2018 FINA World Cup Eindhoven Day One Prelims: Tight Races Across The Board

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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The first stop of the second cluster of the 2018 FINA World Cup kicked off this morning in Eindhoven in the Netherlands, with heats of the men’s and women’s 400 free, 100 IM, and 50 free, along with the women’s 50 back, men’s 200 back, women’s 200 fly, men’s 100 fly, women’s 200 breast, and men’s 100 breast. While the first cluster of the World Cup was in long course meters, this cluster starts with short course meters.

China’s Wang Jianjiahe will head into the women’s 400 free as the top seed tonight (4:01.61), following closely by World Cup veteran Katinka Hosszu (4:02.50) and American Leah Smith (4:02.71). Those three may be able to push each other under the 4:00 mark and close to the world cup record of 3:59.14.

Blake Pieroni was the top seed in the men’s 400, touching just ahead of Olympic gold medalist Mack Horton, 3:45.13 to 3:45.54. The field in this event was tight, with Hungary’s Daniel Dudas finishing just behind in 3:45.64 and the next four competitors ending in 3:46.

Hosszu was right back in the water to claim the top seed in the 100 IM over Sarah Sjostrom (58.30) and newly minted world record holder Kathleen Baker (58.57). Hosszu was the only swimmer in the field under 58 seconds with a 57.73, just over a second off her world cup and world record. Michael Andrew (52.17) took the top seed in the men’s event, just ahead of world record holder Vlad Morozov (52.37).

Kira Toussaint took the top seed in the women’s 50 back in 26.19, while Baker was back in the pool to grab the second seed in 26.43. They were followed by Emily Seebohm in 26.72. Ryosuke Irie and Mitch Larkin were neck and neck in the men’s 200 back, 1:53.62 to 1:53.81, setting up what is sure to be a good race tonight. China’s Zhang Yufei was the top seed in the women’s 200 fly (2:07.46), just ahead of Hosszu in her third swim of the morning.

South African Chad le Clos was the top seed in the men’s 100 fly (50.58) and was the only swimmer under 51 seconds this morning. Russians Vitalina Simonova (2:21.30) and Yulia Efimova (2:22.74) led all swimmers in the 200 breast while Brazil’s Felipe Lima was the top seed in the shorter breaststroke with a 57.43. The top 6 swimmers were all under 58 seconds in the men’s 100 breast, which will make for a close race tonight.

Sjostrom ended the session with a top seed in the women’s 50 free (23.62), followed by world record holder Ranomi Komowidjojo (23.75) and her Dutch teammates Femke Heemskerk (23.91) and Kim Busch (23.99). Expect these three to be chasing Sjostrom tonight, who has won the first two 50 free titles of the 2018 World Cup.

In the men’s event, Morovoz was back in the pool to claim his first top seed of the morning with a 21.18, about two-tenths ahead of Pieroni (21.35) and Japan’s Kosuke Matsui (21.38). Michael Andrew also qualified fifth in the event (21.50) for his third swim of the morning.

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