Emma McKeon Picks Up Third Event For Budapest at Australian Championships

Photo Courtesy: Steve Christo/Swimming Australia

The third night of action from the 2017 Australian Swimming Championships produced more fast swimming and World Championship berths as Emma McKeon qualified for her third event for Budapest in the 200 free. McKeon leads a charge for a strong 4×200 free relay team that will look to improve on the sixth place performance in 2015. Mitch Larkin picked up another win in the 100 back and will most likely swim it in Budapest to defend his title he won in 2015. Clyde Lewis and Daniel Cave also became first time national champions in their respective events, but missed the automatic qualifying time for the World Championships, so they will have to wait to see if they will make the team.

Tonight’s Events:

Men’s 100 Back
Men’s 200 IM
Women’s 200 Free
Women’s 50 Back
Women’s 50 Fly
Men’s 100 Breast

Men’s 100 Back

Mitch Larkin got the night started with a win in the 100 backstroke on Tuesday night in Brisbane. The defending World Champion won the event at 53.54, a little shy off the automatic qualifying time that was a 53.39. Since Larkin is the defending World Champion and already qualified in the 200, he may just swim this event in Budapest this summer along with the 200. Larkin has been underwhelming in his two wins this meet citing his coaching change after the Olympics. Regardless of him not achieving the time standard, Larkin is fifth in the world in the 100, behind Xu Jiayu (53.04), Matt Grevers (53.31), Apostolos Christou (53.38) and Evgeny Rylov (53.44).

Zac Incerti finished second in the race at 53.95 and Joshua Beaver was third at 54.03. Ben Treffers, Tristan Ludlow, Brad Woodward, Andrew Rice and Peter Mills also competed in the championship final.

 Event 27  Men 100 LC Metre Backstroke
==================================================================
        World:   51.85  13/08/2016Ryan Murphy, USA
 Commonwealth:   52.11  6/11/2015 Mitch Larkin, Australia
   Australian: R 52.11  6/11/2015 Mitch Larkin, StPeters Western
   All Comers: A 52.48  4/08/2016 Mitch Larkin, StPeters Western
       SALWQT: Q 53.39
 Title Holder:   52.54  9/04/2016 Mitch Larkin, StPeters Western
 Meet Qualifying:  59.90
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims  FINA       
==================================================================

                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 LARKIN, MITCH    23 UNAQ                53.69      53.54   908  
    r:+0.66  25.85        53.54 (27.69)
  2 INCERTI, ZAC     20 WEST COAST SWIM     54.35      53.95   887  
    r:+0.59  25.90        53.95 (28.05)
  3 BEAVER, JOSHUA   24 NUN                 55.03      54.03   883  
    r:+0.49  26.16        54.03 (27.87)
  4 TREFFERS, BENJA  25 UNAQ                54.58      54.06   882  
    r:+0.57  26.26        54.06 (27.80)
  5 LUDLOW, TRISTAN  19 RACKLEY             56.13      55.98   794  
    r:+0.59  27.05        55.98 (28.93)
  6 WOODWARD, BRADL  18 MINGARA SWIMMING    56.05      56.11   789  
    r:+0.68  27.50        56.11 (28.61)
  7 RICE, ANDREW     18 NUN                 56.13      56.63   767  
    r:+0.61  26.79        56.63 (29.84)
  8 MILLS, PETER     20 BRISBANE GRAMMAR    56.00      56.73   763  
    r:+0.61  27.11        56.73 (29.62)

Men’s 200 IM

Clyde Lewis won his first national title in the 200 IM on Tuesday night in Brisbane, but fell short of the qualifying time for Budapest as he touched in 1:59.24. The A-standard for Budapest was a 1:58.54. Lewis is currently ranked fourth globally in the event now, behind Daiya Seto (1:58.77), Josh Prenot (1:58.93) and Michael Andrew (1:59.12). Lewis could still be up for qualification in the event as he placed sixth in a potential relay spot in the 200 free last night. We will find out at the end of the meet if Lewis will get selected.

Travis Mahoney was second at 2:00.62 and Jared Gilliland was third at 2:01.18. Kazim Boskovic, James Traiforos, Liam Hunter, Cal Sherington and Jake Smith also swam in the championship final.

