Australian Swimming Trials: Toohey and McKeown Shine in Sydney
Sienna Toohey announced herself as a major force in Australian swimming, claiming victory in the women’s 100m breaststroke final at the Australian Swimming Trials in Sydney.
The 17-year-old clocked a time of 1:05.97, which is the third fastest time ever recorded by an Australian woman. The performance secured her qualification for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
"Moving to Canberra for training has been difficult, but this result made it all worthwhile."
Toohey edged out Olympic and world championships silver medallist Ella Ramsay, who finished second in 1:06.70. Ramsay had already booked her ticket to Glasgow in the 200m individual medley.
Toohey credited her coach, Shannon Rollason, for pushing her to break the 1:06 barrier for the first time. She also acknowledged the personal sacrifices made to achieve the milestone, noting that while her older brother is in Canberra for university, she has few friends in the city.
McKeown Dominates 100m Backstroke
In another standout performance, Kaylee McKeown won the women's 100m backstroke final in 57.77 seconds, comfortably qualifying for the Commonwealth Games. Iona Anderson finished second in 58.60.
McKeown revealed she felt unwell in the lead-up to the trials. Her mother confirmed that the swimmer had been ill but did not want to use it as an excuse for her performance.