Short Course Worlds, Day Two Prelims: Favorites Advance

MOSCOW, April 4. ALL of the favorites advanced into their respective semifinals or finals during prelim swims this morning at the Short Course Woreld Swimming Championships in Moscow, but there were several surprises.

Slovakia's Martina Moravcova led all qualifiers in the women's 100m individual medley (1:01.35), with the USA's Gabrielle Rose and Amanda Beard qualifying a close second (1:01.47) and third (1:01.51).

In the women's 50m Fly, world record-holder Anna-Karin Kammerling of Sweden swam comfortably to take the #2 spot in 26.61. However, Israel's 17 year-old Vered
Borochovski led the field with a national record 26.45.
The field is a tough one, with world long course champion Petria Thomas, of Australia, third (26.82), Sweden's Therese Alshammar fourth (26.85) and the USA's Rachel Komisarz fifth (26.89).

Alshammar, the WR-holder in the 100m free, qualified first in that event in 53.65, well ahead of Australia's Sarah Ryan, whose 53.96 made her the only other woman under 54 seconds. The USA's Lindsay Benko, who had the fastest 200 meters in yesterday's 4x200m free relay — an American record 1:54.96 — was third (54.12), but she may not have the raw speed to stay with this group of sprinters. Her best event is the 400, where she swam the second fastest time in history just over a month ago. Unfortunately, the US has not entered her in the 400. The second American, Colleen Lanne, qualified 13th in 55.07 and appears iffy to advance into the next round.

Among the remaining top qualifiers: Britain's Alison Sheppard (54.18), China's Xu Yanwei (54.25), Slovakia's Moravcova (54.35) and Sweden's Johanna Sjoberg (54.39).

In the prelims of the men's 50, Argentina's Jose Meolans led the field at 21.48 seconds, with Russia's favorite son, Alex Popov, second at 21.66. Mark Foster, the WR-holder, breezed through in third (21.77)
while Poland's Cal-trained Bart Kizierowski was fourth (21.78).

the USA's Jason Lezak and Scott Tucker qualified tenth and eleventh, respectively, in 22.14 and 22.15, and will have to rachet their game up a notch to advance. Lezak is considered a co-favorite in this event. Sweden's Stefan Nystrand, the defending champion in thsi event, barely made it through, posting a time of 22.23, which tied him for the 14th spot. Nystrand had the afstest 100m split yesterday in the 4x100m free relay, clocking 46.55.

Other potential finalists include Algeria's Salim Iles
(21.89), and Australia's Brett Hawke (21.90) and Ashley Callus (21.96).

The US qualified one-two in the 400 IM, with Tom Wilkens leading the way at 4:09.97, followed by Erik Vendt (4:10.41), as only two seconds separate the eight finalists. It should take about a 4:04 to win this event tonight.

It took under 7:20 to final in the 4x200m free relay, with Russia leading the way at 7:08.81. Australia — swimming without Ian Thorpe, who is not here, and Grant Hackett, who is sick — was second, more than two seconds back. Greece was the third fastest qualifier. The US qualified fifth (7:16.77), just ahead of China.

–Phillip Whitten

Prelim RESULTS

Women's 100 meter individual medley (top 16 qualify for semis)
1. Martina Moravcova (SVK) 1:01.35
2. Gabrielle Rose (USA) 1:01.47
3. Amanda Beard (USA) 1:01.51
4. Alison Sheppard (GBR) 1:01.64
5. Oxana Verevka (RUS) 1:02.19
6. Alenka Kejzar (SLO) 1:02.38
7. Brooke Hanson (AUS) 1:02.40
8. Julie Hjorth-Hansen (DEN) 1:02.67
9. Yuliya Savonyuk (UKR) 1:02.96
10. Smiljana Marinovic (CRO) 1:03.70
11. Sabine Klenz (GER) 1:03.94
12. Yulia Podlesnaya (UKR) 1:04.28
13. Line Jensen (DEN) 1:04.42
14. Tsai Hiu Wai Sherry (HKG) 1:04.47
15. Yvetta Hlavacova (CZE) 1:04.77
16. Anne-Marie Gulbrandsen (NOR) 1:05.14

Men's 4×200 meter freestyle relay (top eight qualify for final)
1. Russia 7:08.81
2. Australia 7:11.08
3. Greece 7:11.33
4. Denmark 7:14.63
5. United States 7:16.77
6. China 7:16.93
7. Brazil 7:18.25
8. Ukraine 7:19.78

Women's 50 meter butterfly (top 16 qualify for semis)
1. Vered Borochovski (ISR) 26.45 NR
2. Anna Karin Kammerling (SWE) 26.61
3. Petria Thomas (AUS) 26.82
4. Therese Alshammar (SWE) 26.85
5. Rachel Komisarz (USA) 26.89
6. Nicole Irving (AUS) 27.05
7. Zheng Xi (CHN) 27.26
8. Natalia Sutiagina (RUS) 27.30
8. Judith Draxler (AUT) 27.30
10. Fabienne Nadarajah (AUS) 27.41
11. Chantal Groot (NED) 27.45
12. Inge Dekker (NED) 27.47
13. Diane Bui-Duyet (FRA) 27.52
14. Tine Bossuyt (BLR) 27.81
15. Mary Descenza (USA) 27.84
16. Hanna Kapachenia (BLR) 27.85

Men's 50 meter freestyle (top 16 qualify for semis)
1. Jose Meolans (ARG) 21.48
2. Alexander Popov (RUS) 21.66
3. Mark Foster (GBR) 21.77
4. Bart Kizierowski (POL) 21.78
5. Oleksandr Volinets (UKR) 21.86
6. Salim Iles (ALG) 21.89
7. Brett Hawke (AUS) 21.90
8. Ashley Callus (AUS) 21.96
9. Frederic Dutillieux (FRA) 22.10
10. Jason Lezak (USA) 22.14
11. Scott Tucker (USA) 22.15
12. Johan Kenkhuis (NED) 22.16
13. Raphael de Thuin (BRA) 22.18
14. Stefan Nystrand (SWE) 22.23
14. Vyacheslav Shyrshov (UKR) 22.23
16. Riley Janes (CAN) 22.25

Women's 100 meter freestyle (top 16 qualify for semis)
1. Therese Alshammar (SWE) 53.65
2. Sarah Ryan (AUS) 53.96
3. Lindsay Benko (USA) 54.12
4. Alison Sheppard (GBR) 54.18
5. Xu Yanwei (CHN) 54.25
6. Martina Moravcova (SVK) 54.35
7. Johanna Sjoberg (SWE) 54.39
8. Alena Popchanka (BLR) 54.57
9. Helene Muller (RSA) 54.71
10. Suze Valen (NED) 54.74
11. Elka Graham (AUS) 54.88
12. Marina Chepurkova (RUS) 55.00
13. Colleen Lanne (USA) 55.07
14. Solenne Figues (FRA) 55.18
15. Hanna Shcherba (BLR) 55.31
16. Florencia Szigeti (ARG) 55.33

Men's 400 meter individual medley (top eight qualify for final)
1. Tom Wilkens (USA) 4:09.97
2. Erik Vendt (USA) 4:10.41
3. Jacob Carstensen (DEN) 4:10.58
4. Ioannis Kokkodis (GRE) 4:11.01
5. Dean Kent (NZL) 4:11.04
6. Justin Norris (AUS) 4:11.06
7. Brian Johns (CAN) 4:11.18
8. Terence Parkin (RSA) 4:12.05+
8. Alexei Kovrigin (RUS) 4:12.05 +

(Parkin won a swim-off for the eighth spot, 4:11.70 to 4:12.84).

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