 Event 28  Men 200 LC Metre IM
==================================================================
        World:   1:54.00  28/07/2011Ryan Lochte, USA
 Commonwealth:   1:56.69  30/07/2009Leith Brodie, Australia
   Australian: R 1:56.69  30/07/2009Leith Brodie, Albany Creek
   All Comers: A 1:54.98  29/03/2007Michael Phelps, USA
       SALWQT: Q 1:58.54
 Title Holder:   1:58.72  12/04/2016Daniel Tranter, Trinity Grammar
 Meet Qualifying:  2:10.00
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims  FINA       
==================================================================

                          === Finals ===                          
 
  1 LEWIS, CLYDE     19 STPETERSWESTERN   2:02.31    1:59.24   873  
    r:+0.65  25.80        55.11 (29.31)
        1:30.42 (35.31)     1:59.24 (28.82)
  2 MAHONEY, TRAVIS  26 MARI              2:02.04    2:00.62   844  
    r:+0.70  26.45        56.64 (30.19)
        1:31.82 (35.18)     2:00.62 (28.80)
  3 GILLILAND, JARE  22 CHANDLER          2:02.70    2:01.18   832  
    r:+0.66  26.62        58.35 (31.73)
        1:32.26 (33.91)     2:01.18 (28.92)
  4 BOSKOVIC, KAZIM  21 NUN               2:03.46    2:02.11   813  
    r:+0.61  26.57        56.68 (30.11)
        1:32.15 (35.47)     2:02.11 (29.96)
  5 TRAIFOROS, JAME  20 TRGR              2:03.17    2:02.25   810  
    r:+0.64  26.47        56.91 (30.44)
        1:32.49 (35.58)     2:02.25 (29.76)
  6 HUNTER, LIAM     19 CHANDLER          2:04.89    2:02.77   800  
    r:+0.63  26.16        58.85 (32.69)
        1:33.84 (34.99)     2:02.77 (28.93)
  7 SHERINGTON, CAL  19 CARL              2:04.58    2:04.20   773  
    r:+0.61  26.42        57.42 (31.00)
        1:34.02 (36.60)     2:04.20 (30.18)
  8 SMITH, JAKE      19 BRW               2:04.80    2:04.82   761  
    r:+0.69  26.55        59.08 (32.53)
        1:35.13 (36.05)     2:04.82 (29.69)

Women’s 200 Free

For the third time on the week, Emma McKeon has qualified in another event at the Australian Swimming Championships. McKeon took out the 200 free national title for her third qualified event for Budapest this summer. McKeon won the race wire to wire with a 1:55.68, the fastest time in the world this year, ahead of Italy’s Federica Pellegrini (1:55.94).

McKeon was the only swimmer under the automatic qualifying time for Budapest, but Australia is still expected to pull a relay together for the World Championships. 16-year-old Ariarne Titmus finished second thanks to the fastest last 50 in the field with a 1:58.11. The rookie already won the 800 final for a World Championship berth on Sunday. Kotuku Ngawati (1:58.24) and Leah Neale (1:58.40) rounded out the top four for the potential relay qualification. McKeon and Neale are the only swimmers returning from last summer’s silver medal winning 4×200 free relay.

Madison Wilson, Mikkayla Sheridan, Kiah Melverton and Brianna Throssell also competed in the championship final.

 Event 29  Women 200 LC Metre Freestyle
==================================================================
        World:   1:52.98  29/07/2009Federica Pellegrini, Italy
 Commonwealth:   1:54.83  10/04/2016Emma McKeon, Australia
   Australian: R 1:54.83  10/04/2016Emma McKeon, StPeters Western
   All Comers: A 1:54.83  10/04/2016Emma McKeon, StPeters Western
       SALWQT: Q 1:56.95
 Title Holder:   1:54.83  10/04/2016Emma McKeon, StPeters Western
 Meet Qualifying:  2:06.00
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims  FINA       
==================================================================
                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 MCKEON, EMMA     22 STPETERSWESTERN   1:57.99    1:55.68Q  931  
    r:+0.70  26.31        55.66 (29.35)
        1:25.73 (30.07)     1:55.68 (29.95)
  2 TITMUS, ARIARNE  16 STPETERSWESTERN   1:59.40    1:58.11   875  
    r:+0.75  27.91        57.91 (30.00)
        1:28.32 (30.41)     1:58.11 (29.79)
  3 NGAWATI, KOTUKU  22 MVC               1:59.06    1:58.24   872  
    r:+0.65  27.26        57.60 (30.34)
        1:28.29 (30.69)     1:58.24 (29.95)
  4 NEALE, LEAH      21 USC SPARTANS      1:59.24    1:58.40   868  
    r:+0.68  27.47        57.19 (29.72)
        1:27.82 (30.63)     1:58.40 (30.58)
  5 WILSON, MADISON  22 STPETERSWESTERN   1:59.09    1:58.93   857  
    r:+0.73  27.07        56.78 (29.71)
        1:27.50 (30.72)     1:58.93 (31.43)
  6 SHERIDAN, MIKKA  22 USC SPARTANS      1:59.01    1:58.96   856  
    r:+0.70  27.75        58.11 (30.36)
        1:28.42 (30.31)     1:58.96 (30.54)
  7 MELVERTON, KIAH  20 TSS AQUATICS      2:00.08    1:59.73   840  
    r:+0.68  28.32        58.75 (30.43)
        1:29.61 (30.86)     1:59.73 (30.12)
  8 THROSSELL, BRIA  21 WEST COAST SWIM   1:59.33    1:59.85   837  
    r:+0.71  27.94        58.20 (30.26)
        1:28.95 (30.75)     1:59.85 (30.90)

