SWIMMING: Rio is set to be a family affair with Emma McKeon set to join brother David McKeon on the Australian team after a stunning victory in the women’s 100m butterfly on the second night of the 2016 Australian Swimming Championships.
McKeon, who made the move to celebrated Olympic coach Michael Bohl at St Peters Western 12 months ago, clocked a big new personal best time of 56.89, taking her to third in the world this year and making her the third fastest Australian behind Jess Schipper and Libby Trickett.
Giving true meaning to the night’s theme “Swim Like a Girl” was Madeline Groves who monstered the second lap of her race to post a new personal best time of 57.08 – and London bronze medallist Alicia Coutts so close and under the qualifying time in third in 57.27.
McKeon follows in the footsteps of not only her brother who competed in London 2012, but also her father Ron who was at the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games and uncle Rob Woodhouse who won bronze in Los Angeles 1984 and swam at Seoul 1988.
Mother Susie Woodhouse was also an Australian Commonwealth Games rep in Brisbane in 1982 with future husband Ron.
And the McKeons will be the first brother-sister act on an Olympic swim team since the famed “Konrads kids” John and Ilsa both represented Australia at the Rome Olympics in 1960.
“It feels amazing,” McKeon said of making the Olympic Team and joining brother David, who watched nervously poolside, cheering his sister on.
“Four years ago I was close to making the team and after that I thought ‘I am not waiting another four years, I am too impatient I don’t want to wait another four years to go to the Olympics.
“But it has gone by so quickly and I’m glad I didn’t stop – it’s definitely worth the wait. I’ve been training pretty hard for it so I feel like I have really earned it now.”
Groves, the 200m specialist was overwhelmed to have placed second behind her St Peters Western training partner McKeon, in a time that will see her on the plane to Rio.
“I knew that it would be a really competitive race and that Alicia (Coutts) and Brianna Throssell have really strong 100 flys,” Groves said.
“I just wanted to focus on myself and it worked! I am very relieved because I haven’t really done a very fast 100 fly in a while. Seeing Emma and Alicia do 57s quite consistently – I just had to calm down, keep my nerve and focus on what I can do.
“It means so much to me. It still hasn’t really sunk in yet. My main event is the 200 fly so to get the 100 – I really wanted it. It’s such an amazing bonus to be on the team already, on the second day.”
Coutts (Redlands, QLD) missed out by a fingernail and will now turn to the 200m Individual medley tomorrow and the 100m Freestyle for her chance to make her third Olympic Team.
And then Sydney-born, Brisbane-based Jessica Ashwood swam onto her second Olympic Team by taking out the women’s 400m Freestyle in 4:03.71. The World Championships bronze medallist in the event went out strong and was pushed through the race by newcomer, Junior World Champion Tamsin Cook from WA.
“It is really good to have someone there with me to keep pushing me – especially in that first half of the race where I really struggle the most to get some speed,” Ashwood said.
“I got the job done and it was a pretty solid time so I’m happy with it.”
Seventeen-year-old Cook was bowled over when she heard the word Olympian used about her future. Dreaming of going to the Olympics since the age of 10 when she was inspired by Libby Trickett and Stephanie Rice at the Beijing Games, she couldn’t believe that she could now count herself amongst them.
“I just can’t believe it,” she said. “I was very nervous but I just told myself that when I get out there I have to be fearless and race to my race plan. And I think that’s what I did and I am just so happy to have gone under that qualifying time.
“There is such a wealth of experience and hopefully I’ll be able to gain a lot and learn a lot from the older guys on the team over the next few weeks or months.”
After nearly giving the sport away a few years ago, the hard work and dedication has paid off for 21-year-old Jake Packard, earning Olympic nomination after winning the men’s 100m Breaststroke in 59.65.
“I’m pretty speechless,” said Packard who swims under Chris Mooney at USC Spartans on the Sunshine Coast.
“Four years ago at the same pool I didn’t even make a semi-final – to come back and try and keep myself composed is really the main thing and to fulfil that dream I have always wanted to do – I’m pretty happy.”
Fast times and farewells as Grant Hackett swims last lap
There were fast times and farewells in the 200m freestyle semi-finals on a dramatic second night of the 2016 Australian Swimming Championships.
Thomas Fraser-Holmes will go into tomorrow’s final as the fastest qualifier after swimming 1:46.71. Cameron McEvoy will be his biggest competition for the top spot after he finished second fastest in 1:46.83. The final will be an epic battle however, with Daniel Smith, Mack Horton, Jorden Merrilees and Kurt Herzog all posting sub 1:48 times.
The race also saw the Olympic comeback for Grant Hackett come to a close. The 35-year-old finished 11th fastest - missing a finals berth.
“The 400 yesterday really took it out of me,” Hackett said. “I felt great in the heat but then it was just a quick spiral down because I just didn’t have the fitness to just keep bouncing back. But that’s just the way it is. Would I change it? Probably not. I love racing the 400 and I think I would have regretted it if I hadn’t raced it.”
“I don’t feel sad about what I have done and what I have achieved in the sport. To make that team would have been absolutely huge and it wasn’t to be, but I can get back to my normal life now!”
In the women’s 100m breaststroke semi-finals, Georgia Bohl (St Peters Western, QLD) posted a qualifying time which puts her in good stead for tomorrow’s final. Jessica Hansen (Nunawading, VIC) was the second fastest qualifier with Taylor McKeown, Leiston Pickett and Sally Hunter hot on their heels.
World Champion Emily Seebohm threw down a 58.96 swim in the women’s 100m Backstroke semi-finals to put her competitors on notice. Madison Wilson (St Peters Western, QLD) will go into the final as the second fastest qualifier on 59.19 with Junior World Champion Minna Atherton a breath behind in 59.46. The race for the top two spots in tomorrow’s final will be tense.
In the corresponding men’s event, Mitch Larkin set a new All-Comers record when he clocked 52.48. Larkin will be seeking gold and the Olympic qualifying time in tomorrow’s final and everyone will be watching to see if more records fall.
COMING UP ON DAY 3
Day 3, Saturday 9 April is “Super Saturday”. Highlighting Day 3 will be the men’s and women’s 100m Backstroke, women’s 100m Breaststroke and men’s 200m Freestyle.
Women’s 100m Butterfly
1. Emma McKeon (St Peters Western, QLD) 56.89
2. Madeline Groves (St Peters Western, QLD) 57.08
3. Alicia Coutts (Redlands, QLD) 57.27
Men’s 100m Breaststroke
1. Jake Packard (USC Spartans, QLD) 59.65
2. Joshua Palmer (Marion, SA) 1:00.51
3. Matthew Wilson (SOPAC) 1:00.54
Women’s 400m Freestyle
1. Jessica Ashwood (Chandler, QLD) 4:03.71
2. Tamsin Cook (UWA West Coast, WA) 4:06.38
3. Kiah Melverton (TSS Aquatics, QLD) 4:10.20
Men’s 4 x 100m Freestyle
1. Marion (SA) 3:20.75
2. Sydney University (NSW) 3:21.15
3. Carlile (NSW) 3:27.13
AUSTRALIAN SWIM TEAM (modified)
