The Australian Short Course may have looked different this year with five states competing virtually, but that didn't stop Australia's superfish from breaking Aussie, Commonwealth and World Records.
During its first session in Brisbane, Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games gold medallist, Kaylee McKeown broke a six-year-old world record set by Hungary's Katinka Hosszu (1:59.23) when she swam a blistering time of (1:58.94) in the Women's 200m backstroke, followed by Minna Atherton in second place (2:03.64) and Jessica Unicomb in third (2:07.07).
McKeown continued her blistering pace into the evening session in Brisbane, breaking the Commonwealth and Australian record in the Women’s 200m IM in a time of 2:03.68 ahead of Jenna Forrester and Meg Bailey who clocked in at 2:09.00 and 2:09.15, respectively.
McKeown continued her superb form into the final evening claiming yet another top spot – this time in the Women’s 100m Backstroke.
Brisbane performances took out the podium spots as McKeown posted 55.68 for the win, with her Dolphins teammate Atherton claiming second position in 56.36 and young gun Mollie O’Callaghan picking up third in 56.76.
McKeown also took out the Women’s 100m Individual Medley to see her finish the meet with an impressive four wins.
The teenager said she was surprised by her record swims at the meet.
“I headed over to my teammates and my coach and they said, you just got a world-record, and I was like, what? I didn’t actually know till a few minutes later.”
“It is definitely surprising, coming into this meet I didn’t think I would get a world record this morning and then to do this [finish with four wins] tonight, I am so humbled by it, and proud of it, and proud of my teammates and coach who got me there as well,” she said.
“Short course is something we don’t get to do very often so I was excited to see what I could put up after some solid training this year.
Lani Pallister bettered her own Australian record when she won the Women's 800m Freestyle in a time of 8:10.12, followed by Tokyo 2020 Olympic Team Member, Kareena Lee in second at 8:14.13 and Phoebe Hines in 8:16.32.
Pallister (15:28.33) then claimed another Australian record in the Women’s 1500m Freestyle ahead of Lee in second position in 15:34.31 and Madeleine Gough claiming third in 15:37.38.
In the Women’s 100m Freestyle, Rio 2016's Emma McKeon (51.17) claimed top spot while fellow Rio Olympian Madison Wilson – swimming a personal best time of 51.74 – and dual Olympic Champion Cate Campbell (51.79) claimed second and third.
Campbell (23.68) then came out on top in the Women’s 50m Freestyle ahead of McKeon (23.87) – who finished the meet with four wins – and Wilson (24.18).
In other races, McKeon added to her wins when she clocked 1:51.83 in the Women’s 200m Freestyle to take first place, followed by Wilson, who swam a personal best time, in 1:52.77 and Leah Neale in 1:54.45.
McKeon (55.67) also claimed the Women’s 100m Butterfly in Brisbane with swims in Perth by Holly Barratt (57.78) and UWA West Coast’s (58.22) Brianna Throssell taking out second and third place.
In the Men's 50m Freestyle, Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympian, Ashton Brinkworth (21.30) claimed the win following his swim in Perth, while Matthew Temple (21.37) grabbed second from Melbourne and dual Olympian Cameron McEvoy (21.39) the third spot, swimming out of Brisbane.
Matt Wilson (56.89) took out the Men’s 100m breaststroke in a new Australian record, beating Samuel Williamson’s time of 57.00 – set in Melbourne. Jake Packard touched in Brisbane to claim third place in a time of 57.82.
World champion Ariarne Titmus took out her pet event – the Women’s 400m Freestyle in 3:54.58, ahead of Leah Neale (3:58.80) and Phoebe Hines (4:01.69) who all swam in Brisbane.
You can find full results HERE
Swimming Australia/olympics.com.au
