United States Advances in Mixed 400 Freestyle Relay Behind Help from Nathan Adrian

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World Swimming Championships (Nathan Adrian)

Gwangju 2019

Day Seven Heats (Mixed 400 Freestyle Relay)

With the mixed 400 medley relay added to the Olympic schedule for 2020 in Tokyo, it was not surprising to see that newer event gain in significance over the past few years. But it looks like countries are also putting an emphasis on the mixed 400 freestyle relay, a scenario that wasn’t always the case for an event that was – in some circles – viewed as a charade.

En route to the top seed in the mixed 400 free relay, the United States clocked a winning time of 3:22.70, using an impressive morning lineup of Blake Pieroni (48.15), Nathan Adrian (47.67), Katie McLaughlin (53.96) and Abbey Weitzeil (52.92). While that unit will be subbed out, it delivered on its objective of setting the table for the night session. The effort from Adrian was another sterling performance for the Team USA veteran who has returned to action after beating testicular cancer. Earlier in the week, Adrian anchored the United States to gold in the 400 freestyle relay.

The United States is expected to go with an evening squad of Caeleb Dressel, Zach Apple, Mallory Comerford and Simone Manuel. The relay could be an opportunity for Dressel’s third gold medal of the session, provided he prevails – as expected – in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly earlier in the night. The trifecta is something Dressel pulled off two years ago in Budapest.

Australia qualified second behind the United States, the foursome of Cameron McEvoy (48.69), Alexander Graham (48.40), Brianna Throssell (53.46) and Madison Wilson (53.22) registering a mark of 3:23.77. Like Team USA, wholesale changes are expected from the Aussies, who will probably go with the quartet of Kyle Chalmers, Clyde Lewis, Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell.

Canada qualified third in 3:24.09, followed by France in 3:24.27 and Italy in 3:25.06.

1. United States 3:22.70
2. Australia 3:23.77
3. Canada 3:24.09
4. France 3:24.27
5. Italy 3:25.06
6. Russia 3:25.38
7. Japan 3:25.41
8. Netherlands 3:27.29

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