Women’s 50 Free – Prelims
After his world-beating 100 free from Monday evening’s finals (Monday morning US/European Time), Australia’s James Magnussen was riding high. Very high, in fact, and after showing the world how much he’d improved his raw speed relative to the opening 50 of his 100, he was ready to show what he can do in just one length of the pool.
Magnussen took the top seed in the men’s 50 free prelims in 22.19. That’s more than two-tenths better than his previous lifetime best that was set earlier this year in the same pool (as it turns out, he might like Adelaide better than he thought he would). In the 100, he had no trouble going from fast, to faster, to fastest in the three rounds. Whether or not that happens in this 50 is hard to say (though his drop won’t probably be the full-second it was in the three rounds of the 100). Nobody was yet under the Olympic A-standard, and with a field that is just as deep as the 100 was, he will have to drop time if he wants to earn a second individual race for London.
Nipping at his heels are Matthew Abood (22.44) and Andrew Abood (22.63) in 2nd and 5th, respectively. The brothers are motivated as both failed to qualify for the 400 free relay. In-between were Matt Targett (22.47) and Eamon Sullivan (22.62), who have both already earned Olympic spots.
17-year old Cameron McEvoy was 6th in 22.78 (he excels more in the longer 200 than the shorter 50 to go with his strong 100 free). 7th went to James Roberts, who used near-perfect tactics to follow Magnussen to runner-up in that 100 free.
Women’s 800 Free – Prelims
From the shortest race of the women’s meet to the longest, 19-year old Katie Goldman took the top seed in 8:33.90. That’s a very good, casual prelims swim (she had a 19-second gap for qualifying). Expect her finals swim to go somewhere well under 8:30 and at least into the world’s top-4. There were two other teenagers in this top 4, with Jessica Ashwood taking the second-seed in 8:38.01, and 14-year old Remy Fairweather was 4th in 8:43. Those two both have 8:29’s in them as well, so don’t read too much into those prelims swims.
Kylie Palmer took a “pass” on this event last year to focus on the middle-distance races, but she went a solid 8:38 in prelims too. If there’s a swimmer in this race who can come up and chase Goldman, it’s her.
Men’s 100 Fly – Prelims
Christopher Wright (52.45), Nick D’Arcy (52.56), and Matt Targett (52.63) took the top three seeds in this men’s 100 fly. Targett has a really good chance at swimming very fast in this race.
Geoff Huegill, the defending National Champion, was 5th in the prelims (4th among Australians) in 52.79. Michael Klim, just like he did in the 100 free, as the 9th Australian in 53.45. That’s the best time since his comeback.
Why does the Australian Trials schedule have the men’s 50 free and 100 fly back to back? Isn’t that unusual? It hurts Matt Targett.
Australian trials follow London schedule.
Ahh yes I see. Clearly I need to do my homework.
It’s an interesting point though gosharks. This seems to be one of the odder event schedulings on the Olympic schedule – though this 100 fly/50 free combo is nowhere near as popular at that level as it is in high school or college swimming.
I believe that since the rules stipulate a country can bring 4 relay only members (per freestyle relay), if one of the current relay only qualifiers like Sullivan or Targett earns an individual berth, they could still bring Abood.
not quite – the rules actually say that you can bring two additional relay-only swimmers for each relay qualified, men and women combined, distributed among the relays however you like. So, this year Australia can bring 12 total relay-only swimmers for men and women combined. Hard to believe that the #7 100 freestyler is going to be decided to be worth a spot.
Ok, I see. But Abood would the still have a slight chance if Sullivan and Targett qualify individually, since McEvoy will be brought with McKendry in the 800, and then everyone ahead of D’Orsogna in the 100 would be in by other means.