U.S. Women Post Top Time in 400 Medley Relay; New Foursome Coming for Finals

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Photo Courtesy: SIPA USA

Women’s 400 Medley Relay

The American women did not throw out their top team in the prelims of the women’s 400 medley relay at the FINA World Championships, but they still did plenty to claim the top seed for the final by more than a second. The team of Olivia Smoliga (59.52), Katie Meili (1:05.17), Sarah Gibson (58.36) and Mallory Comerford (52.90) combined to swim a 3:55.95.

China qualified second in 3:57.12, using Fu Yuanhui (1:00.04), Shi Jinglin (1:06.55), Zhang Yufei (57.50) and Zhu Menghui (53.03). Canada’s Kylie Masse (58.86), Kierra Smith (1:07.20), Rebecca Smith (57.75) and Sandrine Mainville (53.36) qualified third in 3:57.17.

The Americans should replace their entire team in the finals, with Kathleen BakerLilly KingKelsi Worrell and Simone Manuel poised to come on. Canada will insert Penny Oleksiak to swim fly and Chantal Van Landeghem to anchor.

Russia, swimming without Yulia Efimova, qualified fourth in 3:57.53, and Australia, sans Emily SeebohmEmma McKeon or Bronte Campbell, was fifth in 3:58.74.

Italy (4:00.03), Sweden (4:01.44) and Great Britain (4:01.78) also made finals. Sweden figures to deploy Sarah Sjostrom on their night relay.

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Michael Maloney
Michael Maloney
6 years ago

And Ill say it HERE…….HOW can the WORLDS best SWIMMER be TIED…commerford/manuel for most golds at the world championship..or maybe even beaten by someone Manuel..if she wins the 50 free and gets 6 golds after the medley….tell you how…BS thats how…..just saying…..

commonwombat
commonwombat
6 years ago

The reality of this race is that the USA morning crew’s time will almost certainly prove fast enough to have got themselves on the podium in their own right ….. that is the depth differential between USA & all others at this time.

Who actually gets onto the lower steps of the podium will actually be more fascinating than the outright result. There appears equal liklihood of any of CAN, AUS & CHN finishing 2nd, 3rd or off the podium depending on who has someone either “fire up” or fizzle

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