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Titmus Produces Aussie 800 Free Age Group Record En Route To Gold

2017 AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

While competing in the first finals session of the 2017 Australian Swimming Championships, 16-year-old Ariarne Titmus crushed the women’s 800m freestyle field en route to her first senior national long course title. Among a field that included reigning national champion and 2016 Olympian Jessica Ashwood, as well as 5k open water swimmer national championship winner Kiah Melverton, Titmus held her own in the race, leading wire-to-wire to clock a final time of 8:23.08.

Entering this meet, the St. Peters Western swimmer’s 800m freestyle personal best rested at 8:37.50, but she hacked almost 15 seconds off of that mark with tonight’s swim. In doing so, Titmus scored a new Australian National Age Group Record for 16-year-olds, overtaking the previous record of 8:24.74 held by Alanna Bowles since 2014.

Although Titmus’ huge PB fell just short of Becca Mann’s (USA) All Comers record for 16-year-olds (8:22.45), Titmus now checks-in as the 5th fastest Australian performer of all time in the event and also holds the top time in the world this season.

Australia’s Top 10 Performers of All-Time in Women’s 800m Freestyle

  1. 8:18.14 Jessica Ashwood 1993 Santa Clara 05.06.16
  2. 8:22.81 Kylie Palmer 1990 Beijing 14.08.08
  3. 8:22.83 Katie Goldman 1992 Sydney 19.03.10
  4. 8:22.93 Julie McDonald 1970 Seoul 25.09.88
  5. 8:23.08 Ariarne Titmus, 2017 Australian National Championships
  6. 8:24.15 Janelle Elford 1970 Boca Raton 30.05.88
  7. 8:24.62 Tracey Wickham 1962 Edmonton 05.08.78
  8. 8:24.74 Alanna Bowles 1997 Glasgow 28.07.14
  9. 8:25.74 Blair Evans 1991 Sydney 19.03.10
  10. 8:25.78 Michelle Ford 1962 Edmonton 05.08.78

2016-2017 LCM WOMEN 800 FREE

KatieUSA
LEDECKY
06/27
8.11.50
2Bingjie
LI
CHN8.15.4607/29
3Leah
SMITH
USA8.17.2207/29
4Simona
QUADARELLA
ITA8.20.5408/25
5Sarah
KOHLER
GER8.21.6708/25
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G.I.N.A
7 years ago

Titmus has some speed . .Coming into national level as a 14 year old on 4 .14 & 842 , there was a plateau in the distance events , but a sub 2 in the 20p. It was this that might have sent her to St Peters . There is every chance she will go 4 .05 & 1.58 .She has the best stroke in an Aust mid distance swimmer since Hayley Lewis .

Dee
Reply to  G.I.N.A
7 years ago

This year is a huge opportunity for a young distance swimmer to step up. Ledecky & Kapas look in shape early on, but as of yet nobody else is really flying over 400/800. Carlin took a long break after Rio and I wouldn’t be surprised if she failed to qualify for Budapest. Smith looked classy at NCAAs but you never know what’ll happen when it’s thin at the top.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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