Kaylee McKeown Leads A Host of Queenslanders To Book Their Seats To Paris On Night Four Of The Trials

Kaylee McKeown Leads A Host of Queenslanders To Book Their Seats To Paris On Night Four Of The Trials

The world’s premier women’s backstroker Kaylee McKeown (Griffith University; Coach: Michael Bohl) gave her own world record a huge nudge swimming the second fastest time in history last night – just 0.16 outside her own world mark, in a fighting 200m backstroke final at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre.

The 22-year-old from Michael Bohl’s super squad on the Gold Coast clocked a time of 2:03.30 – the fifth time she has swum under 2:04.00 – as she qualified to swim her third event in Paris.

And she will have another exciting Queenslander in 17-year-old Olympic debutante Jaclyn Barclay right alongside her – another rising star from the Dean Boxall stable at St Peters Western.

The World Championship silver medallist from Doha, swimming under the QT in 2:07.88 – her teammate Hannah Fredericks third, also under the time in 2:09.22. 

Another extraordinary show of the depth in Australian and Queensland women’s backstroke swimming.

While the race also ended the extraordinary bid by celebrated four-time Olympian Emily Seebohm (St Margarets; Coach: Matt Brown) to make it to a fifth Games just nine months after giving birth to son Samson – Seebohm finishing a creditable fifth in 2:10.80 – at 32 years of age.

In another remarkable night, Queensland’s mighty Multi-Class group continued to shine and will dominate the Australian team to be announced tonight – with two-time Paralympic golden girl Rachael Watson (Chandler; Coach: Matteo Melis) sealing her berth last night for a chance of “doing a Dawn” and winning three straight Para Golds.

Others to stand out last night were Tokyo star Jake Michel (Carina Leagues CJs; Coach: Brian Glass) in the 100m breaststroke, Rowan Crothers (Yeronga Park; Coach: Kate Sparkes), Tom Gallagher (Somerset; Coach: Ashley Callus) and Callum Simpson (Flinders; Coach: Chris Wright) all in the men’s 100m freestyle and the inspirational Alex Leary (St Hildas; Coach: Jon Bell) also winning the 100m freestyle.

There was redemption for Brisbane butterflyer Lizzy Dekkers (Chandler; Coach: Vince Raleigh) holding her nerve to qualify for her first Olympics after missing Tokyo three years ago, saying she had learnt so much about swimming and life, making the cut in 2:06.01.

She will be joined by former Sydney swimmer Abbey Connor (USC Spartans; Coach: Michael Palfery) who quit the sport 12 months ago before her move to Mick Palfery’s Sunshine Coast program, turning her career around in a time of 2:06.82 – after her preliminary heat swim of 2:06.43.

The girls following in the footsteps of a host of former 200m flyers, including 1996 Olympic champion Susie O’Neill and triple medallist from 1996, 2000 and 2004 Petria Thomas.

For McKeown, the defending backstroke golden girl added the 200m backstroke to the 100m backstroke and the 200IM for the first time, after chasing the world records in both events, saying: “Maybe I’ll just have to wait until I get to the big stage in Paris…I’m just happy to punch my ticket to the Games.”

But the fastest backstroker in history wasn’t going to die wondering last night in the opening race of night four at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre.

McKeown was on world record pace from the outset – turning at the 50m mark in 29.08 (0.26 under her own WR split), holding on through the 100m, splitting 1:00.58 (0.15 under) before touching in 1:32.05 at the 150m mark (dropping to be 0.21 outside world time), and missing her own WR by 0.16.

Meanwhile Sunshine Coast-based 2016 Olympic champion and 2020 silver medallist Kyle Chalmers (St Andrews; Coach: Ashley Delaney) qualified for his third Olympics – winning his pet evet the 100m freestyle in 47.75 (22.81) from Will Yang (SOPAC, NSW) in 48.08 and Flynn Southam (Bond; Coach: Chris Mooney) 48.11, Jack Cartwright (St Peters Western; Coach: Dean Boxall) 48.40, Kai Taylor (St Peters Western; Coach: Dean Boxall) 48.57 with Zac Incerti (USC Spartans; Coach: Michael Palfery) rounding out the top six in 48.73 – all strong contenders for Australia’s 4x100m freestyle relay.

Queensland boys Southam, Cartwright, Taylor and Incerti all put their hands up for relay spots in the team to be announced on Saturday night.

Chalmers reflected on his move to the Sunshine Coast with one of his best mates, Ashley Delaney as head coach of the St Andrews College program.

“We established that coach-athlete relationship very early but having Ashley who has been on the Olympic team before and has had success on the Australian swimming team, in my corner and mentoring me is something that I absolutely love,” said Chalmers.

“It’s been amazing being up there (on the Sunshine Coast) and I’ve felt very well supported the whole way through.”

Talking on the Australian relays, Chalmers said: “Relays are always No 1 for me….it’s on the first day in Paris. Last year we were world champions in the 4×100 free and we have some amazing young guys coming through and the senior talent too.

“It’s amazing to see Jack Cartwright qualify in the relay for his first Olympic Games. Jack is someone who I have been through all my junior swimming with ... .we are the same age at the pinnacle of our sport together. It's very, very exciting…”

The world record-breaking star of night three, Ariarne Titmus (St Peters Western; Coach: Dean Boxall) backed up after her show-stopping 200m swim from Night three to win the 800 metres – adding her third event for the Games – clocking 8:14.06 (57.49; 1:58.41; 3:00.13; 4:02.56; 5:05.19; 6:08.45; 7:12.25) and was under world record pace for the first 300m.

Lani Pallister (Griffith University; Coach: Michael Bohl) also added the 800m to the 400m for the Paris Olympics, finishing second to Titmus in 8:18.46 – emulating her mother Janelle Elford (and assistant coach to Bohl) who finaled in both the 400 and 800m at the Seoul Games in 1988.