McKeown sets record on opening night of Aussie Champs

AS far as a good tune up goes ahead of Olympic trials even Kaylee McKeown’s coach was surprised.

McKeown clocked a sizzling 2:06.99 in the women’s 200m medley to break Stephanie Rice’s 14-year-old national record on the opening night of the Australian Open Championships on the Gold Coast.

On a day that marked the 100-day countdown to the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, McKeown stamped herself as a legitimate contender for a triple treat of gold in the 100-200 and now 200 medley in France.

To break the 2:07 barrier is something … and to break it without a taper is something else.

“I honestly would get bored if I didn’t have challenge put in front of me … and he (coach, Michael Bohl) put the challenge to me that I didn’t have to do the 400m IM if I went under 2:07,” McKeown joked.

In other races, Mollie O’Callaghan won the hotly contested women’s 100m freestyle in 52.27 ahead of Meg Harris (52.59 – a PB) and Emma McKeon (53.09).

Shayna Jack finished fourth, Brianna Throssell fifth and Cate Campbell sixth while sister Bronte withdrew due to a slight calf strain.

And Elijah Winnington (3:41.41) – in his fastest time in two years – snatched victory from an unsighted Sam Short (3:41.64) in the men’s 400m freestyle.

A refreshed Kyle Chalmers ripped a 23.10 to win the men’s 100m butterfly in a PB, ahead of Ben Ambruster 23.35 and Cam McEvoy 23.52.

Full results can be found:

https://liveresults.swimming.org.au/sal/2024Opens/

Heats start at 10am; finals 6pm – tickets for all sessions from Ticketek.

Every race will be available to stream live and free on 9NOW.