2024 NSW State Open Championships: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

2024 NEW SOUTH WALES STATE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Friday, March 15th – Sunday, March 17th
• Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Center
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• SwimSwam Start List Preview
• Top 5 Races to Watch
• Heats Program
• Live Results
• Results also available via Meet Mobile: “2024 NSW State Open Championships”
• Day 1 Prelims Live Recap | Day 1 Finals Live Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Live Recap | Day 2 Finals Live Recap

The 2024 New South Wales State Open Championships wrap up on Sunday with prelims of the women’s 200 butterfly, men’s 100 fly, women’s 50 breaststroke, men’s 200 breast, women’s 200 freestyle, men’s 50 free, women’s 200 IM, men’s 400 IM, women’s 50 backstroke, and men’s 100 back scheduled for this morning.

Two world records holders are expected to be in action today as Kaylee McKeown and Mollie O’Callaghan are taking on the women’s 50 back and 200 free, respectively. The 200 free should be especially stacked with McKeown, Lani Pallister, and reigning Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus also in the mix. Stay tuned for live updates below:

WOMEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – HEATS

• World Record – 2:01.81, Liu Zige, China (2009)
• Australian Record – 2:03.41, Jessicah Schipper (2009)
• Commonwealth Record – 2:03.41, Jessicah Schipper (2009)

Top 10 Qualifiers:

1. Abbey Connor – 2:08.02
2. Bella Grant – 2:09.68
3. Jessica Cole – 2:12.00
4. Brittany Castelluzzo – 2:13.05
5. Rafaela Kopellou – 2:14.20
6. Alexandria Perkins – 2:14.38
7. Mikayla Bird – 2:15.02
8. Ruby Tonelli-Smith – 2:23.22
9. Isabelle Hanger – 2:23.27
10. Amber Clark – 2:24.70

Three teenagers paced the 200 fly prelims as 18-year-olds Abbey Connor (2:08.02) and Bella Grant (2:09.68) both dipped under 2:10 to take the top two qualifying spots.

Connor, who made the semifinals of this event at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, was within half a second of her personal-best 2:07.61 from last June’s Australian Trials. Grant also wasn’t far off her lifetime best of 2:08.97 from September’s World Juniors Championships, where she won silver.

Jessica Cole, 16, qualified 3rd in 2:12.00, within a second of her personal-best 2:11.11 from World Juniors, where she placed 5th behind Grant.

Brittany Castelluzzo, 23, broke up the teen takeover with a 4th-place showing in 2:13.05. She has been as fast as 2:08.79 at the 2022 Australian National Championships.

Right behind her was another 16-year-old, Rafaela Kopellou, who posted a personal-best 2:14.20 to take the No. 5 seed heading into tonight’s final. Alexandria Perkins, who placed 6th in the 100 fly at the 2024 World Championships in Doha, Qatar, finished 6th in the heats with a time of 2:14.38.

MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – HEATS

• World Record – 49.45, Caeleb Dressel (2021)
• Australian Record – 50.25, Matthew Temple (2023)
• Commonwealth Record – 50.25, Matthew Temple (2023)

Top 10 Qualifiers:

1. Shaun Champion – 52.54
2. Matthew Temple – 52.84
3. Ben Armbruster – 52.87
4. Cody Simpson – 53.28
5. Jesse Coleman – 53.31
6. Josha Salchow – 53.33
7. Jack Carr – 53.35
8. Bowen Gough – 53.53
9. Alex Quach – 53.69
10. Clyde Lewis – 53.81

Shaun Champion captured the top seed in the 200 fly heats with a time of 52.54, exactly a second off his lifetime best from 2022. Tonight the 24-year-old will be looking to dip under 52 seconds again for the first time since last summer’s Australian Trials (51.88). Champion owns a best time of 51.54 from 2022.

Australian record holder Matthew Temple was just a few tenths behind in 52.84. Ben Armbruster joined the sub-53 club with a time of 52.87 in the third qualifying spot, about a second off his personal-best 51.67 from last fall’s World Cup stop in Berlin.

Cody Simpson qualified 4th in 53.28, and it’ll be interesting to how much he’s saving in the tank for tonight. Last October, the 27-year-old dropped a couple tenths in this event with a lifetime best of 51.92 at the World Cup stop in Athens.

