Olympic swimming trials: Cameron McEvoy on track to complete 200m, 100m and 50m freestyle treble

CAMERON McEvoy is a strong favourite to complete the 200m, 100m and 50m freestyle treble at the Rio Olympic trials in Adelaide.

Cameron McEvoy waves after swimming in the Mens 50m Freestyle Semi-Final on day 6 of the Australian Swimming Championships at the SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Adelaide, Tuesday, April 12, 2016. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

CAMERON McEvoy’s near flawless national championships has rocketed him into favouritism to complete the 200m, 100m and 50m freestyle treble at the Rio Olympic trials in Adelaide on Tuesday night.

McEvoy defied a heavy racing program, which on Tuesday included a surprise appearance in the 100m butterfly, to post the fastest time in the semi-finals of the 50m freestyle on Tuesday night.

The 21-year-old clocked 22.12secs which was well outside his personal best but enough to secure him lane four for Wednesday night’s final ahead of Matthew Abood (22.24) and James Magnussen (22.34).

Cameron McEvoy is undaunted by a heavy schedule.

Teen sensation Kyle Chalmers, who finished second in the 100m freestyle on Monday night, missed the 50m freestyle final by 0.02 of a second as the ninth fastest in the semis.

Magnussen said he hadn’t lost any zip from the 100m final on Monday night in which he finished fourth and was focused on securing an individual swim in Rio in the 50m on Wednesday night.

“It doesn’t hurt any more than if you win the race, physically it’s exactly the same so I’ll just keep focusing on this,” he said.

“I don’t really care about time in a semi, you’ve just got to get in the final. I’m feeling pretty good about it so it should be tight tomorrow night.”

Abood finished fifth in the 100m freestyle final on Monday but hit back with an impressive 50m semight.

“It was OK, I was struggling to swim straight, I don’t know what was going on,” he said.

“After the last two days, today was always going to be tough so I tried to get out of it what I can.

“The lead up to the 100m free then the semi and the final itself is very draining physically and emotionally, and then it ends up being a pretty late night and you start the day on the back foot.

“It was just a matter of going through the motions today, trying to execute bits and pieces and give yourself a rough idea of where you’re at.”

But Abood said that wasn’t to be confused with a lack of desire to win on Wednesday night.

“Bloody oath I’m keen,” he said.

“You want to save a bit of that because you don’t want to come out tonight and leave nothing in the tank for tomorrow night.

“Cam (McEvoy) will be quick ... I’d expect him to go close to if not his best time here, he’s swimming that well.”

In other events, Mitch Larkin and Josh Beaver both qualified for the 200m backstroke in Rio as did Taylor McKeown in the women’s 200m breaststroke.

Originally published as Olympic swimming trials: Cameron McEvoy on track to complete 200m, 100m and 50m freestyle treble