Five World Records Fall on Night Four of FINA World Short Course Championships

Ryan Lochte Doha 2014

DOHA – Five more world records took a tumble during the fourth night of finals at the FINA World Short Course Championships.  Although the overall total is a bit buoyed by the addition of two new sprint relays with world record status, the speed is still impressive.

FINALS

Men’s 200 free relay

Sergiy Fesikov Singapore

Photo Courtesy: Singapore Swimming Association

Russia started off the fourth finals session with a bang as it took down the world record in the men’s 200 free relay at the FINA World Short Course Championships.

The foursome of Vlad Morozov (21.01), Evgeny Sedov (20.37), Oleg Tihkhobaev (20.59) and Sergey Fesikov (20.63) blasted the field with a time of 1:22.60.

That performance downed the Russian world record of 1:23.36 from last year’s European Championships in Herning.

Although, the worlds best in the event goes to France with a 1:20.77 from 2009. FINA, however, did not recognize this record when it began doling out world records in this event last year.

That’s Russia’s third men’s relay gold medal in the history of the World Short Course Championships, as the squad also topped the 400 medley relay in 2008 and the 800 free relay in 2010.

Team USA’s Josh Schneider (21.05), Tom Shields (20.99), Jimmy Feigen (20.79) and Ryan Lochte (20.64) obliterated the American record in the event with a silver-winning 1:23.47.

This morning, Schneider, Matt Grevers, Lochte and Darian Townsend posted the American record with a time of 1:25.55.  That mark was short-lived.

Italy’s Luca Dotto (21.45), Marco Orsi (20.43), Filippo Magnini (21.35) and Marco Belotti (21.33) finished third overall in 1:24.56.

Belgium (1:24.72), China (1:27.70), Japan (1:28.45), Paraguay (1:30.54) and Philippines (1:33.12) placed fourth through eighth.

Women’s 100 breast

Alia Atkinson Doha 2014

Photo Courtesy: FINA Doha 2014

Alia Atkinson made history for Jamaica with a winning swim in the women’s 100 breaststroke tonight at the FINA World Short Course Championships.

Atkinson touched out defending champion Ruta Meilutyte, 1:02.36 to 1:02.46, for the world, meet record and the gold medal.

That’s Jamaica’s first short course world title as Atkinson was already the only Jamaican swimmer to ever medal with silvers in the 50 breast (2012, 2014) and 100 breast (2012).

Atkinson’s time tied Ruta Meilutyte’s world record of 1:02.36 from the Moscow stop of the FINA World Cup.  It also broke Meilutyte’s meet record of 1:02.43 from yesterday during qualifying rounds.

Meilutyte’s time of 1:02.46 came up just short of making Meilutyte the first woman to ever defend this event’s title.

The Netherlands’ Moniek Nijhuis wound up taking bronze overall in 1:04.03, while China’s Shi Jinglin finished fourth in 1:04.52.

Australia’s Sally Hunter (1:04.82), Denmark’s Rikke Moller Pedersen (1:04.84), Sweden’s Jennie Johansson (1:05.08) and Belgium’s Fanny Lecluyse (1:05.58) placed fifth through eighth.

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Men’s 50 back

Florent Manaudou Doha 2014

Photo Courtesy: FINA Doha 2014

France’s Florent Manaudou dominated the men’s 50 back en route to a world record at the FINA World Short Course Championships.

Manaudou threw down an epic time of 22.22, crushing Peter Marshall’s world record of 22.61 from Singapore in 2009.  It also blasted Stanislav Donets’ meet record of 22.93 from Dubai in 2010.

This world record pairs well with Manaudou’s other global standard of 20.26 in the 50 free.

That’s France’s sixth medal of this meet (3G, 1S, 2B), as the nation is just two medals away from equaling its top tally of eight from 2010 (3G, 3S, 2B).

