Caeleb Dressel Delivers 47.32 Statement in Prelims of the 100 Freestyle

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World Swimming Championships (Caeleb Dressel)

Gwangju 2019

Day 4 Heats (Men’s 100 Freestyle)

If Caeleb Dressel was trying to send a message in the preliminaries of the 100 freestyle, consider his goal achieved. Despite easing up as he headed into the finish, the American registered the fastest time in the world this year with a performance of 47.32. Dressel used his customary strong start and an excellent turn to cruise in his heat, which also included a sub-48 clocking from Brazil’s Marcelo Chierighini (47.95).

Dressel’s time was three tenths quicker than the leadoff leg he produced on the front of the United States’ triumphant 4×100 freestyle relay on the opening night of competition. With a gold medal and American record in the 50 butterfly already in his pocket, Dressel appears capable of challenging the world record in the 100 free, which has stood to Brazil’s Cesar Cielo at 46.91 since 2009. Dressel is the reigning world champ in the 100 freestyle.

“It felt good. That was kind of how we wanted to swim it: Just out controlled and then come home well,” Dressel said. “Someone told me I was out in 22.6, so it’s barely faster than I was out on the relay, so I was home pretty good. If I split the same – just out a little faster – I think I’ll be in a good spot. You’ve got to get better each race so same thing with the fly, just got to improve on different parts of the race going through the meet. It’s a long meet and I’ve got to pace it.”

Russia’s Vladislav Grinev (47.92) posted the second-fastest time of the morning, making it three sub-48 efforts from prelims. The times should heat up in the semifinals, where the margin for error will close considerably in the chase for a spot in the final. The fourth-fastest time of prelims was supplied by France’s Clement Mignon at 48.20, with the United States’ Blake Pieroni (48.31) and Hungary’s Nandor Nemeth (48.36) placing fifth and sixth, respectively. The top eight was rounded out by Brazil’s Breno Correia (48.39) and Italy’s Alessandro Miressi (48.57).

The Australian duo of Clyde Lewis (48.63) and Kyle Chalmers (48.66) came in ninth and 10th, but much is expected to come from Chalmers, the reigning Olympic champion. Chalmers entered Worlds with the fastest time in the world at 47.35. In an unexpected turn of events, Russia’s Vladimir Morozov was 24th  in 49.09 and failed to advance to the semifinals.

Great Britain’s Duncan Scott, who earned a share of the bronze medal in the 200 freestyle and protested Sun Yang’s presence at the World Championships, opted to scratch the 100 freestyle and focus on the 200 individual medley. The 100 free and 200 IM are back-to-back on the schedule.

Semifinalists

1. Caeleb Dressel, United States 47.32
2. Vladislav Grinev, Russia 47.92
3. Marcelo Chierighini, Brazil 47.95
4. Clement Mignon, France 48.20
5. Blake Pieroni, United States 48.31
6. Nandor Nemeth, Hungary 48.36
7. Breno Correia, Brazil 48.39
8. Alessandro Miressi, Italy 48.57
9. Clyde Lewis, Australia 48.63
10. Kyle Chalmers, Australia 48.66
11. Shinri Shioura, Japan 48.68
11. Katsumi Nakamura, Japan 48.68
13. Mehdy Metella, France 48.71
14. Pieter Timmers, Belgium 48.76
14. He Junyi, China 48.76
16. Dylan Carter, Trinidad & Tobago 48.77

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Doug Newman
4 years ago

Aaron Wands

Aaron Wands
4 years ago
Reply to  Doug Newman

Doug Newman finals is gonna be ?!

Doug Newman
4 years ago
Reply to  Doug Newman

Aaron Wands can’t wait

Shalvin Sharma
4 years ago

Congratulations Rock on Champ!!

Ken Hess
4 years ago

Joe Hess

Doping Truth
Doping Truth
4 years ago

Dressel > Phelps

Thomas A. Small
4 years ago

Congratulations

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