Pan Pacs Day 2 Heats Wrap

EMERGING sprinter Jamie Jack (pictured) has joined world record holder Cam McEvoy in announcing his intentions to target the 4x100m free relay ahead of the LA Olympics.

In his fastest heat swim over this distance, the 23-year-old ripped a 48.38 to qualify for tonight’s final of the men’s 100m free and put his name in front of selectors ahead of tomorrow’s relay final.

While Jack has withdrawn from tonight’s final, allowing Kai Taylor to take his place, the St Peters Western swimmer was ‘stoked’ with his morning effort at William Woollett Jnr Aquatics Centre in Irvine, California.

“Let’s go!,” Jack said.

“I am really happy with that, to be putting down a nice 100 heat is confidence building. I just wanted to put my name out there for the relays … I am more of a 50 swimmer so to be holding some fitness still after the Commonwealth Games is just so reassuring.

“I just wanted to give it a crack. Dean told me to really just stick to my own process and it was nice being in the outside lane just to focus on myself.

“It’s my third time here in Irvine, I love it here – it’s a fast pool and hopefully that’s enough to get me in the relay and I can also concentrate on the 50.

“There are so many examples of how you have to be super fresh for the 50s and I want to be able to perform through to day four. I know Cam (McEvoy) has also said he wants to do the relay and it is something we have discussed.

“When I get home after this, I’ll look at my goals again and work with him (McEvoy) and my coach (Dean Boxall) and sort out the rest of the year.”

Jack won gold medals in the relays (including the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay) and a bronze in the 50m freestyle at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and his name is also tied to a 21.43-second time trial in the 50m freestyle – also swum in Irvine.

McEvoy, who returned home after the Commonwealth Games and is not competing at Pan Pacs, recently announced that he has started training for the 100m freestyle, specifically to race on Australia’s 4×100 freestyle relay.

The Australian men’s 4x100m relay team last beat the United States back in 2000 with the USA having have won the last three Olympic golds in the event.

In the women’s 100m free, Olivia Wunsch stormed home to post a big PB of 53.08 to qualify equal second with USA’s Simone Manuel behind Gretchen Walsh (52.57) for tonight’s final.

The swim from Wunsch improved on her two-year-old previous best, slotting her into the A final ahead of 50m world champion and teammate Meg Harris (53.17).

Day 2 Finals: Pan Pacs
Dolphins racing from 12 noon AEST / 7pm local time.