Jones Looks Sharp in Monte Carlo

MONTE CARLO, Monaco, June 5. EVEN in the middle of training, Leisel Jones doesn’t have a problem uncorking eye-popping performances. As the Monte Carlo stop on the Mare Nostrum Series came to a close on Sunday, the Australian sensation prevailed in the 50 and 200 breaststroke events. After winning the shorter distance in 30.57, Jones claimed gold in the 200 distance with a quality swim of 2:24.89.

Jones, though, wasn’t the only Aussie to deliver some impressive efforts as Libby Lenton bested the competition in the 50 butterfly (26.68) and 100 freestyle. In the 100 freestyle, Lenton clocked a time of 54.86 to outdistance Jodie Henry, her countrywoman who was timed in 55.10. Lenton also took top honors in the 50 free when her 25.14 placed well ahead of Alice Mills (25.71).

Japan’s Mai Nakamura was the winner of the 50 backstroke with a swim of 28.79, just ahead of the 28.81 recorded by Australia’s Tayliah Zimmer. The Aussie, though, came back and won the 100 back in 1:01.43. Other triumphs went to Hungary’s Evelyn Verraszto in the 400 free (4:20.94) and France’s Camille Muffat in the 200 individual medley (2:15.36).

On the men’s side, Romania’s Razvan Florea had the top performance. Florea covered the 200 backstroke in 1:59.86, a mark quick enough to defeat Austria’s Markus Rogan (2:00.20). As for the 50 backstroke, Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh was the winner in 25.56 and Sweden’s Lars Frolander took first place in the 50 butterfly with an effort of 24.15.

One of the world’s premier sprinters in the breaststroke, the Ukraine’s Oleg Lisogor prevailed in his pet event when his 28.01 outing topped the field in the 50 breast. In the 100 distance, Australia’s Christian Sprenger was first to the wall with a time of 1:01.53. The Ukraine’s Andriy Serdinov, the bronze medalist from the Athens Olympics, claimed the 100 butterfly in 53.32. Other gold medalists included Sweden’s Stefan Nystrand in the 50 free (22.52) and Australia’s Craig Stevens in the 200 free (1:50.82).

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