Zhou Min, Chen Xinyi Sizzle To Top 5 in 200 IM, Sun Yang Cruises in 1500 Free

QINGDAO, China, May 17. ANTOHER spate of world-class swims went up on the board at the Chinese Nationals in Qingdao tonight.

With Ye Shiwen on the sidelines following some stomach issues, 16-year-old Zhou Min put on a show in the women’s 200-meter IM as she threw down a 2:10.22 for the win. That swim jumped her to fourth in the SwimVortex world rankings behind only Alicia Coutts (2:08.89), Siobhan-Marie O’Connor (2:09.71) and Femke Heemskerk (2:10.21).

Fellow 16-year-old prodigy Chen Xinyi sizzled with a second-place time of 2:10.92 as she skyrocketed to ninth in the world rankings to give China three of the top 10 as Ye has a 2:10.49 from the Australian Aquatic Super Series earlier this year. Zhang Sishi finished third in 2:12.58 to grab 20th in the world as well.

In his first return to the men’s 1500-meter freestyle, world-record holder Sun Yang cruised his way to a third event title as he posted a 15:01.33 in the metric mile tonight. That swim moved him to sixth in the world with the Asian Games on his radar. Wang Kechang placed second in the 1500 with a 15:08.05 to move to 16th in the world, while Zu Lijun earned third in 15:14.15.

Chen Jie vaulted to 10th in the world rankings with her powerful time of 2:09.70 to win the women’s 200-meter backstroke. She pulled off the feat against a backstroke dynamo in Fu Yuanhui, as Fu took second in 2:10.17 to demonstrate the sprinter also has some endurance. Liu Yaxin rounded out the top three in the event with a 2:10.71.

Tang Yi raced her way to the women’s 50-meter freestyle title in 25.33 with Chen Xinyi finishing a close second in 25.43. Zhu Menghui wound up third overall in 25.44 in the women’s splash-and-dash. Li Xiang topped the men’s 50-meter breast in 28.19 with Wang Shuai taking second in 28.23. Ma Xiang raced to third in 28.33.

Zhejiang closed out the night with a win in the men’s 400-meter medley relay in 3:39.50. Beijing took second in 3:41.52 with Guangdong earning third in 3:43.09.

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