USA’s Eugene Godsoe was unable to challenge Manaudou or the 23-second barrier as the American wound up with silver in 23.05.

Donets snared bronze overall with a time of 23.10, while Venezuela’s Albert Subirats earned fourth in 23.16.

Australia’s Mitch Larkin (23.18), USA’s Matt Grevers (23.32), Great Britain’s Chris Walker-Hebborn (23.33) and Norway’s Lavrans Solli (23.48) also vied for the title.

Men’s 50 fly

Chad le Clos Doha 2014

Photo Courtesy: FINA Doha 2014

Chad le Clos grabbed the meet record with a world leader in the men’s 50 fly finals at the FINA World Short Course Championships.

Le Clos turned in a swift time of 21.95, bettering the 22.20 he set during qualifying yesterday as the meet record. That time also is the best in the world this year, better than le Clos’ 21.98 from the Singapore stop of the FINA World Cup.

Le Clos has now won four career gold medals in butterfly events at short course worlds.  Only Great Britain’s James Hickman has won more with five butterfly titles from 1997-2004.

Brazil’s Nicholas Santos took silver in 22.08, moving him to second in the world rankings ahead of Florent Manaudou’s 22.09 from the French Championships.

Ukraine’s Andrii Govorov took third overall in 22.49 with Russia’s Aleksandr Popkov finishing fourth in 22.53.

USA’s Tom Shields (22.57), Belarus’ Yauhen Tsurkin (22.63), France’s Mehdy Metella (22.68) and Belgium’s Francois Heersbrandt (22.69) rounded out the championship field.

Women’s 200 IM

Katinka Hosszu Doha 2014

Photo Courtesy: FINA Doha 2014

Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu blasted her way to a stunning fourth world record with a winning effort in the women’s 200 IM at the FINA World Short Course Championships.

Hosszu surged to a 2:01.86 to break the 2:02 barrier in the 200-meter IM, as she cleared her own global standard of 2:02.13 set in Dubai earlier this year on the FINA World Cup.

Incidentally, she also smashed the meet mark of 2:04.64 set by Ye Shiwen in 2012.

That’s Hosszu’s fourth world record as she already took down the 100 back, 200 back and 100 IM records this week.

No one else has been even remotely close to catching Hosszu in this event this year.  Her closest rival was Siobhan-Marie O’Connor tonight in 2:05.87.  Caitlin Leverenz had been the second-ranked swimmer entering tonight with a 2:06.15 from the Tokyo stop of the FINA World Cup.

USA’s Melanie Margalis placed third tonight in 2:06.68.

Hosszu’s gold gave Hungary its ninth medal so far here in Doha (6G, 2S, 1B), just one off the nation’s record for most medals at a short course worlds in 2012 (3G, 4S, 3B).

Hosszu has been undefeated in this event since she lost to Ye in 2012 at the World Short Course Championships in Istanbul.

Great Britain’s Hannah Miley (2:06.84), Leverenz (2:06.90), Hungary’s Evelyn Verraszto (2:07.05), Japan’s Sakiko Shimizu (2:08.65) and Australia’s Ellen Fullerton (2:09.62) were also part of the historic finale.

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Mixed 200 free relay

Abbey Weitzeil Summer Nationals 2014

Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott

Team USA turned on the heat in the mixed 200 free relay en route to a world record at the FINA World Short Course Championships.

The quartet of Josh Schneider (20.94), Matt Grevers (20.75), Madison Kennedy (23.63) and rookie Abbey Weitzeil (23.25) threw down a winning 1:28.57 to set the global standard.

Weitzeil entered the water third behind Russia and Brazil, but left no doubt against the rest of the anchors with her 23.25.

That effort broke the world record of 1:29.53 set by Russia’s Sergey Fesikov (21.13), Vlad Morozov (20.72), Rozaliya Nasretdinova (23.70) and Veronika Popova (23.98) in 2013. It also easily cleared the 1:30.80 American record set by the U.S. in prelims.

