Yang on song as King Kyle’s absence gives young prince breathing room

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Yang on song as King Kyle’s absence gives young prince breathing room

By Phil Lutton

In a 100m freestyle final without its undisputed king, it was a comeback story, a redemption tale and the emergence of a new prince that told the tale at the Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide on Saturday night.

With Kyle Chalmers already getting an automatic slot at the Commonwealth Games and not swimming the event at the FINA World Championships, should he elect to go, a new face was destined to emerge in the blue-ribbon men’s sprint.

William Yang after winning the men’s 100m freestyle final.

William Yang after winning the men’s 100m freestyle final.Credit:Getty

That would end up being William Yang, a former backstroker who has rejuvenated his career in Sydney under coach Adam Kable. After nearly quitting the sport after missing the Tokyo team, Yang went 48.55s to take his spot on top of the podium and make his first senior team.

He had spent some of that in Hong Kong, much of it playing basketball, and said he had no concept his first personal best in three years would arrive in a high-pressure final.

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Zac Incerti finished second after taking out the 200m earlier in the meet. He has had some dark days in the sport, almost missed the Olympic team before appealing a DQ and has become a powerful advocate for mental health.

But it was 16-year-old Flynn Southam, who finished third, that was the talk of the Adelaide pool. His ritual of two huge breaths and a thunderous pair of claps on the blocks announced his arrival as he earned relay spots for both major meets.

Southam, who is still at school, has been torching junior records and the exposure to top-level racing on the run towards the Paris Games will be invaluable.

“It was awesome, it was just great to be here at my first trials meet at just 16. It’s a privilege to be here,” Southam said. “I can’t describe it. I’m in Year 12, to go to the Comm Games and represent my country, I just want to make everyone proud.”

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Yang and Incerti said Southam had already made quite the impression behind the scenes. Already there is a mini-aura about the teenager that makes him an imposing opponent.

“Flynn ... I never talk to that guy. But watching him race, that’s just unbelievable stuff. That guy is going to be real, real good,” Yang said.

Rising star Flynn Southam.

Rising star Flynn Southam.Credit:Getty

And Incerti: “He’s a confident kid. I don’t think at 16 I would be clapping and doing heavy breaths on the blocks. He’s going to do amazing things in the future.”

Kaylee McKeown made no mistake in the 200m backstroke, banking another Australian title in a rock solid swim of 2:05.31s, with minor Mollie O’Callaghan placegetters and Minna Atherton both hitting qualifying marks.

O’Callaghan has a heavy program and won’t swim this event at the World Championships, meaning a potential return to the Australian roster for Atherton, who still holds the short course world record over 100m.

An emotional Bowen Gough emptied the tank over the final stretch to make his first national team when he qualified in the 200m butterfly. His time of 1:56.49s was just inside the FINA A cut of 1:56.71, justifying Gough’s decision to move north from his club at Nunawading and join Michael Bohl’s star-studded squad on the Gold Coast.

Backstroker Kaylee McKeown at the Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide.

Backstroker Kaylee McKeown at the Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide.Credit:Getty

Tokyo bronze medallist Brendon Smith (4:11.88)was a powerhouse on the final leg to win the 400m IM and safely progress to the major meets, with See-Bom Lee clinging on for dear life to hold off Kieren Pollard by 0.01s to claim second.

Lani Pallister continued her comeback meet with an all-the-way win in the 1500m freestyle, with her 15:55.40 another personal best as she starts to deliver on her immense potential after a difficult 18 months that included heart surgery and an eating disorder.

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