Da Swimming Australia:
There’s a need for speed at the SA Aquatic Leisure Centre on Day 5, and the men’s 100m freestyle is looming as a race between three “Top Guns.”
100m freestyle
Defending Champion: Cam McEvoy (Bond Swimming, QLD)
Olympic Qualifying time: 48.49
There are two individual spots on offer and three big names chasing after them: London Olympic silver medallist and two-time World Champion James Magnussen (Ravenswood, NSW); Pan Pacific champion and World Championship silver medallist Cam McEvoy (Bond, QLD) and FINA World Junior Champion Kyle Chalmers (Marion, SA).
McEvoy is in career best form with his 47.56 swum at the Perth Aquatic Super Series in February. Chalmers has been 48.47 but is a rising star, capable of improvement and swimming in front of a home crowd.
Magnussen has not left a stone unturned in his preparation after shoulder surgery forced him out of the Kazan World Championships but he is a big time performer.
Others in contention will be London Olympians, from Somerset, QLD, James Roberts (PB of 47.63), Canberra’s Matt Abood (PB 48.35) who won his semi-final, and Trinity Grammar, NSW’s Kenneth To (49.19) who is in his best form to date. If you are in the final then a 1-2 individual shot awaits you and then all eyes will be on the top 6 where possible relay spots beckon.