The Australian women’s 400 free relay, while missing their own World Record, have broken the Pan Pacs and Australian All-Comers Records in the 400 free relay on Saturday at the 2014 Pan Pac Championships.
With no prelims, Aussie coaches had to make a leap-of-faith on who to use in this relay, and for the 4th leg, they swapped in Brittany Elmslie for Emma McKeon as compared to the World Record setting relay in Glasgow.
The other three, Cate Campbell (52.89) Mel Schlanger (52.97), and Bronte Campbell (52.88) all split better than 53 seconds, which will be hard for anyone in the world to contend with in Kazaan or Rio. When they broke the World Record, though, all four legs were under 53 seconds.
Normally in these record-breaking scenarios, we compare results to the records they broke. In this instance, however, we’ll instead compare to where they came up short against the World Record swim (though a 3:32 is still very impressive racing outdoors in relatively cold weather and rain).
| Commonwealth Games (WR) | Pan Pacs (All-Comers Record) |
| Bronte Campbell – 53.15 | Cate Campbell – 52,89 |
| Mel Schlanger – 52.76 | Brittany Elmslie – 53.72 |
| Emma McKeon – 52.91 | Mel Schlanger – 52.97 |
| Cate Campbell – 52.16 | Bronte Campbell – 52.88 |
| 3:30.98 | 3:32.46 |
Manuel’s 53.25 leadoff is a new 17-18 NAG record.
Podium*
Wonder why they switched the order? I guess it doesn’t matter, nobody has a chance against australia in this event. The men’s, however, is a bit disappointing. Brazil could have won here! I wish Santana had come here. Would have challenged for ppdi
Emma McKeon is clearly not in form based on her swims the last two days.
Australian women sprints has really good depth to keep dominating the sprint relay, unlike the Dutch during 2009-2012 which only had four top swimmers and was vulnerable if only one was not in form, which happened in London 2012.
Maybe they wanted to give Cate the ledoff leg, so it could count as an individual time.
leadoff leg