Tokyo: Jack McLoughlin and girls relay lift Dolphins to six gold

 

Swimming Australia: August 12, 2018: Australia has taken its gold medal tally to six and its overall tally to 19 at the Pan Pacs in Tokyo tonight after an all-the-way win in the 400m freestyle to Jack McLoughlin and a come-from-behind victory to the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay.

 

McLoughlin came back from his disappointing 1500m freestyle swim on night one to edge out Olympic champion Mack Horton in another freestyle quinella to the Aussie men after Kyle Chalmers and Jack Cartwright went 1-2 in the 100m freestyle last night.

Commonwealth 1500m champ McLoughlin pipped the fast finishing Horton by 0.11 of a second after leading all the way – McLoughlin in a personal best time of 3:44.20 and Horton in 3:44.31 and earning a wrap from the Olympic champion.

 

"I definitely tried (to reel him in), but if I am going to come second to anyone by that much I am glad it is Jack, he is one of the hardest trainers in the team" Horton said.

 

McLoughlin was relieved to come away with a gold and a best time after putting in “the best training block of his life” under coach Vince Raleigh.

 

He joins previous Australian winners Justin Lemberg (1985), Kieren Perkins (1991, 1993) Dan Kowalski (1995), Grant Hackett (1997) and Ian Thorpe (1999 and 2002) as previous winners and a who’s who of the 400m freestyle at a Pan Pacs.

 

When it came relay time at the end of the night it was Campbell (51.36) who powered home in the final leg over world champion Simone Manuel of the United States to take her third gold as did Emma McKeon.

 

Australia clinched gold in three minutes, 31.58 seconds - a new championship record.

 

Campbell, Emily Seebohm (54,56), Shayna Jack (53.10)  and McKeon (52.56) finished almost two seconds ahead of world champions the US, coming from fourth, to third, to second and then to the lead on the final leg.

 

Australia - the reigning Olympic champions and world record holders - were fourth after Seebohm's first leg before Jack and McKeon chipped away to ensure Australia hit the water for the final leg in second - and Campbell did the rest.

Earlier, Australia's Ariarne Titmus laid down the gauntlet to American great Katie Ledecky ahead of Tokyo 2020 by claiming 400m freestyle silver.

 

Titmus, 17, became only the third woman in history t(behind Ledecky and Italy’s Federica Pellegrini) to crack the four minute barrier, clocking 3:59.66 to eclipse her own national mark.

 

Olympic and world champion Ledecky was forced to hold out Titmus and claim gold in 3:58.50.

 

Titmus eclipsed her previous national record of 4:00.93.

 

Meanwhile, Australia's 4x100m freestyle men's team of Kyle Chalmers, Alex Graham, Jack Cartwright and James Roberts were elevated to silver when winners the US were disqualified.

 

The Americans clocked a new championship record (3:11.67) but got a dreaded DQ after Zach Apple and Blake Pieroni swam in the wrong order.

 

In other events Mitch Larkin claimed 200m individual medley silver in a new Commonwealth record (1:56.21) and Emma McKeon took 100m butterfly bronze.

 

After three nights the USA lead the medal tally with 11 gold eight silver and nine bronze from Australia (6 10 3) Japan (5 5 8) Canada (2 1 3) and Brazil (1 1 2).

The pool events will conclude on Sunday before a rest day Monday and the 10km marathon open water on Tuesday at Tateyama Beach.