To finish off the 5th day of competition at the Junior World Championships, the Australian quartet of Shayna Jack, Minna Atherton, Gemma Cooney and Lucy Elizabeth McJannett won the women’s 400m freestyle relay in a new junior world and championship record of 3:39.87.
That time erased the former championship record of 3:41.40 set by the Russians in 2013 in Dubai, and the junior world record established by the United States (3:40.14) at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Maui in 2014.
Also under the junior world record was Russia who finished 2nd in 3:39.91. The Russians were anchored by rising star Daria Ustinova in 54.50. The Canadian team featuring Penny Oleksiak (55.35) and Taylor Ruck (53.74) finished 3rd in 3:40.26. Ruck’s split of 53.74 was the fastest in the field, and the only one under 54 seconds.
A Comparsion of the splits of Team Australia in Singapore versus the former junior world record holding Americans:
Australia, 2015 USA, 2014
1) Shayna Jack 54.91 1) Stanzi Moseley 55.66
2) Minna Atherton 55.93 2) Amy Bilquist 55.00
3) Gemma Cooney 54.65 3) Katie Drabot 54.46
4) Lucy McJannett 54.38 4) Katrina Konopka 55.02
3:39.87 3:40.14