Chinese Long Course Nationals: Xin Xin Posts Breakout Performance, Sun Ye Shines

SHAOXING, China, April 4. A breakout performance, along with a veteran outing, highlighted day three of the Chinese Long Course Nationals taking place in Shaoxing.

Xin Xin scorched the women's 800 free with an 8:22.76 for the win, while Shao Yiwen earned second in 8:29.49. Both swimmers cleared the FINA A cut standard of 8:33.84, while Xin rolled to second in the world with her phenomenal swim as a 15 year old. Only Rebecca Adlington has been faster with an 8:18.54 from the British Trials. Shao improved to 12th with the second-place finish. Zhou Lili wound up third in 8:31.15, jumping to 21st in the world with her effort.

Sun Ye, an Olympic bronze medalist in the women's 400 medley relay in 2008, dominated the women's 200 breast in 2:24.54, while Ji Liping took second in 2:26.79. Both times cleared the FINA A cut of 2:26.89, picking up a pair of individual swims for China in London. Sun hopped to third in the world rankings with her swim, behind Rebecca Soni's 2:22.73 and Tera van Beilen's 2:24.03. Ji moved to 18th in the world with her performance. Shi Jinglin completed the top three in 2:27.50.

Wang Shijia upset favored Tang Yi for the women's 200 free title, 1:57.26 to 1:57.74, as both swimmers earned individual Olympic swims by besting the FINA A cut of 1:58.33. Wang vaulted to 10th in the world with her swim, while Tang just cleared her 18th-ranked season best of 1:57.75 from Australia in January. Wang had to use a strong final 50 meters to overcome Tang, who had the lead at the 150-meter turn. Song Wenyan (1:57.84) and Zhu Qianwei (1:58.08) finished third and fourth in the event, lining up China's women's 800 free relay.

Li Xiayan edged Huang Yunkun, 1:01.06 to 1:01.07, in the men's 100 breast. The times rank 21st and 22nd in the world. Chen Cheng finished third in 1:01.12 in a close finish. With the top time, Li snared the FINA B cut spot for China, bettering the provisional qualifying time of 1:02.92. China, however, has reserved the right to adjust its team however it chooses as long as it falls in line with the FINA qualifying procedure.

Lu Zhiwu captured the men's 100 free in 49.87, earning a FINA B cut in the process, overcoming an initial 50-meter deficit. Zhang Sijian placed second in 49.92, while He Jianbin, who led at the 50-meter mark, faded to third in 50.04. Lu swam faster in prelims with a 49.47, while He also clocked a 49.90 during preliminary swimming.

Cheng Feiyi topped the men's 50 back in 25.18, while Sun Xiaolei (25.29) and Lin Yongqing (25.63) took second and third. Cheng improved to sixth in the world with his swim in the non-Olympic distance event.

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