Russia’s Evgeny Sedov (20.59), Morozov (20.65), Popova (23.93) and Nasretdinova (23.96) finished second in 1:29.13, setting a new European record in the process.

Brazil’s Cesar Cielo (20.65), Joao De Lucca (21.03), Etiene Medeiros (23.58) and Larissa Oliveira (23.91) placed third overall in 1:29.17.

Italy (1:29.22), Germany (1:30.55), Ukraine (1:31.51), South Africa (1:33.19) and Norway (1:33.88) made up the rest of the championship finale.

SEMIFINALS

Women’s 50 back

Emily Seebohm Pan Pacs 2010

Photo Courtesy: Peter H.Bick

Australia’s Emily Seebohm challenged the meet record in the women’s 50 back semis at the FINA World Short Course Championships.

Seebohm turned in a swift time of 25.87.  That performance undercut the old meet record of 25.95 set by Zhao Jing at the 2012 Istanbul edition of this meet.

Etiene Medeiros of Brazil, however, had already downed that mark as the relay leadoff of Brazil’s winning mixed 200 medley relay.  She powered her way to a 25.83 in that swim.

Both Seebohm and Medeiros are now just outside Sanja Jovanovic’s 2009 world record of 25.70 swum for Croatia.

Medeiros picked up the second seed with a time of 25.99, while Ukraine’s Daryna Zevina earned third in 26.20.

USA’s Felicia Lee (26.22), Great Britain’s Georgia Davies (26.35), Poland’s Aleksandra Urbanczyk (26.36), Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu (26.38) and Czech Republic’s Simona Baumrtova (26.44) also made finals.

Hosszu, already a world-record setter in the 100 and 200 back, is looking for a backstroke sweep.

Men’s 100 free

Cesar Cielo Doha 2014

Photo Courtesy: FINA Doha 2014

Brazil went 1-2 in the men’s 100 freestyle semis with Cesar Cielo leading the way at the FINA World Short Course Championships.

Cielo turned in an easy speed time of 46.21 for the top seed, while Joao De Lucca took second in 46.29.

Cielo already ranks second in the world with a 46.08 from the Jose Finkel Trophy, behind Vlad Morozov’s relay leadoff world-leader of 45.51 from earlier this meet.

De Lucca, however, moved up to fourth in the world with his swim.

France’s Florent Manaudou, fresh off a surprising 50 back world record victory, took third in 46.37, while Australia’s Tommaso D’Orsogna qualified fourth in 46.40.

Russia’s Danila Izotov (46.45), Australia’s Cameron McEvoy (46.68), Japan’s Shinri Shioura (46.70) and Belgium’s Pieter Timmers (46.82) will also compete in the championship field.

Ning Zetao, who set the Asian record in the event with a 46.76 during prelims, scratched himself out of semis after injuring his wrist.

Ning Zetao Wrist Injury Doha 2014

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Women’s 50 free

Gian Mattia D'Alberto / lapresse 13-06-2014 Roma sport nuoto trofeo Settecolli nella foto: Ranomi Kromowidjojo NED Gian Mattia D'Alberto / lapresse 13-06-2014 Rome in the photo: Ranomi Kromowidjojo NED

Photo Courtesy: Gian Mattia Dalberto/Lapresse

The Netherlands’ Ranomi Kromowidjojo led the way through semis of the women’s 50 free at the FINA World Short Course Championships.

Kromowidjojo hit the wall in 23.43, moving to the top of the world this year.  That eclipsed the 23.55 posted by Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom at the Swedish Championships earlier this year.

Kromowidjojo will have her world record of 23.24 from 2013 in her sights during finals.

USA’s Madison Kennedy threw down a second-seeded time of 23.96 to move to eighth in the world this year.  She’s looking for Dara Torres’ 2007 American record of 23.81 from the Berlin stop of the FINA World Cup.

