Streamlined News: Recapping Day Two Olympic Prelims; Diving and Water Polo Previews

PHOENIX, Arizona, July 29. EMILY Seebohm wasn't going to wait until the evening to make her statement in the 100 backstroke. The Aussie swam a 58.23 in prelims today, just a tenth off Gemma Spofforth's world record set in a techsuit in 2009. It's also an Olympic record, which was formerly held by Kirsty Coventry from 2008. Missy Franklin didn't put all her energy into this morning's swim, qualifying second for tonight's semifinals with a 59.27. Rachel Bootsma, the other American, made the semis with a 1:00.07, and also in the top 16 are Spofforth, Coventry, Anastasia Zueva and world champion Zhao Jing.

Seven guys went 1:46 today in the 200 free, with 400 free Olympic champion Sun Yang first after prelims. Ryan Lochte is second, and Tae Hwan Park, the defending silver medalist, is third. World record holder Paul Biedermann is in the top 16 as well.

Rebecca Soni wasn't the headliner of today's 100 breast prelims. That went to Lithuania's Ruta Meilutyte, who at 15 years old dropped almost two seconds off her best time to go 1:05.57. The list of semifinalists is packed with superstars. Soni is in, as is American Breeja Larson who swam a 1:06.58 in her first Olympic swim. Australia's Leisel Jones, looking to make her fourth Olympic final in this event and defend her gold medal, is in the top 16 as is 29-year-old Sarah Poewe of Germany.

Matt Grevers posted the only sub-53 second 100 back of the day with a 52.92 to take the top seed going into tonight's semifinals. Cheng Feiyi and Nick Thoman will be second and third in semis, followed by Camille Lacourt and Ryosuke Irie.

Grevers was back about 50 minutes later to swim in the prelims of the 400 free relay, fighting for a spot in the finals with Jimmy Feigen, Ricky Berens and Jason Lezak also on the prelim squad. Assuming that Nathan Adrian and Cullen Jones are going to swim the final, and Michael Phelps as well, only one spot was open for the Americans, and it looks like it might go to Grevers with his 47.5 split.

Australia put its two big guns in the prelims. James Magnussen split 47.35 and James Roberts swam a 48.22. It's likely that Eamon Sullivan and Matt Targett will replace Tom D'Orsogna and Cameron McEvoy in tonight's final, where the Aussies are the heavy favorites. Russia, France, Italy, South Africa, Germany and Belgium are also into the final. Brazil did not put Cesar Cielo on their prelim relay, and missed out on the final, placing ninth.

The other event on today's program was the women's 400 free, led by France's Camille Muffat, who had a little bit of a battle in her heat with Allison Schmitt of the United States. Both touched in 4:03-low, with France's Coralie Balmy and New Zealand's Lauren Boyle — a UC-Berkeley alum — also posting 4:03s. World record holder Federica Pellegrini qualified seventh, while defending champion Rebecca Adlington is in the final in eighth place.

We'll be bringing you complete recaps from finals later today on swimmingworld.com.

The first medals in diving will be awarded shortly in the women's three-meter synchro springboard event. China's He Zi and Wu Mingxia are the heavy favorites, and the Italian duo of Tania Cagnatto and Francesca Dallape are going to be strong as well. The American duo of Kelci Bryant and Abby Johnston have a chance to medal as well.

Water polo is also underway. The United States men's team plays its first match against Montenegro today, with defending Olympic champions Hungary playing Serbia in prelim action.

Lots going on in aquatic sports at the Olympics, and we'll keep you informed of it all on swimmingworld.com.

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