On-Fire Titmus Lowers Own 400 Free Aussie National Record

2018 AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING TRIALS

• Wednesday, February 28th – Saturday, March 3rd
• Optus Aquatic Centre, Marine Parade, Southport, Queensland
• Prelims at 11:00am local (8pm EST previous night)/Finals at 7:15pm local (4:15am EST)
• LCM
• Meet Central
• Selection Criteria (including QTs)
• Start Lists
• SwimSwam Meet Preview
• Live Stream (prelims only)
• Live Results

Day 1 Prelims Recap/Day 1 Finals Recap
Day 2 Prelims Recap

17-year-old Ariarne Titmus already put on a show night 1 of these Australian Championships, winning the women’s 200m freestyle in a wicked-fast 1:55.76 and the Tasmanian teen was back it on night 2. Competing in the 400m freestyle, the event in which she finaled in Budapest, Titmus scorched a new personal best mark of 4:02.36 to establish a new Australian national record.

Entering tonight’s race, Titmus’ fastest was the 4:02.86 clocked at the Queensland Championships, a mark that surpassed the previous NR of 4:03.34 held by Jess Ashwood since 2015. Titmus’ 4:02.36 result this evening gives the teen her 2nd national title in as many days, as well as provides a 2nd Commonwealth Games qualifying cut.

Old Record Splits – 57.90/1:01.53/1:01.91/1:01.52 = 4:02.86
New Record Splits – 57.57/1:01.15/1:01.67/1:01.97 = 4:02.36

In tonight’s race Titmus was alone out in front attacking every lap and ultimately touching the wall 5 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. That included Ashwood, who settled for silver tonight in 4:07.73.

With her result, Titmus remains as the #2 swimmer in the world in the event thus far this season, an Aussie among a string of Chinese swimmers filling up most of the top 10 slots in the rankings. The next-closest Commonwealth competitor at the moment is England’s Ellie Faulkner, who holds 8th spot in 4:06.90.