Jesse Coleman (53.31), Josha Salchow (53.33), and Jack Carr (53.35) all touched within a tenth of Simpson this morning.

WOMEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record – 29.16, Ruta Meilutyte (2023)
• Australian Record – 30.05, Chelsea Hodges (2022)
• Commonwealth Record – 29.72, Lara van Niekerk (2022)

Top 10 Qualifiers:

1. Sienna Toohey – 31.80
2. Mia O’Leary – 31.83
3. Zoe Deacon – 32.03
4. Tara Kinder – 32.04
5. Tilly King – 32.42
6. Matilda Smith – 32.52
7. Isabella Johnson – 32.53
8. Olympia Pope – 32.57
9. Emily Nobbs – 32.58
10. Ava Rollason – 32.69

Recently turned 15-year-old Sienna Toohey posted the fastest prelims time in the 50 breast at 31.80, a couple tenths off her best time (31.54) from last month’s NSW Country Championships. That made her the fourth-fastest Australian in the event this season, putting her in the Olympic conversation among a thin breaststroke group. Toohey blazed a personal-best 1:07.97 in Friday’s 100 breast final that scared Leisel Jones‘ legendary national age group record (1:07.49) from 2000 and placed 2nd behind Jenna Strauch (1:07.59), who’s absent from the 50 breast today.

Bond University 21-year-old Mia O’Leary claimed the 2nd qualifying spot in 31.83, about half a second shy of her personal-best 31.29 from last April.

No other swimmers broke the 32-second barrier in prelims, but 23-year-old Zoe Deacon (32.03) and 20-year-old Tara Kinder (32.04) were close. Kinder sliced a few tenths off her best time of 32.39 this morning.

MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record – 2:05.48, Qin Haiyang (2023)
• Australian Record – 2:05.95, Zac Stubblety-Cook (2022)
• Commonwealth Record – 2:05.95, Zac Stubblety-Cook (2022)

Top 10 Qualifiers:

1. Matthew Wilson – 2:12.56
2. William Petric – 2:13.34
3. Angus Menzies – 2:16.35
4. Joshua Collett – 2:17.90
5. Adam Selwood – 2:18.02
6. Haig Buckingham – 2:18.55
7. Marco Soesanto – 2:21.95
8. Gideon Burnes – 2:21.96
9. Joshua Anderson – 2:22.47
10. Harrison Biddell – 2:22.62

After appearing not to race in 2023, former world record holder Matthew Wilson led the 200 breast prelims with a time of 2:12.56. He has been almost six seconds faster back in 2019, with his personal-best 2:06.67 having stood as the (shared) world record for about a day.

William Petric, 19, was within a second Wilson as the No. 2 qualifier in 2:13.34, just a hair off his best time (2:13.31) from last summer’s TYR Pro Championships.

Angus Menzies reached the wall more than three seconds behind Petric in 2:16.35. He placed 3rd at Australian Trials last summer (2:13.13) within a second of his personal-best 2:12.20 from 2022.

Joshua Collett qualified 4th in 2:17.90. The 20-year-old Bond University swimmer was a couple seconds shy of his personal-best 2:15.23 from last summer’s Australian Trials, where he placed 11th.

WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – HEATS

• World Record – 1:52.85, Mollie O’Callaghan (2023)
• Australian Record – 1:52.85, Mollie O’Callaghan (2023)
• Commonwealth Record – 1:52.85, Mollie O’Callaghan (2023)

Top 10 Qualifiers:

1. Mollie O’Callaghan – 1:58.43
2. Lani Pallister – 1:58.87
3. Ariarne Titmus – 1:59.12
4. Jamie Perkins – 2:00.44
5. Abbey Connor – 2:00.61
6. Kaylee McKeown – 2:00.75
7. Amelie Wener – 2:00.93
8. Lia Belle Wiese – 2:00.97
9. Milla Jansen – 2:01.62
10. Brittany Castelluzzo – 2:01.82

The women’s 200 free here was absolutely stacked as world record holder Mollie O’Callaghan (1:58.43) held off Lani Pallister (1:58.87) for the top qualifying spot this morning.

Pallister, 23, was within a few seconds of her personal-best 1:56.03 from last summer’s Australian Trials.

