Max Cunningham, 16, clocks 48.65 in 100 Free; Edward Sommerville achieves 1:40.59 in 200 Free.

Day two of this year’s Queensland Short Course Championships has concluded, leaving no shortage of fast swims and top times.  Brisbane Grammar’s Max Cunningham swam a 48.65 in the 100 free to equal Aussie legend Kyle Chalmers for #2 all time in the 16 year old age group. Only Flynn Southam, who went 48.05 in 2021, has been faster. Cunningham was out in 23.34 before coming home strong in a 25.31. This swim obliterated his previous best of 52.03, a time he swam just earlier this year in April at the Australia Age Group Championships. Beyond winning against his age group, Cunningham had the fastest swim overall as well. He went on to win the 100 back for 16 year olds in a new best time of 55.16, just over 3 seconds faster than his PB of 58.28.

Edward Sommerville, who swam the long course version of this event in Singapore just last week—finishing 17th in prelims– shaved 0.05 seconds off his PB in the 200 free. He swam a 1:40.59, just two tenths off of Maximillian Giuliani‘s 1:40.36 Australian record from 2024 SC Worlds. Sommerville remains the #2 performer in Australian history, with his previous PB being the former Australian record. Sommerville was out like a rocket—faster than Luke Hobson‘s world record time at the 100—but paid for it dearly. He split 47.32/53.27, though his opening 100 was fast enough to get him under his previous PB.

Splits Comparison: