Trials Night 4 Preview: Chalmers, McKeown and Patterson all primed

LESS is more.

Inspired by Cam McEvoy’s success after he turned 30, Kyle Chalmers (pictured) is embarking on his own mission to beat Father Time and execute the perfect race.

Today in the morning heats of the 100m free the perfect race was all about conserving energy.

“I tried to put as minimal energy … and mental energy as I possibly could,” Chalmers said.

“To just get through the round is the most important thing.

“So as much as I am always expected to be in the middle lane for a final, I’d love to be in the outside lane so that people can’t necessarily ride off me as much as they sometimes do.”

Chalmers qualified fifth fastest for tonight’s final, touching in 48.65 with Flynn Southam the fastest (47.98). Kai Taylor, Matthew Temple and Jamie Jack will also feature.

Highly decorated Paralympians Lakeisha ‘Lucky’ Patterson, 27, and Brenden Hall, 33, arrived in form for their speciality 400m freestyle event and punched their ticket for Para Pan Pacific Championships.

The reigning 400m free S9 world champion Patterson posted a 4:40.81 this morning to successfully secure her Pan Pacs selection.

“I definitely have a little bit more left in the tank, which I’m excited for,” Patterson said.

“I haven’t been able to do times like that in almost six years. So, it’s pretty exciting to be able to do that in a heat.”

Patterson first made her Dolphins debut at 15 at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and will return to where it all began as a headline act in the 18-strong para line up for Glasgow 2026.

“At the Commonwealth Games, I only have the 100 freestyle and obviously my main event is the 400m free … so to be able to do that (my main event) at Pan Pacs is great and hopefully, I can add the 100m free and possibly the IM as well,” she said.

“It’s definitely going to be a busy couple of months but I’m really excited to see what I can do.”

Rising para stars Chloe Osborn (S7), 22, and Glasgow-bound 18-year-old Victoria Belando Nicholson (S9) also firmed their spot on the Para Pan Pacific Championships team in this morning’s 400m free heats.

In the men’s multi-class event, Hall – a five-time Paralympian – banked on his over a decade-long experience to clinch another Dolphins’ berth. His time a solid 4:22.61 for the S9 class placed just behind 23-year-old and fellow S9 Dolphin Harrison Vig (4:22.15). Teen titan Callum Simpson, 19, qualified first for tonight’s final and picked up a second S8 event at Para Pan Pacs with his time of 4:25.50.

The undisputed queen of backstroke, Kaylee McKeown is looking to take out the trifecta tonight in the 200m backstroke final, after winning the 50m and 100m backstroke events earlier in the week. Hot on her heels will be WA’s Iona Anderson – only 0.08 of a second separated the pair this morning – and Hannah Fredericks – the silver medallist behind McKeown at this year’s Australian Open.