2018 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Thursday, August 9 – Tuesday, August 14, 2018
- Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center, Tokyo, Japan
- Meet site
- Psych Sheet
- Start Lists
- Meet Results
The Australian squad of Ariarne Titmus, Emma McKeon, Mikkayla Sheridan and Madeline Groves combined to upset the U.S. for gold in the women’s 4×200 free relay and broke their Commonwealth Record in the process.
Titmus gave them the early lead with the fastest opening leg by over two and a half seconds in 1:55.27, and then McKeon (1:55.66), Sheridan (1:56.72) and Groves (1:56.47) never relinquished it to touch in a time of 7:44.12, breaking their Commonwealth, Oceanian and Australian Record of 7:44.31 set back at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing (where they won gold). It also broke the previous Pan Pac record of 7:46.40 set by the Americans in 2014.
The relay also stacks up as the 6th fastest in history, with China (7:42.08) holding the world record from 2009 and the Americans having been faster four times.
Fastest 4×200 Free Relays In History
- China, 7:42.08 – 2009
- USA, 7:42.56 – 2009
- USA, 7:42.92 – 2012
- USA, 7:43.03 – 2016
- USA, 7:43.39 – 2017
- Australia, 7:44.12 – 2018
Below, check out a split comparison of the new and previous Commonwealth Records. Both teams had a pair of 1:55s and a pair of 1:56s, with Titmus’ 1:55.27 lead-off being the difference maker.
| Australia, 2008 Olympics | Australia, 2018 Pan Pacs |
| Stephanie Rice – 1:56.60 | Ariarne Titmus – 1:55.27 |
| Bronte Barratt – 1:56.58 | Emma McKeon – 1:55.66 |
| Kylie Palmer – 1:55.22 | Mikkayla Sheridan – 1:56.72 |
| Linda Mackenzie – 1:55.91 | Madeline Groves – 1:56.47 |
| 7:44.31 | 7:44.12 |
The Americans were just two-tenths back for silver in 7:44.37, as Katie Ledecky (1:53.84) made the race very close with a blazing fast anchor leg after the Aussies had opened a three-second advantage heading into the final leg.
I was amazed when I woke up this morning to see that the US lost this race. What did they have, 6 out of 10 top times in the individual 200 free prelims? Then I saw the 1:58.6 lead off. Yeah, that’s a big hole to dig out of. 2.3 seconds slower than her prelims individual swim, ouch.
Video of the race
https://youtu.be/D3Dor2r24DQ
Very proud of the Aussie girls – I called it earlier this afternoon when I saw the start list.
I am definitely biased, there seems to be more depth in Canadian women’s 200 free than the 100 free… Top times in 200 Free in the last 2 years:
2018
Taylor Ruck – 1:54.44, (1:54.08 Relay)
Kayla Sanchez – 1:57.23
Rebecca Smith – 1:57.72, 1:57.02 (Relay)
Penny Oleksiak – 1:57.79, 1:54.90 (Rio Relay)
Mackenzie Paddington – 1:56.75 (Relay)
&
2017
Katerine Savard – 1:57.13
Mary Sophie-Harvey – 1:57.83
Both of which should be competing for Worlds next summer…..
Not saying the Canadians are there yet, but there is definitely emerging depth that could result in a faster relay than the one that won Bronze in Rio.
I have been listening talks about deep, strong, fast and extremely young Canadian 800 relay team for three years already. Don’t you think it’s time to deliver already some impressive times as a team? Time flies. They have gotten two years older already.
Most of the talk has been around the 4×100 Free relay…. In the 4×200 they were only 2 seconds off their Rio bronze medal time. I’d say they are delivering some impressive times and all of the ones on the relay at Pan Pacs are literally teenagers (Mackenzie Padington is the oldest at 19).
The depth is demonstrated because they are producing an internationally competitive relay even without Brittany Maclean and Katerine Savard, OR Penny Oleksiak this year.
This is the biggest upset so far. USA was strongly predicted to break the WR.
Chalmers upsetting heavy favorite Dressel is probably second biggest.
I wouldn’t say the olympic champion beating dressel is an upset but in 800 relay the us were heavy favorites
According to this article, Dressel was the favorite and Chalmers was not even mentioned among the contenders.
https://staging.swimswam.com/2018-pan-pacs-dressels-100-free-set-for-day-2-prelims/
Dressel wasn’t a heavy favorite!
Where’s the best place to look up all time fastest swims in each event?
that was a huge upset from aus. ledecky’s anchor leg though;)
Scmittys blunder cost USA
There was no way the selectors could have predicted that, as there were no heats. She was second at nationals in 1:55.82 and fourth individually last night in 1:56.71 . Both of those times would have gotten the US across the line by a big margin.
These things happen – people have bad swims. It’s pretty uncomfortable reading some of the comments directed towards Schmitt here. Remember that these athletes are people and I have no doubt she would much rather have performed her best and taken the win with the team without being reminded about this by multiple strangers.