Australia’s Bronte Campbell touched third in 24.01, while Germany’s Dorothea Brandt placed fourth in 24.03.

The Netherlands’ Inge Dekker (24.08), Italy’s Erika Ferraioli (24.10), Russia’s Rozaliya Nasretdinova (24.12) and Bahamas’ Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace (24.13) claimed the rest of the transfer spots into finals.

Women’s 100 fly

Sarah Sjostrom Arena 2014

Photo Courtesy: Gian Mattia Dalberto/Lapresse

Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom dominated the women’s 100 fly semis with a meet record and world leader at the FINA World Short Course Championships.

Sjostrom scorched the semifinal field with a sizzling 55.13.  That time beat Felicity Galvez’s 2010 meet record of 55.43, and challenged Diana Bui Duyet’s world record of 55.05 from 2009.

Sjostrom also jumped to the top of the world rankings, far surpassing the 55.95 clocked by Lu Ying at the Beijing stop of the FINA World Cup.

Denmark’s Jeanette Ottesen finished second in 56.05 to move to fourth in the world, while The Netherlands’ Inge Dekker made finals with a third-seeded 56.17.

Lu finished fourth with a 56.34, and will need more than her season best to challenge Sjostrom in finals.

Italy’s Ilaria Bianchi (56.65), Belgium’s Kimberly Buys (56.74), China’s Chen Xinyi (56.74) and Brazil’s Daiene Marcal Dias (56.93) will also put up times in finals.

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Men’s 100 IM

Ryan Lochte Pan Pacs 2014

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

USA’s Ryan Lochte will be looking for his fourth straight win in the 100 IM after leading semis at the FINA World Short Course Championships.

Lochte, the world-record holder with a 50.71 from 2012, posted a world-leading 51.41 tonight in semis. That swim cleared Vlad Morozov’s world-leading 51.57 from prelims.

Lochte has won the previous three world titles in the sprint medley with victories in 2008, 2010 and 2012.

Germany’s Markus Deibler, who took silver behind Lochte in 2010, is vying for an upset after qualifying second in 51.46.

Russia’s Vlad Morozov posted a 51.60 for third, while Japan’s Kosuke Hagino placed fourth in 51.89.

Russia’s Sergei Fesikov (51.98), Poland’s Marcin Cieslak (52.39), Japan’s Takuro Fujii (52.51) and Brazil’s Henrique Rodrigues (52.51) will bracket the leaders in finals tomorrow.

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Men’s 50 breast

Adam Peaty Doha 2014

Photo Courtesy: FINA Doha 2014

Great Britain’s Adam Peaty charged his way to a meet record in the 50 breast semis at the FINA World Short Course Championships.

Peaty posted a swift time of 25.75, downing Felipe Silva’s meet record of 25.95 set in Dubai back in 2010. Peaty nearly moved to the top of the world this year ahead of Silva’s 25.71 from the Jose Finkel Trophy meet.

Silva, meanwhile, placed second in 25.77 with Russia’s Kirill Prigoda taking third in 26.04.

South Africa’s Cameron van der Burgh, the world-record holder with a 25.25 from Berlin in 2009, qualified fourth in 26.11.

Brazil’s Joao Gomes Jr. (26.25), France’s Giacomo Perez-Dortona (26.31), Slovenia’s Damir Dugonjic (26.33) and Italy’s Fabio Scozzoli (26.36) also made finals for tomorrow night.

LIVE RESULTS

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PSYCH SHEETS

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Scheduled Events

  • Men’s 200 free relay finals
  • Women’s 100 breast finals
  • Men’s 50 back finals
  • Women’s 50 back semis
  • Men’s 100 free semis
  • Women’s 50 free semis
  • Men’s 50 fly finals
  • Women’s 100 fly semis
  • Men’s 100 IM semis
  • Women’s 200 IM finals
  • Men’s 50 breast semis
  • Mixed 200 medley relay finals

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