Women’s 50 Back

After qualifying for her first World Championship team in the 100 back last night at age 29 and becoming the oldest rookie on the Australian team, Holly Barratt beat out Australian record holder Emily Seebohm in the shorter distance with a 27.60. Seebohm was second at 27.78 and Kaylee McKeown was third at 28.11. Barratt’s time moves her to number one in the world ahead of Canada’s Kylie Masse (27.71), while Seebohm is now third.

The event is not a qualifier for the World Championships, but Barratt and Seebohm will have the option to race the event in Barcelona after already qualifying for the team in the 100. Minna Atherton, Hayley Baker, Lucy McJannett, Zoe Williams and Jess Unicomb also competed in the championship final.

 Event 30  Women 50 LC Metre Backstroke
==================================================================
        World:   27.06  30/07/2009Jing Zhao, China
 Commonwealth:   27.47  7/04/2015 Emily Seebohm, Australia
   Australian: R 27.47  7/04/2015 Emily Seebohm, Brothers
   All Comers: A 27.47  7/04/2015 Emily Seebohm, Brothers
 Title Holder:   27.72  7/04/2016 Emily Seebohm, Brisbane Grammar
 Meet Qualifying:  31.00
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims  FINA       
==================================================================

                          === Finals ===                          
 
  1 BARRATT, HOLLY   29 ROC                 28.22      27.60   942  
         r:+0.54                       
  2 SEEBOHM, EMILY   24 BRISBANE GRAMMAR    28.07      27.78   924  
         r:+0.66                       
  3 MCKEOWN, KAYLEE  15 USC SPARTANS        28.22      28.11   892  
         r:+0.60                       
  4 ATHERTON, MINNA  16 BRISBANE GRAMMAR    28.40      28.16   887  
         r:+0.60                       
  5 BAKER, HAYLEY    21 MVC                 29.17      28.75   833  
         r:+0.52                       
  6 MCJANNETT, LUCY  19 RANDW               29.33      28.95   816  
         r:+0.68                       
  7 WILLIAMS, ZOE    21 MARI                29.19      29.05   808  
         r:+0.65                       
  8 UNICOMB, JESSIC  19 ALL SAINTS          29.60      29.40   779  
         r:+0.65

Men’s 100 Breast

Daniel Cave picked up his first national title in his career in the 100 breast on Tuesday night in Brisbane at the 2017 Australian Swimming Championships. Cave out-touched Matthew Wilson with a 1:00.45 to Wilson’s 1:00.54. Cave was off the automatic qualifying time for Budapest that was a 59.75. Cave and Wilson are both 18 years old and with Wilson already on the team in the 200 breast, these two should fill the breaststroke void that has been empty since the retirement of Christian Sprenger in 2015. Wilson qualified for his first senior team in the 200 last night, becoming Australia’s first representative at the World Championships or Olympics in the 200 breast since the 2012 Olympics.

Defending national champion Jake Packard has taken this meet off because of illness as he was Australia’s breaststroker on the medley relay the last two years. With Cave not getting the automatic qualifying time, it is expected Wilson will be Australia’s breaststroker on the medley relay this summer since he is already on the team in the 200, but we will find out at the end of the week if Cave gets selected. Tommy Sucipto finished third in the final at 1:00.95.

