Kanako Watanabe Paces 200 Breast Prelims, Champion Yuliya Efimova Misses Semis at 2015 FINA World Championships

Kanako Watanabe Pan Pacs 2014
Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

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Japan’s Kanako Watanabe turned in the top seed in the women’s 200-meter breast prelims at the 2015 FINA World Championships.

Watanabe, the top-ranked swimmer in the world with a 2:20.90 from Japanese Nationals, cruised to the top seed in a time of 2:23.29.

The most stunning storyline, however, proved to be Russian favorite Yuliya Efimova, the 2013 gold medal winner, missing semis completely with a 17th-place time of 2:26.11.

Efimova, who won the 100 breast already this week, touched four seconds back of her fifth-seeded season best of 2:22.12 from Russian Nationals. She is one of a few swimmers who have played with fire in not putting up a fast enough swim in prelims to lock down a semifinal berth.

USA’s Micah Lawrence qualified second in 2:23.32 to move to eighth in the world rankings.  Iceland’s Hilda Luthersdottir earned the third seed in 2:23.54.

Belgium’s Fanny Lecluyse (2:23.77), Turkey’s Viktoria Gunes (2:23.81), Denmark’s Rikke Moller Pedersen (2:23.90), Spain’s Jessica Vall (2:23.97) and Russia’s Vitalina Simonova (2:23.99) also cleared 2:24 to round out the top eight.

Australia’s Taylor McKeown (2:24.02), China’s Shi Jinglin (2:24.09), Canada’s Kierra Smith (2:24.12), Australia’s Tessa Wallace (2:24.88), Spain’s Marina Garcia (2:25.32), Germany’s Vanessa Grimberg (2:25.74), Japan’s Rie Kaneto (2:25.75) and Finland’s Jenna Laukkanen (2:25.91) closed out the rest of the semifinal heats.

USA’s Breeja Larson joined Efimova outside the top 16 with a 19th-place 2:26.38.

SCHEDULED EVENTS

  • Women’s 100 free
  • Men’s 200 back
  • Women’s 200 breast
  • Men’s 200 breast
  • Women’s 800 free relay
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