FINA World Cup Prelims: Katie Ledecky to Challenge Siobhan Haughey Triple Crown in 200 Free

Siobhan Haughey; Photo Courtesy: Mine Kasapoglu/ISL

FINA World Cup: Katie Ledecky to Challenge Siobhan Haughey Triple Crown in 200 Free

Katie Ledecky, fresh off a world record in the 1,500 free, looks set to challenge Siobhan Haughey’s hold on the 200 free after the two were separated by just .05 seconds in prelims at the final FINA World Cup stop in Indianapolis Friday morning.

Ledecky set the pace at 1:53.29. Second was Haughey in 1:53.54.

Haughey has won both previous World Cup 200 free races, in Berlin and Toronto. She’s looking to win three straight in it and the 100 free, which will be on the meet’s concluding day Saturday.

Ledecky is fresh off winning the 400 free Thursday night in Indy. Haughey finished fourth in the 50 free.

Bella Sims was third in prelims in 1:53.74, with Madison Wilson fourth in 1:53.84. Summer McIntosh qualified for the final in sixth.

Haughey is one of 11 swimmers in 21 events looking to win the same race at all three installments of the FINA World Cup. Five of the seven succeeded on Night 1, and Haughey will chase the 100 free triple crown on Saturday.

Men’s 50 backstroke

Dylan Carter’s quest for a triple-triple hit a bit of a snag, with the in-form Trinidad and Tobago swimmer coming through prelims in fifth. Carter completed a triple crown by winning the 50 freestyle again Thursday night and will chase a sweep of the 50 butterfly on Saturday.

Carter clocked in at 23.40. Kacper Stokowski of Poland set the pace at 22.99 with a slew of Americans following. Justin Ress is the second seed in 23.23, .07 up on Coleman Stewart. Javier Acevedo was fourth in 23.34, a tenth off the Canadian record he set last week. Ryan Murphy scraped into the final in seventh.

Men’s 200 individual medley

Danas Rapsys led the way in prelims with a time of 1:54.19, the Lithuanian leading the way by more than half a second. It’s an event that is without the FINA World Cup record holder, Shaine Casas.

Kieran Smith, winner of the 400 free, is the second seed in 1:54.89. Fifth is the swimmer he denied a chance to sweep the 400 free on Friday night, world junior record holder Matt Sates. The third seed went to Finlay Knox in 1:55.20. The top seven swimmers, capped by Caio Pumputis, were at 1:55.62 or under.

Women’s 100 backstroke

Bella Sims paced the field in the morning with a strong swim, the 17-year-old going 56.76 to lead a veteran cast. She’ll get an inner lane with two Canadians to her outside. Ingrid Wilm is the second seed in 56.87, with Kylie Maase fourth in 56.96. In between is Beata Nelson, who is seeking a triple crown in the event. She clocked in at 56.96 in the morning. Kira Toussaint is the fifth seed.

Men’s 50 breaststroke

Nic Fink’s rampaging form continues, the American taking the top seed in the spring in 26.39 seconds. He’ll face a stiff test, though, as he tries to secure the FINA World Cup triple crown of breaststroke triple crowns. He’s already got the 100 done on Thursday.

On his heels is Joao Gomes of Brazil, who went 26.44, and Italian Nicolo Martinenghi in 26.54. Michael Andrew, who just missed the final in the 50 fly, is the fourth seed in 26.57.

Women’s 50 butterfly

The final will be star-studded and up for grabs, with a half-second separating the top six. Beryl Gastaldello led the way in the morning with a time of 25.31. That was .05 up on Louise Hansson, with Abbey Weitzel going 25.67. Kasia Wasick, the 50 free champ, can’t be ruled out either, fourth in 25.78.

Men’s 100 freestyle

Kyle Chalmers is chasing his third title in the 100 free, and he’ll do it from a central lane. He set the pace in the morning with a time of 46.61, nearly a quarter second up on a relatively thin sprint field full of longer-distance generalists instead.

Second is Drew Kibler, who went 46.83. He’s followed by fellow American Kieran Smith, at the low end of his specialty area, in 47.12. Thomas Ceccon is the fifth seed, with Justin Ress sixth.

Women’s 100 breast

Ruta Meilutyte’s chase of a third 100 breast title will be launched from a peripheral lane. She came through sixth in prelims, clocking in at 1:06.51.

The Lithuanian will be chasing an impressive top three, led by Anastasia Gorbenko, who went 1:05.69. Sydney Pickrem is the second see in 1:05.79, with hometown Olympian Lilly King third in 1:05.80.

Men’s 200 butterfly

Trenton Julian unleashed an impressive swim in the 200 fly to take home the top seed in 1:51.04. That’s nearly a second clear of Chad le Clos, the triple 100 fly champion at this FINA World Cup. The South African is seeded second after clocking in at 1:52.36.

Jose Martinez of Mexico earned the third seed in 1:52.56. Fourth is Ilya Kharun, the newly minted Canadian record holder in the 100 fly. The 17-year-old was .06 off Javier Acevedo’s national record in the 200 fly in the morning in going 1:52.99.

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