The 25-year-old led from start to finish as he claimed a comfortable victory in a time of 3:42.79. McKeon finished ahead of Joshua Parrish and Jack McLoughlin. 

McKeon’s victory was overshadowed somewhat by the stunning return to the pool of Cate Campbell. 

Campbell won the women’s 100m freestyle final in world record time, defeating younger sister Bronte Campbell and Wollongong’s Emma McKeon in the process.

Campbell touched the wall in a time of 50.25 seconds, shaving 0.33 seconds off Swede Sarah Sjostrom’s mark, which was set in August.

The 25-year-old recently took a break from swimming, controversially missing the recent world champinships. However she sees the swim as proof she made the right decision. 

"It's great to be swimming fast," Campbell said.

"I've put together some really good solid weeks of training and I've really been working hard.

"The body remembers and I've been doing this for a long time and taking a year off this year is the best thing I've ever done.

"I've come back refreshed and I've got a new love for the sport, a new perspective and I'm more motivated than ever for the Commonwealth Games."

Emma McKeon will start as favourite in Friday night’s 100m butterfly final, while the Campbell sisters will return to the pool in the 50m freestyle final.