Mitch Larkin Leads Backstroke Events in Prelims at World Cup Berlin

Photo Courtesy: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

During the second day of prelims at the FINA World Cup in Berlin (held in the short course meters format), Australia’s Mitch Larkin threw down a pair of top qualifying marks for tonight’s finals in the men’s 50 and 200 back. Larkin posted a 23.84 in the 50 back, just ahead of Russia’s Stanislav Donets (23.88), and then he returned to clock 1:55.18 in the 200 back, more than three-and-a-half second ahead of the rest of the field.

Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, who won three events during night one finals in Berlin, swam five times in prelims but only picked up a single top seed. She was fourth in the women’s 100 free (55.09), fourth in the 100 back (59.81) and then third in the 400 free (4:23.19) before leading the way in the 100 IM in 58.73. To finish the session, Hosszu finished third in the 50 fly in 26.41.

Australia’s Madeline Groves was the top seed in the women’s 100 free in 53.37, well ahead of Denmark’s Jeanette Ottesen (54.88). Ottesen later topped the 50 fly in 26.00, while Groves qualified fourth (26.41). Groves also finished as the second seed in the 200 fly in 2:10.31, as Germany’s Franziska Hentke led the way in 2:08.85.

In addition to Larkin (200 back), three more 2015 World Champions led the way in their respective events. That list includes Great Britain’s James Guy, who finished first in the men’s 200 free in 1:46.81, and South Africa’s Chad le Clos, who topped the USA’s Tim Phillips in the men’s 100 fly, 51.66 to 51.92.

Russia’s Yulia Efimova led the way in the women’s 50 breast in 30.26, but it should be a tight race for the top spot with the USA’s Katie Meili (30.33) and Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson (30.51) looming.

Ukraine’s Darya Zevina was the top seed in a loaded field in the women’s 100 back, finishing first in 57.92, but Australia’s Emily Seebohm (58.45) will provide a challenge in the final.

Russia’s Vladimir Morozov dominated the men’s 50 free in 21.13, and Russia’s Kirill Pogoda was first in the men’s 100 breast in 58.22, ahead of Germany’s Marco Koch in 58.84. The USA’s Michael Andrew cruised in the men’s 200 IM in 1:58.23.

Finally, China’s Shao Yiwen will come back for finals as the top seed in the women’s 400 free after clocking 4:20.37 in prelims.

Full results can be found by clicking here.

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