2026 AUSTRALIAN SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS
We’re back with the second night of finals at the 2026 Australian Short Course Championships, and it is shaping up to be a fast one.
After dominating the competition in prelims this morning, Iona Anderson heads into the evening as the top seed in the women’s 200 back by over three seconds, and will be looking to hold onto that momentum to clinch the gold. Alyssa Burgess made a big time drop in the preliminary heats and will also be one to watch in the final.
Joshua Collett made waves in the men’s 100 breast on night one, smashing the Australian Record, All Comers Record and Oceanian Record in the event in 56.61. Back in action today, he can be expected to bring the heat again in the 50 breast after securing the top spot coming out of prelims this morning.
The final of the women’s 100 free boasts a stacked lineup, with Olivia Wunsch currently sitting in the top spot after clocking a time of 52.49 in the heats. Just behind her in the ranking coming out of the morning session was Alexandria Perkins, who had the only other sub-53 performance of the morning. Perkins scratched out of the final, which puts Lani Pallister in the #2 spot heading into the evening.
Jenna Forrester is the top seed heading into the fastest heat of the women’s 400 IM, but she’ll face a tough evening as she is also set to race the 200 back at the start of the session after coming out of prelims ranked 3rd in the event.
The men’s 400 IM sees Samuel Higgs in with the fastest entry time of 4:08.19; he is closely followed by William Petric and Cameron Ricchini, and with less than 2.5 seconds separating the three of them, it should be an exciting race.
Women’s 200 Back – Final
- World Record: 1:57.33 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2025
- Commonwealth Record: 1:57.33 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2025
- Oceanian Record: 1:57.33 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2025
- Australian Record: 1:57.33 – Kaylee McKeown, 2025
- All-Comers Record: 1:58.94 – Kaylee McKeown, 2020
GOLD – Iona Anderson, 2:03.00
SILVER – Jenna Forrester, 2:04.17
BRONZE – Alyssa Burgess, 2:04.41
Anderson led the pack right from the start, taking it out in 28.30 on the opening 50 to give her a half-second lead over Burgess. Anderson continued to build that lead throughout the rest of the race, flipping in 59.11 at the 100-meter mark to clock the only split under one minute in the field. She charged into the wall in a time of 2:03.00 to secure the gold, which shaved .27 off her time from prelims but was still over a second away from her lifetime best (2:01.80) from 2024.
After starting out in the middle of the pack, Forrester turned in a blazing back half to claim silver in a time of 2:04.17 and knock over three seconds off her time from prelims. She was 5th at the halfway point with an opening split of 1:01.93 before chasing down and getting ahead of three of her competitors to get clock a nearly even split of 1:02.24 on the second 100 and get her hand on the wall just behind Anderson.
Forrester narrowly beat out Burgess, who took 3rd in 2:04.41. Burgess has been on fire in this event today, coming into the meet with a personal best time of 2:10.22 before knocking over three seconds off her best during prelims, clocking a time of 2:07.00. She showed no signs of slowing down during the final; Burgess’s 3rd-place performance took another two-and-a-half seconds off of her lifetime best. She did her best to hang with Anderson and stayed in 2nd for much of the race until being overtaken by Forrester on the final 50 meters.
Men’s 200 Back – Final
- World Record: 1:45.12 – Hubert Kós (HUN), 2025
- Commonwealth Record: 1:45.63 – Mitch Larkin (AUS), 2015
- Oceanian Record: 1:45.63 – Mitch Larkin (AUS), 2015
- Australian Record: 1:45.63 – Mitch Larkin, 2015
- All-Comers Record: 1:45.63 – Mitch Larkin, 2015
GOLD – Stuart Swinburn, 1:50.81
SILVER – Enoch Robb, 1:51.65
BRONZE – Joshua Edwards-Smith, 1:52.21
Stuart Swinburn emerged victorious in the men’s 200 back, throwing down a lifetime best time of 1:50.81 and dropping just over a second from his previous personal best (1:51.83) from 2024. Swinburn had the fastest splits across the board and was the only one in the field to break the 1:51 barrier, securing the gold by nearly a full second as he raced into the wall ahead of runner-up Enoch Robb.
Robb turned in a strong performance, moving up from 3rd-place at the 100-meter mark to take 2nd overall in 1:51.65. His final time was less than a second off of his lifetime best time of 1:50.73. Doing his best to hang onto a medal spot was Joshua Edwards-Smith, who was in the top spot coming out of the heats. He improved upon his prelims time by about eight-tenths of a second, clocking a time of 1:52.21, but it was not enough to stay ahead of the competition, as he took 3rd behind Robb.
Not far behind Edwards-Smith was Matthew Magnussen, who placed 4th in 1:52.67 and was the only other competitor under 1:55. Magnussen logged a top personal performance, shaving almost half a second off of his lifetime best (1:53.14) and breaking the 1:53 barrier for the first time.
