David Verraszto Blitzes French Nationals With Sizzling 400 IM

RENNES, France, April 12. HUNGARY's David Verrastzo ripped off a blazing time in the men's 400-meter IM at French Nationals to move in front of Wang Shun in the world rankings.

Verraszto scorched the finale field with a 4:13.40, clearing the 4:14.85 clocked by Wang at the Chinese Nationals. Verraszto had clocked a season-best 4:16.55 from Amiens in March, but cut a huge chunk in his victory. Arnaud Rondan (4:22.52) and Quentin Coton (4:22.77) rounded out the top three in the event.

Verraszto had been eyeing Wang's time as a goal heading into this week, but the target definitely shifted when Kosuke Hagino (4:07.61) and Daiya Seto (4:12.70) turned up the heat at the Japan Open in Niigata yesterday.

In a bit of an upset, William Meynard powered down the stretch to overtake Yannick Agnel in the men's 100-meter free, 48.53 to 48.62. Agnel went out in 23.24, but Meynard came home in 25.09 for the win. Fabien Gilot (48.74) and Amaury Leveaux (49.18) wound up third and fourth in the finale. Meynaard and Agnel's ties are among the best in the world this year, but still trail well behind Nathan Adrian's world-leading 48.11 from Marseille.

Jordan Coelho crushed the men's 200-meter fly with a sizzling time of 1:56.71. That swim jumped him into the top five in the world this year, with Chen Yin owning the best in the world with a 1:56.02 from the Chinese Nationals. Most amazingly is that Coelho clocked the time with no extra motivation from a strong competitor. Paul Lemaire touched well back in second with a 2:00.33, while Marvin Maisonneuve earned third in 2:01.12.

Hungary's Evelyn Verraszto kicked off the night with a dominant 2:11.71 in the women's 200 IM for the win. Sophie De Ronchi placed a distant second in 2:14.60, while Adeline Martin earned third-place honors in 2:16.55. Verraszto's efforts pushed her into the top 10 in the world this year with Ye Shiwen atop the mountain with a 2:09.08 from the Chinese Nationals.

Cloe Credeville raced to a win in the women's 100-meter backstroke when she clocked a 1:00.65. That swim gave Credeville a two-second triumph ahead of Alexianne Castel (1:02.76), while Mathilde Cini completed the top three with a time of 1:03.08.

In a close contest, William Debourges clipped Patrick Perisser for the men's 200-meter breaststroke title, 2:13.85 to 2:13.99. Thomas Dahlia raced to third in the event with a time of 2:14.40.

In semifinal action, Hungary's Eszter Dara posted the top time in the women's 100-meter fly with a 59.68, while Marie Wattel (1:00.35) and Verraszto (1:00.64) will bracket her in the finale. Coralie Dobral led the way in the women's 200-meter breaststroke semis with a 2:30.76. Carmella Kitching took second in 2:31.99.

Hungary's Evelyn Verraszto (55.70), Sara Joo (56.29), Agnes Mutina (56.29) and Eszter Dara (55.28) closed out the night with a 3:43.56 to run away with the women's 400-meter freestyle relay crown.

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