Another World-Ranked Double From Britain’s Fran Halsall to Close Mediterranean Open

MARSEILLES, France, March 9. A day after torching the pool, Britain’s Fran Halsall was back at it again at the Mediterranean Open in Marseilles.

Halsall opened up the night with a 26.12 to win the women’s 50-meter fly. That effort moved her from fourth in the world with a 26.25 to move to second in the rankings. That’s behind only Jeanette Ottesen’s 25.62 from Denmark earlier this year. Amy Smith touched second in 26.89, while fellow Brits Rachael Kelly (26.95) and Emma Wilkins (27.06) rounded out the top four.

Halsall doubled up in the women’s 100-meter free with a time of 54.07. That swim pushed her to fifth in the world rankings, behind Cate Campbell (53.08), Emma McKeon (53.80), Aliaksandra Herasimenia (53.89) and Bronte Campbell (53.98) in the rankings. France’s Charlotte Bonnet placed second in 55.45 with Anna Santamans earned third in 55.95.

Spain’s Mireia Belmonte Garcia followed up her top-ranked time of 16:22.79 in the women’s 1500-meter free from earlier in the meet with a second-ranked time of 8:23.45 in a battle with Britain’s Jazmin Carlin in the women’s 800-meter free. Carlin finished second in 8:23.91 with Belmonte Garcia and Carlin now standing 2-3 behind Jessica Atwood’s top-ranked time of 8:19.76 from the NSW Championships in Sydney. Spain’s Beatriz Gomez Cortes wound up third in 8:36.48.

Britain’s Georgia Davies vaulted her way to fifth in the world in the women’s 100-meter backstroke with a time of 1:00.45, while Britain’s Lauren Quigley touched second in 1:00.69, just off her seventh-ranked season best of 1:00.53 from the Belgium Open. Davies had been ninth overall with a 1:00.76 from the Belgium Cup as well. Spain’s Duane Da Rocha Marce snagged third in 1:01.45.

France’s Mehdy Metella just missed out in the top 10 in the world with a 24.08 to take home the men’s 50-meter fly title. Belgium’s Yoris Grandjean tied Britain’s Adam Barrett for second with matching 24.27s. Metella raced his way to a second title tonight with a 49.99 in the men’s 100-meter free. Britain’s Robbie Renwick (50.59) and Adam Barrett (50.87) placed second and third.

Another close call on the world top 10 came in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke when France’s Giacomo Perez Dortona posted a 1:01.91 for the win. Britain’s Robert Holderness (1:02.29) and Joseph Welstead (1:03.29) finished second and third.

Spain’s Jessica Vall Montero clipped France’s Charlotte Bonnet in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke, 1:09.35 to 1:09.61. France’s Carmella Kitching completed the top three with a time of 1:12.41. Spain’s Marc Torrens touched out Britain’s Daniel Fogg in a close contest in the men’s 1500-meter free, 15:17.54 to 15:17.66. Britain’s Jack Burnell picked up third in 15:32.73.

Denmark’s Magnus Jakupsson cruised to victory in the men’s 100-meter backstroke with a 56.85, while France’s Nathan Bonnel took second in 58.13. Britain’s William Harrison pocketed third in 58.50.

Results For: Mediterranean Open: Day Three

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