For the first time in his career Mitch Larkin has swum sub 1:56 in the Men’s 200m Individual Medley, smashing his own Commonwealth and Australian record at the 2019 Hancock Prospecting World Swimming Trials.
SWIMMING: For the first time in his career Mitch Larkin has swum sub 1:56 in the Men’s 200m Individual Medley, smashing his own Commonwealth and Australian record at the 2019 Hancock Prospecting World Swimming Trials.
Taking half a second off his best to clock 1:55.72 also sees Larkin post the fastest time in the world this year. The 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist is having a stellar meet at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre, having already claimed top honours and a qualifying time in the 100m backstroke on night two.
Speaking on pool deck post-race, Larkin said he’d been focusing on improving his breaststroke leg.
“It is really good, I have been working on the timing of my breaststroke,” Larkin said.
“When I swim easy my kicks quite late, so that is what I was thinking about tonight. Warm-up felt great, it stung a little bit more than would have liked, but I think having a day off yesterday that’s the reason why.”
Touching in second place in the 200m individual medley was Griffith University’s Thomas Fraser-Holmes (1:58.76), while Jared Gilliland (Brisbane Grammar) finished third (1:59.86) – both outside of the qualifying time of 1:57.81.
Showcasing his class in the pool and also setting the fastest time in the world this year, Marion’s Kyle Chalmers has taken out the Men’s 100m Freestyle.
Touted as the men’s ‘blue ribbon’ event, the Olympic champion posted the fourth fastest time in Australian history – a personal best of 47.35 – which also placed him under the world championship qualifying time of 48.31. In a similar result to the Men’s 200m Freestyle, Clyde Lewis (St Peters Western) powered home to finish second in a personal best of 48.46, while Cameron McEvoy (TSS Aquatics) placed third in 48.66 and Bond’s Alexander Graham touched in fourth spot (49.06).
A pleased Chalmers said he was buoyed by his results.
“Yeah it was good, my goal was to do a PB – it has been a long time since I have done two PBs in a season, so to do it back-to-back now is good for the confidence,” Chalmers said.
“Over the next couple of weeks I really want to hone in on my skills, I know my swim speed this morning was very close to when I have swum my personal best time, it’s just the skills letting me down.
“Tonight I definitely felt a lot better with it, but I want to win, I don’t swim to make up the numbers, I want to give it my best every time I get in the pool.”
UWA West Coast’s Brianna Throssell and TSS Aquatics’ Laura Taylor went stroke for stroke in an energised and gruelling Women’s 200m Butterfly final. Knocking nearly three seconds off the time she clocked in the heat, Throssell managed to hang on against the Comm Game silver medallist to record a qualifying time of 2:07.39. Taylor touched narrowly behind in 2:08.42, while emerging Tea Tree Gully swimmer Brittany Castelluzzo placed third in 2:10.83.
Diving off the blocks for the third time this meet, Ariarne Titmus was a dominating force in the Women’s 800m Freestyle. After claiming top spot in the 400m freestyle on night one and second in the 200m free on night three, the 18-year-old posted yet another qualifying time – 8:18.23.
In what was strong field of distance swimmers, the top four athletes swum under the world championship qualifying time of 8:30.66. TSS Aquatics’ teammates Kiah Melverton (8:22.83) – who swum a PB and the equal fourth fastest by an Australian woman ever – and Madeleine Gough (8:25.94) finished second and fourth respectively, while young Cotton Tree sensation Lani Pallister placed third in 8:25.66.
An aggressive and gutsy swim by Griffith University’s Emma McKeon on night 3 of the trials saw the 25-year-old hold off the Commonwealth record holder Titmus in the Women’s 200m Freestyle. McKeon blitzed the first 100m of the race to put some space between her and Titmus in lane two. It proved to be a winning move, with the Olympic bronze medallist touching in a personal best time of 1:54.55, to Titmus 1:55.09 – both made the qualifying time of 1:56.34.
The World Championship selection trials continue tonight, where the women's 100m freestyle final has been dubbed the 'must watch' event with a start-studded line up featuring Cate and Bronte Campbell, Emma McKeon, Shayna Jack, Madi Wilson, Briana Throssell, Leah Neale and Holly Barratt.
You can watch all the action live from 6pm HERE.
Swimming Australia / olympics.com.au
