The United States relay team of Samantha Shelton, Sierra Schmidt, Tatum Wade and Lauren Case topped the competition in prelims of the women’s 800-meter free relay at the 2015 FINA World Junior Championships with a time of 8:01.43, putting them close to the meet and world junior record of 7:59.42 set by the USA in 2013.
Canada’s team of Penny Oleksiak, Rebecca Smith, Meryn McCann and Mary-Sophie Harvey finished second with a time of 8:04.12, while Russia’s relay consisting of Valeriia Salamatina, Daria Ustinova, Irina Krivonogova and Anastasiia Kirpichnikova took third overall with a time of 8:05.56.
Australia’s Gemma Cooney, Ariarne Titmus, Mikayla Messer and Tamsin Cook claimed fourth with a qualifying time of 8:07.14, while Spain’s foursome of Elisa Sanchez, Laura Rodriguez, Marta Cano and Africa Zamorano turned in a time of 8:08.02 to qualify fifth.
Italy finished sixth overall with a time of 8:08.13, while Japan (8:09.36) and China (8:10.04) finished seventh and eighth respectively.
