Kyle Chalmers and Jack Alexy Tie in 100 Freestyle at China Open
There has been no shortage of entertainment at the China Open in Shenzhen, highlighted by Cam McEvoy’s world record in the 50-meter freestyle on Friday night. And during Saturday’s finals, two of the sport’s premier sprinters treated those in attendance to a tie in the 100 freestyle.
Opening the third session of finals, Australia’s Kyle Chalmers and American Jack Alexy posted matching times of 47.70 for the 100 free, with Chalmers rallying down the stretch to earn a piece of the title. Alexy bolted to the lead off the start and made the turn in front, thanks to a split of 22.60, compared to the 22.94 of Chalmers. As expected, however, Chalmers used his finishing power to draw even, a 24.76 homecoming effort topping the 25.10 of Alexy. Third place went to reigning Olympic champ Pan Zhanle of China in 48.05.
Unfortunately, there will not be a rematch later this summer between Chalmers and Alexy, as the Aussie recently indicated that he will focus on the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and not take part in the Pan Pacific Championships. The 2016 Olympic champ in the 100 freestyle and a three-time Olympic medalist in the event, Chalmers is the defending Commonwealth Games champ in his prime event.
China’s Zhang Zhanshuo made a statement in the final of the 400 freestyle, where he knocked off Olympic champion and world-record holder Lukas Maertens of Germany. Zhang popped a personal best of 3:41.55 and pulled away from Maertens during the back half of the race. Maertens had the lead at the midway point, but the Chinese teenager had too much over the closing 200 meters, with Maertens going 3:43.04 for second place.
The United States’ Gretchen Walsh continued her dominance of the 100 butterfly by ripping the seventh-fastest time in history, an effort of 55.22. Only Walsh has ever been faster and the Olympic silver medalist in the event now owns the 11-quickest marks of all-time. In this latest performance, Walsh surged to the lead with a front-end split of 25.64 and she came home in 29.58. Placing second was American Regan Smith, who went 56.28. Smith has enjoyed a strong meet, earning a win in the 200 butterfly to go with runnerup showings in the 100 fly, 200 fly and 50 backstroke.
China’s 13-year-old phenom Yu Zidi secured her second victory of the meet by defeating the field in the 400 individual medley. Complementing her earlier win in the 200 butterfly, Yu clocked a personal best of 4:33.33 to get to the wall in front of countrywoman Ke Wenxi (4:34.91). Yu has the 200 IM on her schedule for Sunday, an event in which she owns the Asian record.
Coming off an Asian record in the 50 breaststroke earlier in the meet, China’s Tang Qianting won the 100 breaststroke in 1:05.91, followed by the United States’ Kate Douglass in 1:06.49. Tang was more than a second faster than Douglass on the outgoing lap, an edge she needed to hold off the American, who is the Olympic champ in the 200 breaststroke.
Switzerland’s Noe Ponti roared back from sixth at the halfway point to grab victory in the 100 butterfly. Ponti checked in with a time of 51.01, which was .42 faster than the mark produced by Italian Thomas Ceccon for second place. Ceccon has registered three runnerup finishes during competition at the China Open. The Netherlands’ Arno Kamminga won the 200 breaststroke in 2:10.98 and China’s Li Bingjie won the 1500 freestyle in 16:00.69.