'Feel like I'm 86': McKeown battles through to book ticket to Glasgow

Kaylee McKeown may physically feel like she is “86 years old” but the Australian star has not slowed down in the pool in pursuit of the Commonwealth Games.

McKeown hasn’t had the smoothest experience at the Australian Swimming Trials this week, forced to withdraw from the women’s 200m individual medley due to illness.

But she managed to put in a strong display in each of her pet events, most recently holding off a spirited display from Iona Anderson in the 100m backstroke.

Anderson, 20, came out flying in the opening 50m of the race, but in true McKeown fashion, she turned at the wall and left the field to dust.

The five-time Olympic gold medallist fell just short of her personal best (57.16) in the event as she touched the wall in 57.77, the fifth-fastest time ever recorded.

Anderson followed just shy of a second being, recording a 58.60 to qualify for the Commonwealth Games next month.

Although a win would have been the perfect ending to that race, she was honoured to have the chance to swim alongside one of the best on home soil.

“Every race is an opportunity, and I am just so grateful to be here,” Anderson told Nine.

“It is so much fun racing everyone here, in Australia. It was such a fun field.”

As for McKeown, she was just happy to have pulled off an impressive swim given the illness and physical toll that has been taken on her body this week.

“[The body] is holding together, but I feel like I am 86 years old,” she laughed.

“At the end of the day, I think it is important to show that no matter what you have to stand up and give it your best. You don’t get things given to you in life, you have to put it together and see what you can do.”

Sienna Toohey will join McKeown and Anderson on the plane to Glasgow next month after winning the 100m breaststroke final on Tuesday in 1:05.97.

It was a time that left Toohey stunned in the water, especially given the sacrifice and major life move from Albury to Canberra to pursue her Olympic dream.

“I am very, very happy with that ... very exciting,” Toohey told Nine.

“I am so thankful that I have done it [getting the ticket to Glasgow].

“My older brother has come up for uni in Canberra, so having him there has made it a lot easier [living there]. It’s hard not seeing my friends for quite some time. I don’t have a lot of friends in Canberra, but that just made it all worth it.”

Ella Ramsay entered the race as the fastest qualifier but fell short of the automatic qualification time, touching in 1:06.70. It is likely she will go compete in the race in Glasgow though, given she qualified for the 200m individual medley on Monday.

Meanwhile, Matt Temple secured his ticket to Glasgow after crushing the 100m butterfly final in 50.50.