Short Course World Champs, Day Four: Algeria’s Iles Leads the Men’s 100 Freestyle Semis

INDIANAPOLIS, October 10. THE USA’s Jason Lezak rebounded from his disappointment at finishing eighth last night in the 50 free by dominating the first heat of the 100-meter freestyle semifinals.

The 29 year-old two-time Olympian split 22.58 at the 50 before touching in 48.20, more than four-tenths of a second ahead of France’s (and Auburn’s) Frederick Bousquet, the short course world record-holder for 50-meters freestyle.

But the second heat was even faster with Algeria’s Salim Iles splitting 22.91 but roaring back to post the fastest time, 48.17, with Lithuania’s (and Cal’s) Rolandas Gimbutis next in 48.60. So, as he did in the 50 where he wound up missing a medal, Iles will enter tomorrow’s final as the top seed.

Afterwards, Iles said: “It’s a good swim for the semi. Hopefully, I’ll swim a lot faster tomorrow.

“It’s going to be pretty fast. Jason is always in the finals, and with a couple of the other swimmers, you’ve got to watch out.

Lezak said he was just trying to win his heat, but agreed with Iles that tomorrow’s final will be fast: “It’s going to be a tough race. It’s going to take a lot faster time tomorrow, and I think I’ve got one in me.”

It took 48.98 to make the final. Of the 16 semifinalists, eight swam 48s and eight swam 49s.

Men’s 100m Freestyle
Semifinals

WR 46.25 CROCKER Ian East Meadow (USA) 27 MAR 2004 USA
CR 46.75 FROLANDER Lars Athens (GRE) 18 MAR 2000 SWE

Rank Name YB Nation Result Behind R.T. HT LN 50m
ILES Salim ALG 75 48.17 1. q 0.71 1 5 22.91
LEZAK Jason USA 75 48.20 2. 0.03 q 0.70 2 4 22.58
GIMBUTIS Rolandas LTU 81 48.60 3. 0.43 q 0.71 2 5 23.07
BOUSQUET Frederick FRA 81 48.62 4. 0.45 q 0.76 1 6 23.33
SAY Rick CAN 79 48.68 5. 0.51 q 0.72 2 2 23.81
SANTOS Nicholas BRA 80 48.83 6. 0.66 q 0.75 2 6 22.94
CIELO Cesar BRA 87 48.93 7. 0.76 q 0.73 1 4 23.37
HARD Jere FIN 78 48.96 8. 0.79 q 0.69 1 1 23.43

KAPRALOV Andrey RUS 80 49.12 9. 0.95 0.75 2 3 23.26
HERBST Stefan GER 78 49.16 10. 0.99 0.81 2 7 23.71
ROJAS Luis VEN 79 49.22 11. 1.05 0.64 1 3 23.13
MEWING Andrew AUS 81 49.24 12. 1.07 0.78 1 8 23.36
FLOUCH Casey AUS 81 49.27 13. 1.10 0.80 2 1 23.91
DEHMLOW Carsten GER 77 49.28 14. 1.11 0.83 2 8 23.18
LAGUNOV Evgeny RUS 85 49.42 15. 1.25 0.80 1 7 23.65
ANDKJAER Jakob DEN 85 49.59 16. 1.42 0.68 1 2 23.69

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