Women’s 50 Breast – Final
- World Record: 28.37 – Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2022
- Commonwealth Record: 28.56 – Alia Atkinson (JAM), 2018
- Oceanian Record: 29.50 – Sarah Katsoulis (AUS), 2009
- Australian Record: 29.50 – Sarah Katsoulis, 2009
- All-Comers Record: 28.37 – Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2022
GOLD – Mia O’Leary, 29.72
SILVER – Lily Koch, 30.32
BRONZE – Kyla Brown, 30.66
The only swimmer to go under 30 seconds, Mia O’Leary won the women’s 50 breast in 29.72 and secured the gold by a margin of over half a second. That performance marked her second lifetime best time of the day, as she had already posted a best time of 29.80 during prelims. Coming into the competition with a best time of 30.09 from 2024, O’Leary has been on top of her game today in this event.
Lily Koch, 17, was the runner-up coming out of the heats this morning and managed to hold onto that spot, throwing down a time of 30.32 to take silver. She shaved .25 off her time from this morning but was .14 off her lifetime best (30.18). Taking 3rd behind Koch was Kyla Brown, who was just .02 faster than her prelims’ time in 30.66.
The only other competitor to break 31 seconds this evening was Ava Rollason, who clocked a huge personal best time of 30.83 to take 4th-place. She knocked almost a full second off of her time, as she came into the meet with a best time of 31.79 from 2024.
Men’s 50 Breast – Final
- World Record: 24.95 – Huseyin Sakci (TUR), 2021
- Commonwealth Record: 25.25 – Cameron van der Burgh (RSA), 2009
- Oceanian Record: 26.02 – Grayson Bell (AUS), 2024
- Australian Record: 26.02 – Grayson Bell, 2024
- All-Comers Record: 26.02 – Grayson Bell, 2024
GOLD – Joshua Collett, 26.09
SILVER – Gideon Burnes, 26.11
BRONZE – James McKechnie, 26.49
It was a close battle for the gold in the men’s 50 breast, with just .02 separating the top two. Joshua Collett walked away with the gold, clocking a time of 26.09 and dropping over half a second from his previous best time (26.61). He narrowly missed hitting the Australian national record, which stands at 26.02 from 2024.
Collett’s victory marked his second win of the meet after taking home the championship title in the 100 breast on night one, which saw him break three records en route to clinching the gold.
Racing into the wall almost neck-and-neck with Collett was Gideon Burnes, who snagged the runner-up spot in 26.11.
The top three finishers from the final proved to be a repeat of the top three finishers from the morning session, as James McKechnie won bronze in 26.49. Unlike Collett and Burnes, McKechnie added a bit of time from his prelims’ performance (26.42).
Grayson Bell placed 5th in 26.75, two-tenths of a second slower than his time from the heats; the current Oceanian, Australian and All Comers record holder, Bell was 4th this morning in 26.54.
Women’s 100 Free – Final
- World Record: 49.93 – Kate Douglass (USA), 2025
- Commonwealth Record: 50.25 – Cate Campbell (AUS), 2017
- Oceanian Record: 50.25 – Cate Campbell (AUS), 2017
- Australian Record: 50.25 – Cate Campbell, 2017
- All-Comers Record: 50.25 – Cate Campbell, 2017
GOLD – Olivia Wunsch, 51.72
SILVER – Lani Pallister, 53.18
BRONZE – Jaimie De Lutiis, 53.46
Olivia Wunsch dominated the competition, surging ahead of the field to get her hand on the wall first in 51.72 and secure the championship title by almost one-and-a-half seconds. Wunsch’s performance marked her first time going under 52 seconds and was well over a second faster than her time during prelims (52.49).
Lani Pallister turned in an eye-catching performance in this event, as the mid-distance/distance specialist showed off her chops in the sprint events. After posting an opening split of 25.74 and being tied for 4th at the halfway mark, she turned up the jets on the second 50 and managed to overtake the competition on the final stretch, claiming silver in 53.18.
With Perkins not in the race, Jaimie De Lutiis came into the final seeded 3rd and was tied with Pallister at the 50-meter mark. She held on for bronze, touching 3rd in 53.46.
Caitlyn Ribbons and Chloe Rowe-Hagans had faster opening splits than Pallister and De Lutiis. Rowe-Hagans was out quick in 25.54, flipping in 2nd behind Wunsch at the halfway point, while Ribbons turned in 3rd with an opening split of 25.69. Both swimmers fell back in the field in the second half, with Ribbons placing 5th in 54.09 and Rowe-Hagans finishing 9th in 54.77.
