Kirk, Neethling Take Spotlight on First Day of World Cup Stop in Stockholm

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, January 17. THE FINA World Cup circuit resumed on Tuesday with the American contingent supplying a strong showing in Stockholm. The United States accounted for three victories, highlighted by Tara Kirk’s triumph in the 100-meter breaststroke. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Ryk Neethling prevailed in a pair of events as the three-stop European leg of the series kicked into high gear. Meets in Berlin and Moscow will follow.

The bronze medalist in the 100 breast at last summer’s World Championships in Montreal, Kirk sizzled in the short-course version of the event. Although the Stanford product was off her world-record time of 1:04.79, Kirk still supplied a high-quality mark of 1:05.53. That effort easily distanced Kirk from Great Britain’s Kate Haywood, who took second place in 1:06.69.

As for Neethling, the South African standout captured top honors in the night’s first event, as he won the 100 freestyle in 47.68. Later in the program, Neethling defeated his competition in the 100 individual medley with a swim of 53.35. The victories for Neethling bode well with the Commonwealth Games scheduled for March in Melbourne.

Americans Rachel Komisarz and Peter Marshall also earned positions on the top step of the medal podium. After placing second to Great Britain’s Mel Marshall (1:55.43) in the 200 freestyle, Komisarz touched the wall first in the 100 butterfly with a performance of 58.26, ahead of the 58.94 registered by France’s Alena Popchanka. Komisarz clocked 1:56.37 in the 200 free. As for Peter Marshall, he led a one-two sweep for States in the 100 backstroke with his 51.07 holding off Randall Bal’s 51.52.

The women’s 50 freestyle featured a spectacular battle that was won by veteran Therese Alshammar of Sweden. The long-time presence on the international sprint scene secured first place in 24.47 while second place went to the Netherlands’ Marleen Veldhuis (24.54). In the women’s backstroke events, Denmark’s Louise Ornstedt won the 50 distance in 28.06 and Japan’s Hanae Ito won the 200 distance in 2:07.94. Other Japanese triumphs came from Hidemasa Sano in the men’s 400 I.M. (4:06.98) and Ai Shibata in the women’s 800 free (8:22.38).

In the men’s 50 breaststroke, world-record holder Oleg Lisogor was the victor in a time of 26.84 while the 200 breast on the male side belonged to Great Britain’s Kris Gilchrist, who edged Russia’s Grigory Falko. Gilchrist went 2:08.74 to the 2:08.76 of Falko. Other wins for the men were collected by Poland’s Pawel Korzeniowski in the 200 butterfly (1:53.28), China’s Zhang Lin in the 400 free (3:41.58) and Brazil’s Kaio Almeida in the 50 fly (23.01). Poland’s Katarzyna Baranowska won the women’s 200 I.M. in 2:09.64.

after winning 50 free Melbourne World Cup

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