Madi Wilson Posts 1:52.44 800 Free Relay Split At Aussie Blitz

2020 AUSSIE VIRTUAL RELAY BLITZ

• October 22nd – October 26th
• Gold Coast (Bond University), Sydney (SOPAC), Adelaide (Marion) and Perth (HBF Stadium)
• SCM (25m)
• Results: Meet Mobile – Relay Blitz

As a refresher, the inaugural Aussie blitz took place at various locations from October 22nd through October 26th with times compared virtually. Athletes were drafted onto official teams to contest both traditional events, as well as hybrid races.

For many Australians who withdrew from the International Swimming League (ISL), the event served as a means to get some short course racing underway while watching the competition from Budapest.

Below are the women’s results and then we’ll report on the men.

800 Free Relay

The Brisbane Bisons scored the quickest time of the entire field, hitting a result of 7:44.56.

400m freestyle world champion Ariarne Titmus led off in a solid 1:53.76, a time which represents the 3rd fastest time of her career. Next in line was would-have-been NY Breaker Mollie O’Callaghan, with the 16-year-old posting a time of 1:57.72 behind Titmus.

Backstroke world record holder Minna Atherton produced a time of 1:58.82 as the 3rd leg, while World Championships backstroke silver medalist Kaylee McKeown anchored in a time of 1:54.26.

McKeown’s best time individually is represented by the 1:55.84 produced at the 2018 Aussie SC Championships, so her outing here, although on a relay, is quicker than that when taking into account a flyover start.

Although not on the quickest overall relay, 26-year-old Madi Wilson busted out a monster split of 1:52.44 as a member of the Adelaide Anacondas. Wilson was a member of the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay who broke the long course World Record in Gwangju last year, so we know she has the freestyle prowess to make things happen.

However, Wilson just recently put up the fastest individual 200m free time of her career, logging a time of 1:53.60 just this past July after inconsistent training due to the coronavirus pandemic. Her 1:52.-low is a head-turner for an exhibition swim.

Additional Notable Splits:

• Leah Neale (Brisbane Braves) – 1:56.20 lead-off
• Maddie Gough (Gold Coast Rockets) – 1:59.08
• Kiah Melverton (Gold Coast Rockets) – 1:58.65
• Lani Pallister (Gold Coast Rockets) – 1:58.83
• Tamsin Cook (West Coast Wizards) – 2:04.38 – see this post on why this is significant
• Brianna Throssell (West Coast Wizards) – 1:56.80

200 Medley Relay

The Brisbane Bisons were once again on top, reaping the quickest time of the entire field with a mark of 1:48.30. Making up this result was Minna Atherton leading off in 26.76, McKeown right behind in 30.85 for breaststroke, while Ella Ramsay and O’Callaghan completed the back half with fly and free splits of 26.20 and 24.49, respectively.

Atherton would have been a 2nd season member of London Roar, following up her incredible first season which saw the David Lush-trained star bust out a World Record of 54.89 in the short course 100 backstroke in Budapest last year.

Another swimmer who withdrew from the ISL was 18-year-old Meg Harris, with the St. Peters Westerner set to join the Cali Condors. She opened the Brisbane Bisons B relay with a backstroke split of 27.01.

Additional Notable Splits:

• Chelsea Hodges (Gold Coast Rockets) – 29.87 breast
• Maddie Groves (Brisbane Bisons) – 27.07 fly
• Ariarne Titmus (Brisbane Bisons) – 25.93 free
• Leah Neale (Brisbane Braves) – 24.87 free
• Calypso Sheridan (Brisbane Bisons) – 30.43 breast
• Leiston Pickett (Adelaide Anacondas) – 29.71 breast
• Lani Pallister (Gold Coast Rockets) – 30.26 back

400 Free Relay

The combination of O’Callaghan, Harris, Titmus and Groves got it done in a time of 3:36.62 to clock the fastest time of the entire blitz.

Again, at just 16 years of age, O’Callaghan impressed, with the would-be NY Breaker posting a world-class 52.99 opener for the relay. Additional splits included Meg Harris hitting 54.15, Titmus logging 53.73 and Groves anchoring in 55.75.

Additional Notable Splits:

• Leah Neale (Brisbane Braves) – 53.73
• Madi Wilson (Adelaide Anacondas ) – 52.26
• Bronte Campbell (Sydney Sharks) – 53.35
• Minna Atherton (Brisbane Bisons) – 56.93

200 Free Relay

This time it was Harris who led-off the Brisbane Bisons, with the would-be Cali Condor posting an opening split of 24.85 to help the squad produced a winning result of 1:39.41.

Additional splits include O’Callaghan’s 24.97 on the 2nd leg, Atherton touching in 24.75 and Groves with the anchor once again, this time in 24.84.

Additional Notable Splits:

• Leah Neale (Brisbane Braves) – 24.89
• Bronte Campbell (Sydney Sharks) – 24.77
• Holly Barratt (West Coast Wizards) – 25.06