Magnusson wins men’s 100m title

LOS ANGELES, June 6, (Agencies): Jessica Ashwood notched an Australian record of 8min 18.14sec Sunday to win the 800m freestyle at the Pro Swim meeting in Santa Clara, California.

With the Rio de Janeiro Olympics beckoning in August, Ashwood is the second-fastest woman in the event this year. Only American Katie Ledecky has gone faster, setting a world record of 8:06.68 at Austin, Texas, in January and posting a time of 8:13.20 in April.

Ashwood led a strong Australian showing on the final day of the meeting, one of three this weekend in which US Olympic hopefuls are tuning up for their trials in Omaha this month and overseas swimmers are prepping for the Rio Games themselves.

Aussie Mitch Larkin won the men’s 200m backstroke in 1:55.38 ahead of Ryan Murphy (1:56.10), compatriot Emily Seebohm won the women’s 200m back in 2:08.57.

James Magnusson won the men’s 100m free in 48.99, leading an Australian one-two ahead of Kyle Chalmers (49.70).

Emma McKeon lifted her third title of the meet, winning the 100m free in 53.30 with fellow Aussie Brittany Elmslie second in 53.77.

Thiago Pereira, looking to be among the medal contenders in front of home fans in Rio, won the 200m individual medley in 1:57.77, moving ahead of US superstar Michael Phelps and into third in