 Time to Final: 1:47.43 – Matthew Temple
Top 8
- Elijah Winnington (STPET) – 1:45.95
- Kai Taylor (STPET) – 1:46.29
- Zac Incerti (USCS) – 1:46.59
- Maximillian Giuliani (MIAMI) – 1:46.72
- Alexander Graham (MIAMI) – 1:46.87
- Flynn Southam (BOND) – 1:47.07
- Thomas Neill (RACKL) – 1:47.10
- Brendon Smith (GUSC) – 1:47.58
The first heat was a close affair, with everyone trying their best to put forth a time that would survive the remaining two heats. Alexander Graham was your early leader, leading at the 100 in 51.60. Maximillian Giuliani and Zac Incerti made their move in the last 100, with Incerti getting the better of Giuliani, hitting the wall in 1:46.59, .13 ahead of the second-place finishing time. Graham held on for third, stopping the clock in 1:46.87. Charlie Hawke finished 4th in the heat, adding a second to his seed time, hitting the wall in 1:48.34.
The second heat did not see the Winnington-Short rematch, as the latter withdrew from the heat. It has been rumored that Short has been dealing with a GI illness, and while Short has been recently more known for his distance-free, he was a member of the silver medal-winning 4×200 relay in Budapest. The absence did not faze Winnington, who instead dueled with Kai Taylor. The 400 winner last night doubled up on his prelims top seed as he hit the wall in 1:45.95. Taylor did well to finish second, stopping the clock in 1:46.29.
The last of the circle-seeded heats was a slower affair as Flynn Southam out-dueled Thomas Neill and Brendon Smith to take the win in 1:47.07. Neill, who was just behind in 1:47.10, stayed ahead of Smith, who is more known for his IM prowess, as he hit the wall in 1:47.58.
MEN’S MULTI CLASS 50 Breaststroke – PRELIMS
Top 8
- Grant Patterson SB2 (CENCA) – 1:04.89 (476 pts.)
The last, but certainly not least, race of the morning was the men’s MC 100 breast. Grant Patterson was the lone entrant but made the most of it, getting under the SB2 qualifying time and stopping the clock in 1:04.89.
