Mack Horton Pops World Best in Sydney, Legendary Grant Hackett Takes 3rd

grant-hackett-david-mckeon-mack-horton-2015

Photo Courtesy: Swimming Australia

The Australian Swimming Championships featured the return of a living legend, and some sizzling swims from some of the top swimmers in the world.

Emma McKeon kicked off the night with a smoking 57.35 to lead the women’s 100-meter fly semis. That swim was faster than the 57.70 Alicia Coutts used to win the title last year, and bettered McKeon’s third-ranked standing from a 57.68 in prelims. Only Sarah Sjostrom (56.58) and Jeanette Ottesen (57.23) have been faster.

Madeline Groves qualified second in 58.01 to move to fourth in the world, while Coutts qualified third with a 58.15, just off her fifth-ranked season best of 58.12 from prelims.

Mack Horton hit the men’s 400-meter freestyle finale field like a Mack Truck with a 3:42.84. That swim vaulted him to the top of the world rankings tonight, and was well under the 3:43.72 David McKeon used to win the national title just a year ago. Horton’s time moved him to ninth all time in the event’s history, ahead of Peter Vanderkaay’s 3:43.11.

“Focusing on the 1500m is what gives me a good time in the 400,” said Horton. “Last year was a good stepping stone getting into the team with Comm Games and Pan Pacs…World Champs is a step up and a stepping stone to the Olympics. So it’s all building in to next year.”

McKeon, meanwhile, took second tonight in 3:44.28 to also stand second in the world, while the legendary Grant Hackett, 34, won a bronze medal in his first nationals back since his comeback. Hackett posted a fourth-ranked 3:46.53 as only Horton, McKeon and James Guy (3:45.77) have been faster this year.

Hackett, who had been gone from the sport for six years, just returned six months ago primarily for fitness purposes and is already throwing down seriously strong times.

“I can’t believe I can do that in six months, I’m really surprised…Who knows what I can do in another six months,” Hackett said. “I can’t really avoid it can I, but I hate the word [comeback]. That’s not what the intention was [of starting to swim again]. I’m doing it for fun and that’s the way I am going to keep doing it. It’s technically a comeback if that’s what you want to call it but it has nothing to do with trying to get the glory back or fill a void in my life – I’m just enjoying swimming.”

It all began here, 9 years later… pic.twitter.com/zazvdWlrJ2

— Mack Horton (@_mackhorton) April 3, 2015

In the second semifinal of the night, Kotuku Ngawati picked up the top seed in the women’s 200-meter IM with a 2:12.16., while Aisling Scott qualified second in 2:12.57. Emily Seebohm also made her way into the finale with a 2:12.83.

In the first men’s semifinal of the evening, Jayden Hadler took the top seed in the men’s 50-meter fly with a 23.70. That swim put him among the top 15 in the world. Papua New Guinea’s Ryan Pini posted a 23.77 but will not swim in the A final as an international swimmer.

Jessica Ashwood won the second title of the night with a 4:05.58 in the women’s 400-meter free. That swim is just off her fourth-ranked season best of 4:05.30 from the NSW State Championships earlier this year in Sydney.

Leah Neale finished second with a 4:06.84 to move to ninth in the world rankings, while Tamsin Cook took third in 4:07.14 to land 11th in the world rankings.

Ian Thorpe, the last legend from Australia who attempted a much-less successful comeback than Hackett’s thus far, was on hand to present the women’s 400-meter freestyle medals. He’s still battling shoulder issues, and had his arm in a sling.

In the men’s 100-meter semis, Jake Packard posted a top time of 1:00.27. That swim put him fourth in the world behind Adam Peaty (59.04), Caba Siladji (59.79) and Cody Miller (59.92). Tommy Sucipto qualified second tonight in 1:00.75 with Christian Sprenger posting a third-seeded 1:00.83.

In the multi-class events, Ellie Cole was listed first in the women’s 100-meter back with a 1:10.81, while Michael Anderson was listed first in the men’s 100-meter back with a 1:01.58.

Carlile’s Leanne Wright, Ami Matsuo, Emily Washer and Jessie Quinn won the women’s 400-meter free relay in 3:48.18. Sydney’s Andrew Abood, Benjamin Lindsay, Tehaumi Maxwell and Matt Abood put up a 3:21.28 to win the men’s 400-meter free relay.

2015 Australian Swimming Championships, Live Results – Results

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use