Another Day at Aquatic Super Series, Another Day of Strong Aussie Sprints

PERTH, Australia, February 1. THE two-day Aquatic Super Series in Australia featured some strong swimming across the board from the various teams that took part, but tops among the list has to be the back-to-back sprint days from Aussie stars Cate Campbell and James Magnussen.

Both Campbell and Magnussen were awarded the female and male swimmer of the meet for their performances in the 100m freestyle, while Australia took the overall team title on 629 points ahead of Japan (523), China (423), South Africa (332) and Brazil (230).

The second day of competition opened up with Australia claiming the initial world record in the mixed 400-meter free relay. The event officially began being recognized last September, and FINA will likely choose the swim by the Aussies today as the first global mark.

Tommaso D’Orsogna (49.65), Cate Campbell (52.83), James Magnussen (47.29) and Bronte Campbell (53.52) turned in a swift time of 3:23.29 for the win and the likely record, which will still need to be ratified before it becomes official. Typically, at meets as high profile as this, world records being ratified would be a moot point. But, with the craziness that has happened in the administration of the new mixed and different distance relay records since September, you never know what FINA will do.

China’s Ning Zetao (49.50), Yu Hexin (49.43), Chen Xinyi (56.04) and Shen Duo (54.82) took second in 3:29.79, while Japan’s Katsumi Nakamura (49.95), Syo Sotodate (50.30), Yayoi Matsumoto (55.56) and Sayaka Akase (57.13) turned in a third-place 3:32.94.

Karin Prinsloo, who definitely had been the standard-bearer for South Africa here in Perth, took home a close win against Bronte Barratt in the women’s 200-meter free. Prinsloo went out strong, and held on to a win with a 1:57.41. Barratt touched just behind with a 1:57.50, nearly catching Prinsloo down the stretch. China’s Qiu Yuhan, just 15, finished third in 1:59.15.

Japan’s Kosuke Hagino, who has had a stellar meet here in Perth, raced his way to the title in the men’s 200-meter free with a 1:46.35. He overpowered Cameron McEvoy down the final 50 meters, 26.35 to 27.09, for the win as McEvoy settled for silver with a 1:46.68 after leading at the 150. Australia’s David McKeon took third in 1:48.21.

Australia’s Taylor McKeown hit the wall in 2:23.94 to win the women’s 200-meter breaststroke, while Japan’s Mio Motegi placed second in 2:24.50. Japan’s Kanako Watanabe rounded out the top three in 2:25.01. China’s Mao Feilian followed with a 2:11.32 to win the men’s 200-meter breast. Japan’s Yasuhiro Koseki finished second in 2:11.52, while Akihiro Yamaguchi clinched third in 2:12.47.

Australia’s Alicia Coutts raced her way to the title in the women’s 100-meter fly with a 57.60, while teammate Ellen Gandy finished second overall in 58.16. Japan’s Natsumi Hoshi snared third overall in 59.65. Chad Le Clos bounced back from a rare loss in the 200 fly yesterday with a 52.66 to win the men’s 100-meter fly today. He has to turn on the jets down the stretch, out-splitting Chris Wright of Australia 27.34 to 27.69 for the win, however, as Wright placed second in 52.78 after leading at the wall with a 25.09. Australia’s Daniel Lester took third in 53.06.

Plenty of relay action was on hand during day two. After opening with the mixed gender swims in the 400 free relay, the single gender 400 free relays took place.

Bronte Campbell (54.41), Madeline Groves (54.86), Emma McKeon (53.37) and Cate Campbell (52.90) smoked the women’s 400-meter free relay field with a 3:35.54 keyed by that remarkable anchor leg from Cate Campbell. China’s Qiu Yuhan (55.18), Guo Junjun (56.51), Chen Xinyi (56.47) and Shen Duo (55.01) clocked a second-place 3:43.17 with three of the four team members being 15-16. South Africa’s Trudi Maree (57.28), Karin Prinsloo (55.10), Lehesta Kemp (56.17) and Erin Gallagher (56.46) claimed third in 3:45.01.

