Kaylee McKeown and Zac Stubblety-Cook Blast Fast Performances to Close Sydney Open

Kaylee McKeown and Zac Stubblety-Cook Blast Fast Performances to Close Sydney Open

In case anyone required a reminder that she is not just a backstroke star, Kaylee McKeown obliged on Sunday morning when she won the 200-meter individual medley at the Sydney Open in the fastest time in the world this year. Meanwhile, Zac Stubblety-Cook made noise in the 200 breaststroke when he just missed dipping into the 2:06 range.

Coming off a 2:04 clocking in the 200 backstroke and a 57.63 mark in the 100 backstroke that was just .06 shy of the world record, McKeown delivered a 2:08.73 outing in the 200 medley. That time was the first swim under 2:09 in the world this year and sets up McKeown to win three events at next month’s Australian Olympic Trials and contend for three solo medals at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Before McKeown dropped her latest eye-opening performance, Stubblety-Cook produced a stunning effort in the 200 breaststroke, touching the wall in 2:07.00. That performance was not far off the Australian record of Matthew Wilson, who went 2:06.67 in the semifinals of the 200 breast at the 2019 World Championships. The 22-year-old Stubblety-Cook was out in 29.75 and hit the midway point of the race in 1:02.32. He remained strong over the back half, splitting 32.52 for his third 50 and coming home in 32.16.

More to come…

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