Men’s 100 Free – Final
- World Record: 44.84 – Kyle Chalmers (AUS), 2021
- Commonwealth Record: 44.84 – Kyle Chalmers (AUS), 2021
- Oceanian Record: 44.84 – Kyle Chalmers (AUS), 2021
- Australian Record: 44.84 – Kyle Chalmers, 2021
- All-Comers Record: 45.16 – Kyle Chalmers, 2022
GOLD – Flynn Southam, 45.61
SILVER – Edward Sommerville, 46.06
BRONZE – Marcus Da Silva, 46.55
The fastest seed out of the morning’s heats, Flynn Southam continued his domination with a gold medal-winning performance in the men’s 100 free. Out in 21.99 on the opening 50, he blasted a best time of 45.61, marking the only sub-46 performance in the field and dropping almost a full second from his prelims time (46.55).
Edward Sommerville claimed silver in 46.06 and dropped almost eight-tenths of a second from his lifetime best, while Marcus Da Silva took bronze in 46.55, rounding out the group of sub-47 performers. Da Silva’s time also marked only his second time breaking 47 seconds, with the first occasion being this morning when he set a best time of 46.90.
Matthew Temple had the 2nd-fastest opening split in the field, clocking 22.28 at the 50-meter mark before coming home in 24.77 to place 4th with a time of 47.05.
Women’s 400 IM – Final
- World Record: 4:15.48 – Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2024
- Commonwealth Record: 4:15.48 – Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2024
Oceanian Record: 4:28.72 – Ellen Fullerton (AUS), 2009Australian Record: 4:28.72 – Ellen Fullerton, 2009All-Comers Record: 4:28.72 – Ellen Fullerton, 2009
GOLD – Jenna Forrester, 4:28.39 *NEW AUSTRALIAN, OCEANIAN AND ALL COMERS RECORD*
SILVER – Amelie Smith, 4:30.87
BRONZE – Kayla Hardy, 4:32.79
Forrester delivered the first record-breaking performance of the night, and she did it in style with not one, but three records going down in the women’s 400 IM. She blasted into the wall in 4:28.39, breaking the Australian Record, Oceanian Record and All-Comers Record in the event by over three-tenths of a second. She also took over two seconds off of her own lifetime best, going under 4:30 for the first time.
Amelie Smith turned in a top performance, throwing down a personal best time of 4:30.87 to claim silver. The 18-year-old knocked almost six seconds off of her lifetime best with that swim. Not far behind Smith was Kayla Hardy, who took 3rd in 4:32.79.
Lexi Harrison and Tara Kinder were the only other swimmers to go under 4:40 tonight, placing 4th and 5th in 4:34.15 and 4:34.94, respectively. Harrison dropped over five seconds from her personal best time, which previously stood at 4:39.70.
Men’s 400 IM – Final
GOLD – William Petric, 3:59.27
SILVER – Samuel Higgs, 4:06.70
BRONZE – Cameron Ricchini, 4:09.66
William Petric posted a smashing performance in the 400 IM, throwing down a time of 3:59.27 and knocking 10 seconds off of his personal best time en route to winning gold. He came into the meet with a time of 4:09.24 and blasted past that standard in the finals session tonight, sliding under the 4:00 barrier for the first time. Petric was also less than 1.5 seconds off the Australian Record (3:57.91) set by Thomas Fraser-Holmes in 2025.
Taking home silver was Samuel Higgs, who posted a time of 4:06.70. Higgs was out quick in 55.78 on the butterfly leg, only a second behind Petric at the turn, but he fell back on the backstroke leg and was trailing by almost four seconds at the halfway point. Higgs held onto the runner-up position throughout the race, staying ahead of the rest of the pack and getting his hand on the wall in 2nd.
Cameron Ricchini took 3rd in 4:09.66, shaving exactly a second off his personal best time. Meanwhile, 15-year-old Andre Labara placed 4th in 4:09.82, dropping over five seconds from his lifetime best.
Mixed 4×50 Free Relay – Final
- World Record: 1:27.26 – ITA (Leonardo Deplano, Lorenzo Zazzeri, Silvia Di Pietro, Sara Curtis), 2025
- Commonwealth Record: 1:28.03 – AUS (Kyle Chalmers, Matthew Temple, Meg Harris, Emma McKeon), 2022
- Oceanian Record: :28.03 – AUS (Kyle Chalmers, Matthew Temple, Meg Harris, Emma McKeon), 2022
- Australian Record: 1:28.03 – Kyle Chalmers, Matthew Temple, Meg Harris, Emma McKeon, 2022
- All-Comers Record: 1:28.03 – AUS (Kyle Chalmers, Matthew Temple, Meg Harris, Emma McKeon), 2022
GOLD – Sydney University, 1:34.15
SILVER – Manly, 1:34.45
BRONZE – Knox Pymble, 1:36.62
Sydney University clocked the fastest performance of the evening in the mixed 4×50 freestyle relay, racing to victory in a time of 1:34.15. It was a tight battle for the gold, as Manly raced into the wall just behind in a time of 1:34.45. Manly gave the Sydney team a run for their money, nearly chasing them down on the last stretch, but Sydney managed to stay ahead and pull out the win.
Knox Pymble took 3rd in 1:36.62, narrowly out-touching Surrey Park, who placed 4th in 1:36.65.