The Aussies continued to demonstrate their sprint prowess as Cameron McEvoy (48.77), Kenneth To (48.85), James Magnussen (47.54) and Tommaso D’Orsogna (48.79) sizzled in the men’s 400-meter free relay with a 3:13.95. Japan’s Shinri Shioura (49.24), Kenta Ito (49.64), Yuki Kobori (49.60) and Katsumi Nakamura (49.16) placed second in 3:17.64. China’s Shi Tenfei (50.77), He Jianbin (50.09), Shang Keyuan (51.05) and Yu Hexin (50.11) took third in 3:22.02.

The distance freestylers then jumped into the water for a mixed 800-meter freestyle heat. Mack Horton won the men’s title in 7:53.88, while Jessica Atwood was the top female with an 8:27.09.

Leiston Pickett followed with a 31.20 to top the women’s 50-meter breaststroke, while teammate Sally Hunter (nee Foster) finished second in 31.50. China’s He Yuze picked up third in 32.13. Australia’s Christian Sprenger then won the men’s 50-meter breast in 27.54, while Brazil’s Joao Gomes Jr. took second in 27.67. Japan’s Koichi Okazaki claimed third in 27.83.

China’s Fu Yuanhui nearly cleared 1:00 in the women’s 100-meter backstroke as she won in 1:00.5 with Japan’s Sayaka Akase touching second in 1:00.48. Australia’s Emily Seebohm wound up third in 1:00.98. China swept the 100 backs today as Xu Jiayu posted a 53.42 to win the men’s 100-meter back. Japan’s Ryosuke Irie earned second in 53.62, while Australia’s Ashley Delaney clinched third in 54.25.

The sprint freestylers returned with a vengeance in the 50-meter frees. Cate Campbell blasted her way to a 24.21, moving within striking distance of Libby Trickett’s Commonwealth record of 23.97 from 2008. Bronte Campbell finished second behind her sister with a 24.82, while China’s Qiu Yuhan raced to third in 25.81.

The Missile James Magnussen blazed his way through the men’s 50-meter free with a scorching 21.88 for the win, while rising Chinese sprint star Ning Zetao posted a second-place time of 22.23. Japan’s Shinri Shioura wound up third overall in 22.44.

Japan’s Miyu Otsuka followed that sprint speed with a 4:37.33 to win the women’s 400-meter IM. China’s Zhou Min, 16, wound up second overall in 4:38.16, while Australia’s Kerry McMaster took third in 4:40.93. World-record holder Ye Shiwen, who is still trying to find the form that put her atop the world in 2012, finished fourth in 4:41.03.

Japan’s Kosuke Hagino doubled up with a 4:09.82 to win the men’s 400-meter IM. No one else came even remotely close to Hagino as he scorched the finale. Teammate Daiya Seto touched a distant second in 4:13.60 with South Africa’s Chad Le Clos placing third in 4:16.71.

Another set of relays closed the door on the team competition. Australia’s Emily Seebohm (1:00.29), Sally Hunger (1:08.45), Alicia Coutts (58.07) and Emma McKeon (52.96) won the women’s 400-meter medley relay in 3:59.77. China’s Fu Yuanhui (1:00.51), Shi Jinglin (1:09.58), Jiao Liuyang (58.97) and Shen Duo (54.80) took second in 4:03.86. Japan’s Sayaka Akase (1:00.87), Mio Motegi (1:08.79), Natsumi Hoshi (59.18) and Miki Uchida (56.04) finished third in 4:04.88.

Japan’s Ryosuke Irie (53.95), Yasuhiro Koseki (59.78), Takuro Fujii (52.60) and Shinri Shioura (48.88) took advantage of Australia not having Magnussen in the men’s 400-meter medley relay as Japan won in 3:35.21. Australia’s Ashley Delaney (55.16), Christian Sprenger (1:00.48), Chris Wright (52.64) and Cameron McEvoy (48.15) took second in 3:36.43. China’s Xu Jiayu (53.67), Mao Feilian (1:01.52), Yu Hexin (54.97) and Ning Zetao (47.83) finished third in 3:37.99.

Results For: Aquatic Super Series: Day Two

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