Reigning Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus also broke the two-minute barrier to qualify 3rd in 1:59.12. She owns a lifetime best of 1:53.01 from her runner-up finish at last year’s World Championships behind O’Callaghan (1:52.85).

Jamie Perkins, 19, eked past 18-year-old Abbey Connor (2:00.61) for the No. 4 seed in 2:00.44. Perkins has been as fast as 1:57.34 at Junior Pan Pacs in 2022. Connor blasted a new best time on the back end of a 200 fly double (where she qualified 1st in 2:08.02), taking almost half a second off her previous-best 2:01.00 from December.

Backstroke and IM specialist Kaylee McKeown showed off her versatility with a 6th-place showing in 2:00.75, well off her personal-best 1:56.14 from December. She’s preparing for a double today as she’ll return to the pool soon for the women’s 50 back heats just a few events from now.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – HEATS

• World Record – 20.91, Cesar Cielo (2009)
• Australian Record – 21.06, Cam McEvoy (2023)
• Commonwealth Record – 21.06, Cam McEvoy (2023)

Top 10 Qualifiers:

1. Thomas Nowakowski – 22.10
2. Jamie Jack – 22.30
3. Josha Salchow – 22.54
4. Ben Armbruster – 22.54
5. Jezze Gorman – 22.70
6. Flynn Southam – 22.75
7. Dylan Andrea – 22.81
8. Matthew Temple – 22.92
9. Zach Maher – 23.00
10. Cameron Gray – 23.02

Thomas Nowakowski took charge in the men’s 50 free this morning with the top qualifying time at 22.10, a couple tenths ahead of Jamie Jack (22.30). Nowakowski placed 2nd in this event at last year’s Australian Trials (21.41) behind national record holder Cam McEvoy.

After qualifying for the 100 fly final at the beginning of the session, Josha Salchow (22.54) and Ben Armbruster (22.54) secured a second evening swim in the 50 free with identical qualifying times in 3rd place.

Jezze Gorman qualified 5th in 22.70, exactly half a second off the time he posted to place 4th at last year’s Australian Trials.

Flynn Southam (22.75), Dylan Andrea (22.81), and Matthew Temple (22.92) also went under 23 seconds in prelims to clinch their spots in tonight’s final. Southam has been as fast as 22.29 at World Juniors last year while Temple owns a lifetime best of 22.72 from 2022.

WOMEN’S 200 IM – HEATS

• World Record – 2:06.12, Katinka Hosszu (2015)
• Australian Record – 2:07.03, Stephanie Rice (2009)
• Commonwealth Record – 2:06.88, Siobhan-Marie O’Connor (2016)

Top 10 Qualifiers:

1. Kaylee McKeown – 2:16.53
2. Isabella Boyd – 2:17.01
3. Tara Kinder – 2:19.27
4. Gina McCarthy – 2:19.60
5. Zyleika Pratt-Smith – 2:20.43
6. Georgie Roper – 2:20.84
7. Isabella Krantzcke – 2:21.96
8. Zoe Deacon – 2:22.35
9. Indianna Cameron – 2:22.92
10. Emma Doherty – 2:22.94

Kaylee McKeown led a quartet of sub-2:20 finishers in the 200 IM prelims with a time of 2:16.53 after already swimming the 200 free earlier in the session. The 22-year-old recently clocked a season-best 200 IM time of 2:o7.54 in December, making her the third-fastest woman in the world this season behind Summer McIntosh (2:07.16) and Kate Douglass (2:07.05).

Isabella Boyd (2:17.01), Tara Kinder (2:19.27), and Gina McCarthy (2:19.60) rounded out the remaining sub-2:20 finishers in the heats. Kinder owns the fastest lifetime best of the trio at 2:12.78 from the 2021 Olympic Trials while both Boyd and McCarthy have been in the 2:14 range before.

Zyleika Pratt-Smith (2:20.43) snuck past Georgie Roper (2:20.84) by less than half a second for the 5th qualifying spot. Isabella Krantzcke (2:21.96), Zoe Deacon (2:22.35), 16-year-old Indianna Cameron (2:22.92), and Emma Doherty (2:22.94) were separated by less than a second in the battle for 7th place.

