Short Course World Champs Day 4 Semis: Meolans Shoots for a Sprint Double, Haley Cope Leads in the 50m Back

MOSCOW, April 6. ARGENTINA'S Jose Meolans, winner of the 50m freestyle yesterday, had the fastest time in the 100 meters semifinal this morning, 47.11.

The tall Argentinian leads an eight-man field into the final that includes defending champion Stefan Nystrand of Sweden, but is missing co-favorites Alex Popov of Russia and Jason Lezak of the USA.

Second fastest qualifier is the pride of Algeria, Salim Iles at 47.38, with Australians Ashley Callus (47.78) and Todd Pearson (47.92) third and fourth, followed by the USA's Scott Tucker (48.05). Nystrand is seventh at 48.12.

Ukraine's Oleg Lisogor, winner of the 100m breaststroke earlier in these championships, clocked 26.86, the fastest time in the semifinals of the 50, the event in which he holds the world record. Dvae Denniston, USA, is fourth at 27.46.

Slovenia's Peter Mankoc had, by far, the fastest swim in the semis of the 100m IM, the event in which he holds the world record, his 52.91 the only time under
54 seconds. In second position at 54.10 is Finland's resurgent Jani Sievinen, the co-world record-holder for 200 meters. No American made the final in this event.

On the other hand, the USA's Haley Cope qualified for finals in two events this morning: the 50m backstroke, where she'll go to the blocks ranked number one, and the 50 free, where she stands third.

Cope, a Cal grad, has a three-hundredths of a second margin in the 50 back over Canada's Jennifer Carroll, 27.56 to 27.59, with European champion Ilona Hlavackova, Czech Republic, right behind at 27.64. The USA's Diana MacManus, 15, is fourth at 27.77. China's Li Hui, the WR-holder, qualified sixth in 27.87. Less than four-tenths of a second separate the top seven women.

At 24.26 seconds, Britain's Alison Sheppard, who trains in Canada, was fastest this morning in the semifinals of the women's 50m free. Sweden's Therese Alshammar, who trains in Britain, was second in 24.29, well off her world mark of 23.59.

Haley Cope led the second tier of six swimmers at 24.88, with teammate Tammie Stone, tied for sixth at 25.01.

The women's 100 meter butterfly may prove to be the most competitive event of the day tomorrow, as all eight finalists have a legitimate shot at winning a medal. Slovakia's Martina MOravcova led the way this morning with a swim of 57.43 seconds, more than a second ahead of the USA's Mary Descenza, second fastest at 58.45.

Less than a second separates the second through eighth
place qualifier. Australia's Petria Thomas, who won this event at the long course championships in Japan last year, is third (58.59), followed by 17 year-old Israeli sensation Vered Borochovski, in 58.63. The USA's Rachel Komisarz is fifth (58.84), while Sweden's Anna-Karin Kammerling, winner of the 50, is eighth (59.34).

–Phil Whitten

Semifinal Results
Men's 100 meter freestyle
1. Jose Meolans (ARG) 47.11
2. Salim Iles (ALG) 47.38
3. Ashley Callus (AUS) 47.79
4. Todd Pearson (AUS) 47.92
5. Scott Tucker (USA) 48.05
6. Denis Pimankov (RUS) 48.06
7. Stefan Nystrand (SWE) 48.12
8. Gustavo Borges (BRA) 48.17

Men's 50 meter breaststroke
1. Oleg Lisogor (UKR) 26.86
2. Eduardo Fischer (BRA) 27.23
3. Remo Luetolf (SUI) 27.44
4. David Denniston (USA) 27.46
5. Hugues Duboscq (FRA) 27.50
6. Arseny Malyarov (RUS) 27.51
7. Jose Couto (POR) 27.55
8. Kosuke Kitajima (JPN) 27.57

Men's 100 meter individual medley
1. Peter Mankoc (SLO) 52.91
2. Jani Sievinen (FIN) 54.10
3. Nuno Laurentino (POR) 54.62
4. Bart Kizierowski (POL) 54.63
5. Rob van der Zant (AUS) 54.69
5. Sergiy Sergeyev (UKR) 54.69
7. Theo Verster (RSA) 54.75
8. Jakob Andersen (DEN) 54.88

Women's 50 meter freestyle
1. Alison Sheppard (GBR) 24.26
2. Therese Alshammar (SWE) 24.29
3. Haley Cope (USA) 24.88
4. Olga Mukomol (UKR) 24.92
5. Sarah Ryan (AUS) 24.98
6. Xu Yanwei (CHN) 25.01
6. Tammie Stone (USA) 25.01
8. Judith Draxler (AUT) 25.04

Women's 50 meter backstroke
1. Haley Cope (USA) 27.56
2. Jennifer Carroll (CAN) 27.59
3. Ilona Hlavackova (CZE) 27.64
4. Diana MacManus (USA) 27.77
5. Giaan Rooney (AUS) 27.81
6. Li Hui (CHN) 27.87
7. Alexandra Herasimenia (BLR) 27.94
8. Louise Ornstedt (DEN) 28.35

Women's 100 meter butterfly
1. Martina Moravcova (SVK) 57.43
2. Mary De Scenza (USA) 58.45
3. Petria Thomas (AUS) 58.59
4. Vered Borochovski (ISR) 58.63
5. Rachel Komisarz (USA) 58.84
6. Otylia Jedrzejczak (POL) 59.02
7. Zheng Xi (CHN) 59.33
8. Anna-Karin Kammerling (SWE) 59.34

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