SYDNEY — Mollie O’Callaghan and Meg Harris locked down the women’s 100m freestyle slots for the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championships at the Australian trials on Friday as Sam Short completed an epic freestyle sweep.
Australia’s women are a global powerhouse over the sprint distance with huge depth in their ranks, making a spot on the team for major events ultra-competitive.
Olympic 200m freestyle gold medallist O’Callaghan, as expected, touched first in 52.33 with 50m freestyle world champion Harris (52.63) second.
Shayna Jack came third and Alex Perkins fourth, with all four set be part of their formidable relay team which has been a dominant force for more than a decade.
Australia is the current Olympic and world 4x100m champions.
“Pretty stoked to come here and race and have the opportunity to race against Meggie and the other girls, and they definitely get the best out of me,” said O’Callaghan according to AFP.
The six-day trials, which culminate on Saturday, act as qualifying for not just next month’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games but also the August Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California.
Short has been in electric form all week and surged to victory in the 1500m freestyle in 14:42.09. He was under world record pace for the first 1 000 metres before tiring.
“That hurt so bad. The last 500 I was just thinking about getting take out after the race was done, to be honest,” said Short.
“I was like, ‘Oh no, just keep going. Get to the end’.”
