New South Wales Open Championships: Ellen Gandy, Kanako Watanabe Chart World Pacesetters

SYDNEY, Australia, February 12. THE second day of swimming at the New South Wales Open Championships produced several more top five times in the world, including a pair of bellwether marks. The meet is taking place in long course meters.

Great Britain's Ellen Gandy charted a world-best time of 58.23 in the women's 100 fly. That swim moved her to the top of the early world rankings as only Amit Ivry had also cleared 59 seconds with a 58.75 last month. Stephanie Rice (58.91) and Therese Alshammar (58.99) joined the duo under 59 with second and third-place finishes, while Ivry settled for fourth with a 59.48.

Japan's Kanako Watanabe joined Gandy with a world pacesetter when she posted a 2:26.84 in the women's 200 breast. Sarah Katsoulis had the previous top time with a 2:27.53 from last month. Sally Foster took second tonight in 2:27.42 to move ahead of Katsoulis, while Rebecca Kemp placed third in 2:27.65 for a top-five mark of her own.

Ashley Delaney took second in the world rankings with a 1:58.68 in the men's 200 back. Only Tyler Clary has been faster with a 1:57.31 at the Austin Grand Prix last month. Mitch Larkin touched second in 2:01.83, while Matson Lawson picked up third in 2:02.86.

Belinda Hocking continued her strong meet, this time with a second-ranked time of 1:00.30 to win the women's 100 back. She moved behind Missy Franklin's 59.75 from Austin. Grace Loh tied for third in the rankings with a second-place 1:00.68, while Meagan Nay took third in 1:01.22.

Olivia Halicek raced to victory in the women's 50 free with a 25.04. That performance put her into the international conversation as only Aleksandra Herasimenia has been faster this year with a 25.00 from Belarus last month. Sally Foster finished second in 25.35, while Alshammar took third in 25.38.

Kenneth To improved to third in the early world rankings in the men's 200 IM with a 2:00.08. Ryan Lochte (1:59.26) and Laszlo Cseh (2:00.03) are the only swimmers faster this year. Dan Tranter took second in 2:02.55, while Mitch Larkin placed third in 2:03.10.

Katie Goldman took down the women's 400 free title with a time of 4:08.62, while Bronte Barratt placed a close second in 4:09.02. Jessica Ashwood completed the top three in 4:09.70.

Geoff Huegill touched out Joe Carty, 23.88 to 23.89, in the men's 50 fly. Matt Targett wound up taking third in the event with a 24.46. Glenn Snyders topped the men's 100 breast in 1:02.57. Craig Calder (1:03.36) and Kohei Goto (1:03.64) rounded out the podium.

Ryan Napoleon provided another exciting finish with a 1:49.17 to 1:49.18 touchout triumph over Kenrick Monk in the men's 200 free. Jarrod Killey earned third in 1:49.61.

In multi-disability events, Andrew Pasterfield was listed first in the men's 100 back with a 1:02.49, while Ellie Cole was listed first in the women's 100 back with a 1:12.00.

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