MEN’S 400 IM – HEATS

• World Record – 4:02.50, Leon Marchand (2023)
• Australian Record – 4:09.27, Brendon Smith (2021)
• Commonwealth Record – 4:08.70, Lewis Clareburt (2022)

Top 10 Qualifiers:

1. William Petric – 4:28.06
2. Brendon Smith – 4:28.30
3. Sam Brown – 4:29.56
4. Marco Soesanto – 4:31.26
5. Callum Thomas – 4:34.51
6. Samuel Higgs – 4:36.18
7. Karl Albertyn – 4:36.77
8. Dylan Zhou – 4:40.59
9. Daniel Carter – 4:44.41
10. Flynn Jackson – 4:47.28

Australian record holder Brendon Smith (4:28.30) was outdueled by 19-year-old William Petric (4:28.06) in the 400 IM prelims, but the real showdown awaits tonight. Smith’s best time stands at 4:09.27 from 2021 while Petric has been as fast as 4:17.28 at the TYR Pro Championships last summer.

Sam Brown was the only other swimmer under 4:30 in the heats at 4:29.56, almost two seconds ahead of Marco Soesanto (4:31.26).

At 15 years old, Dylan Zhou knocked more than a second off his lifetime best to qualify 8th (4:40.59) behind Karl Albertyn (4:36.77), Samuel Higgs (4:36.18), and Callum Thomas (4:34.51). Zhou’s best time before today stood at 4:41.70.

WOMEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record – 26.86, Kaylee McKeown (2023)
• Australian Record – 26.86, Kaylee McKeown (2023)
• Commonwealth Record – 26.86, Kaylee McKeown (2023)

Top 10 Qualifiers:

1. Kaylee McKeown – 28.13
2. Ainsley Trotter – 28.32
3. Elizabeth Gan – 28.91
4. Olivia Lefoe – 28.93
5. Ingeborg Loeyning – 29.04
6. Helena Gasson – 29.07
7. Savannah-Eve Martin – 29.10
8. Layla Day – 29.11
9. Minna Atherton – 29.15
10. Emma Godwin – 29.30

World record holder Kaylee McKeown completed her 200 free/200 IM/50 back triple with the top time in the heats of the latter event (28.13), one of four women under 29 seconds this morning.

Ainsley Trotter was within a couple tenths of McKeown at 28.32. The 16-year-old has been as fast as 28.09 last April. Elizabeth Gan (28.91) and Olivia Lefoe (28.93), also went sub-29 seconds in prelims, with Gan slicing .03 seconds off her entry time.

Ingeborg Loeyning (29.04), Helena Gasson (29.07), and Savannah-Eve Martin (29.10) were separated by a blink in the battle for the 5th qualifying spot. Martin dropped more than three tenths off her entry time of 29.46.

MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record – 51.60, Thomas Ceccon (2022)
• Australian Record – 52.11, Mitch Larkin (2015)
• Commonwealth Record – 52.11, Mitch Larkin (2015)

Top 10 Qualifiers:

1. William Yang – 54.92
2. Lewis Blackburn – 55.72
3. Fergus McLachlan – 56.14
4. Joshua Edwards-Smith – 56.46
5. Se-Bom Lee – 56.78
6. Joshua Kerr – 56.99
7. Will Sharp – 57.05
8. Matthew Magnussen – 57.06
9. Evan Chee – 57.12
10. Noah Millard – 57.20

Coming off back surgery last year to remove a benign tumor on his spine, William Yang continued his comeback on Sunday morning with the top time in the 100 back prelims (54.92). The 25-year-old was only about a second off his personal-best 53.59 from 2019.

Lewis Blackburn was the only other swimmer under 56 seconds in the heats, snagging the No. 2 seed in 55.72. The 24-year-old reached the wall within a second of his personal-best 55.11 from 2022.

Fergus McLachlan wasn’t far behind in 56.14. The 19-year-old was also within a second of his personal-best 55.42 from Australian Trials last year.

Joshua Edwards-Smith (56.46), Se-Bom Lee (56.78), and Joshua Kerr (56.99) also went under 57 seconds to book their spots in tonight’s final. The 17-year-old Kerr sliced more than three tenths off his best time from last April.