Magnussen and McKeon on fire at State titles

NSWIS swimming star James Magnussen has claimed his fourth NSW state title in a row in the men’s 100m freestyle, breaking the 48 second barrier for the fourth time this year when cruising to victory at the 2014 State Championships on Friday.

Magnussen led the field out in 22.77 and came home to hit the wall in 47.75. Magnussen said he was pleased with the victory and was buoyed by the impressive time.

"This is my favourite pool in the whole world. I know every crack and every line on the bottom and this is the fastest I have ever swum in Sydney so that’s pretty cool," Magnussen said.

The Port Macquarie local also collected gold in the men’s 50m freestyle and bronze in the men’s 200m freestyle.

NSWIS scholarship holder Emma McKeon posted a world class time in the women’s 200m freestyle to hold out Olympic bronze medallist Bronte Barratt. 

After claiming gold in the women’s 100m freestyle on night one, McKeon was almost a second quicker than Barratt in the 200m as she went on to win in 1:56.23, a time that would have seen her finish fourth at last year’s FINA World Championships.