Paris Open: Sprint Prelims Comprise First Night

PARIS, France, June 19. THE first evening of long course meter swimming featured sprint preliminary rounds at the Paris Open.

Australia's Libby Trickett topped a group of swimmers from The Netherlands in the women's 50 free qualifying. Trickett claimed the top seed in 24.86, while Marleen Veldhuis touched second in 24.89. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (25.00) and Hinkelien Schreuder (25.22) finished third and fourth.

Brazil's Fabiola Molina paced the women's 50 back preliminary round with a 29.19. France's Esther Baron placed second in 29.54. Kromowidjojo (29.72) and Brazil's Etiene Medeiros (29.77) qualified third and fourth.

Australia's Leisel Jones dominated the women's 50 breast prelims with a 31.22, while the Netherlands' Moniek Nijhuis posted a 31.91 for second. Italy's Roberta Panara (32.08) and France's Sophie De Ronchi (32.12) took third and fourth.

Sweden's Therese Alshammar and Veldhuis were the top two qualifiers in the women's 50 fly, 26.43 to 26.59. Trickett (26.65) and Schreuder (26.71) completed the top four.

Australia's Eamon Sullivan pocketed the top seed in the men's 50 free with a 22.20. Italy's Marco Orsi finished second in 22.21, while France's Fred Bousquet (22.24) and Amaury Leveaux (22.34) qualified third and fourth.

Randall Bal of the U.S. cruised in the men's 50 back preliminary round with a 25.22. Brazil's Guilherme Guido (25.44) and Daniel Orzechowski (25.56) finished second and third. France's Camille Lacourt (25.75) qualified fourth.

Brazil's Joao Luiz Gomes Jr. posted the quickest prelim time in the men's 50 breast, 27.76. Italy's Fabio Scozzoli (27.89), Brazil's Felipe Franca da Silva (28.23) and France's Giacomo Perez Dortona (28.27) earned second through fourth spots.

Leveaux raced to a 23.52 in the men's 50 fly, while Serbia's Milorad Cavic turned in a second-place 23.70. Bousquet (23.79) and Australia's Andrew Lauterstein (23.83) touched third and fourth.

In relay action, France's Aurore Mongel, Malia Metella, Hanna Shcherba Lorgeril and Ophelie Cyrielle Etienne clocked the quickest women's 400 free relay of qualifying in 3:47.24. France's William Meynard, Bousquet, Leveaux and Alain Bernard topped the men's 400 free relay qualifying with a 3:16.73.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use