George Harley, Zac Stubblety-Cook, Grayson Bell, Nicholas Schaefer and James McKenchnie also competed in the A-final.

 Event 34  Men 100 LC Metre Breaststroke
==================================================================
        World:   57.13  7/08/2016 Adam Peaty, GBR
 Commonwealth:   57.13  7/08/2016 Adam Peaty, GBR
   Australian: R 58.58  27/07/2009Brenton Rickard, Brothers
   All Comers: A 58.87  3/04/2014 Christian Sprenger, Commercial
       SALWQT: Q 59.75
 Title Holder:   59.65  8/04/2016 Jake Packard, USC Spartans
 Meet Qualifying:  1:07.10
    Name            Age Team                 Seed    Prelims  FINA       
==================================================================

                        === A - Final ===                         
 
  1 CAVE, DANIEL     18 MVC               1:01.81    1:00.45   844  
    r:+0.67  28.46      1:00.45 (31.99)
  2 WILSON, MATTHEW  18 SOSC              1:00.88    1:00.54   840  
    r:+0.61  28.28      1:00.54 (32.26)
  3 SUCIPTO, TOMMY   22 ROC               1:01.72    1:00.95   823  
    r:+0.63  28.62      1:00.95 (32.33)
  4 HARLEY, GEORGE   18 BRW               1:01.92    1:01.48   802  
    r:+0.65  29.07      1:01.48 (32.41)
  5 STUBBLETY-COOK,  18 UNAQ              1:02.14    1:01.59   798  
    r:+0.72  29.32      1:01.59 (32.27)
  6 BELL, GRAYSON    20 TSS AQUATICS      1:01.64    1:01.61   797  
    r:+0.71  28.74      1:01.61 (32.87)
  7 SCHAFER, NICHOL  25 ACQUA ROSA        1:01.80    1:02.26   772  
    r:+0.67  28.74      1:02.26 (33.52)
  8 MCKECHNIE, JAME  21 STP               1:02.04    1:02.33   770  
    r:+0.73  28.93      1:02.33 (33.40)

Women’s 50 Fly

Brittany Elmslie won her first national title of the week in the 50 butterfly with a 26.48, out-touching Holly Barratt. Elmslie hadn’t yet clinched a spot on the World Championship team after placing sixth in the 100 free and missing the 100 fly final. The 50 stroke events are not qualifying events for Budapest, but if the swimmers make the team in other events, then the champions of the 50’s can elect to swim those events at the meet if they want. 29-year-old Barratt finished in second at 26.64, after already winning the 50 backstroke earlier in the night. 30-year-old Sara Saal finished in third at 26.95.

Emily Washer, Christina Licciardi, Lucia Lassman, Ashleigh Holmes and Ellysia Oldsen also competed in the championship final.

 Event 31  Women 50 LC Metre Butterfly
==================================================================
        World:   24.43  5/07/2014 Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden
 Commonwealth:   25.20  27/07/2014Fran Halsall, GBR
   Australian: R 25.48  1/08/2009 Marieke Guehrer, Melb. Vicentre
   All Comers: A 25.60  18/03/2009Marieke Guehrer, Melb. Vicentre
 Title Holder:   26.19  12/04/2016Holly Barratt, Rockingham
 Meet Qualifying:  28.70
    Name            Age Team              Prelims     Finals  FINA       
==================================================================
                          === Finals ===                          
 
  1 ELMSLIE, BRITTA  22 BRISBANE GRAMMAR    26.92      26.48   785  
         r:+0.69                       
  2 BARRATT, HOLLY   29 ROC                 26.90      26.64   771  
         r:+0.65                       
  3 SAAL, SARA       30 COMMERCIAL          27.01      26.95   744  
         r:+0.67                       
  4 WASHER, EMILY    20 CARL                27.05      26.98   742  
         r:+0.69                       
  5 LICCIARDI, CHRI  21 SOSC                27.32      27.34   713  
         r:+0.66                       
  6 LASSMAN, LUCIA   18 STPETERSWESTERN     27.39      27.50   701  
         r:+0.71                       
  7 HOLMES, ASHLEIG  18 CHANDLER            27.53      27.66   688  
         r:+0.67                       
  8 OLDSEN, ELLYSIA  21 MARI                27.72      27.79   679  
         r:+0.78

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