World Championships Dress Rehearsal: Perth Meet To Feature Exciting Matchups

Commentary by Jeff Commings

TUCSON – This weekend’s BHP Billiton Super Series in Perth, Australia, is, in my eyes, the official kickoff of seven months of racing preparation for this summer’s world championships in Russia. The lineups for this weekend include several reigning world champions from the United States, China, Australia and Japan … and a few who could contend for gold when the starting signal beeps in Kazan in early August.

MEET PSYCH SHEET

In a bit of a twist, the United States is the only country that has officially named its squad for the 2015 world championships, and all of the Americans racing in Perth this weekend will represent the USA in Kazan. Some are only slated for relay duty, while others will have heavy schedules in Kazan and are testing their preparations. Australia, China and Japan will be picking their teams this spring, and each country has brought several stars that are bound to be discussed at worlds.

Though the 100 freestyle is the race that gets Australians the most excited these days, it might be a foregone conclusion that Cate Campbell and James Magnussen will win those races. Neither will be facing their top international adversaries this weekend (Simone Manuel and Sarah Sjostrom for Campbell, Ning Zetao and Nathan Adrian for Magnussen), but Campbell and Magnussen tend to swim fast at this meet. Last year, Magnussen posted a 47.59 in Perth, which remained his fastest time of 2014. Campbell’s amazing year started with a 53.08 in Perth, which led to an incredible 52.62 at Pan Pacs.

The most thrilling race of the meet will be the men’s 200 backstroke. The three medalists from the 2012 Olympics – champion Tyler Clary, runner-up Ryosuke Irie and bronze medalist Ryan Lochte – will swim in the timed-final heat. Lochte will be looking to show that he’s still a force in the event despite not making the world championship team in the 200 back, while Clary and Irie will show their mettle in what might be their only meeting before worlds. Also expect China’s Xu Jiayu and Australia’s Mitch Larkin to fight for a place in the top three.

I’m also excited to see what will happen between Australia’s Mack Horton and American Michael McBroom in the 1500 freestyle. These two are likely to be in the world championship top eight, and both are expected to push for medals in Kazan. Horton will be pushed by the home crowd, but I’m expecting McBroom to maintain a strong pace and give himself a bit of motivation in the mile seven months before the big meet.

On the women’s side, there’s the 400 IM, where China’s Ye Shiwen and Elizabeth Beisel of the United States will meet once again. Beisel had another fine year in the pool in 2014, while Ye bounced back from a subpar 2013 to post a world-leading 4:30.84 last year. Maya DiRado has been on a steep upward trajectory in the past two years, and I think she has the capability to upgrade her fourth-place finish from the 2013 worlds into a spot on the medal podium this summer. The meet will not feature reigning world champion Katinka Hosszu, but I’m certain this weekend’s meet in Perth features three of the ladies who will finish in the top five of the 400 IM at worlds.

Emily Seebohm will have her hands full this weekend in the backstroke events. China’s Fu Yuanhui is a rising star and could likely be ready to post a sub-1:00 in the 100 backstroke to challenge anything Seebohm has to offer. Fu has been on the outside looking in for the past three years, and a place on the medal podium at worlds would be a big boost to China’s women’s team as they look for stars beyond Ye Shiwen.

The BHP Billiton Super Series rivals the Mare Nostrum meets in terms of the quality of international swimmers in attendance. While those who live in the northern hemisphere will be basking in Australia’s warm summer sun, they will also take the opportunity to turn up the heat on the competition as they get ready for a very important pre-Olympic year.

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Bill Bell

9 years ago

Y isn’t the London men’s gold- medalist in 100 free and the Asian record- holder in that same event not going to be in Perth?

And will Feigen swim 100 for U..S.?

Dunc1952

9 years ago

“…and all of the Americans racing in Perth this weekend will represent the USA in Kazan.” You might want to adjust this sentence, a la Kennedy, Lee, Meili, BJ Johnson, Jones, Ryan (Open water? Pool?), Schneider and Captain Townsend. All fine swimmers representing the US in Perth and possibly other US 2015 rosters but none currently on the US roster for Kazan.