Wang Shun Puts Up 1:56 200 IM, Yang Junxuan Swims 53.2 100 Free

Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

Wang Shun Puts Up 1:56 200 IM, Yang Junxuan Swims 53.2 100 Free

Wang Shun won his third national title from Qingdao as he won his specialty in the 200 IM with a 1:56.78 as that is the third fastest time in the world this year. Wang won bronze at the last Olympics and adds the 200 IM to his repertoire after winning the 400 IM and 200 free earlier in the week. Wang will be joined in Tokyo by Qin Haiyang (1:59.43), who was second and also got under the A standard for his first Olympic berth.

Wang was close to his own national record of 1:56.16 from the 2017 Chinese Nationals.

Yang Junxuan won her second national title of the week with a 53.21 in the 100 freestyle as she added on to her win earlier in the week in the 200 free. Yang now sits fourth internationally as she won ahead of Wu Qingfeng (53.84) and Cheng Yujie (53.91). Add in Zhang Yufei, who was a 52.90 in the heats, to that group and China has a team worthy of contending for a medal in the 4×100 free relay come Tokyo.

Xu Jiayu won his second national title with a 1:56.92 in the 200 backstroke as he is now ninth in the world this year. Xu was under the A standard of 1:57.50 as he has been as quick as a 1:53.9 in his career. Li Guangyuan finished second at 1:58.66.

Yu Jingyao just got under the A standard in the 200 breast with a 2:25.27 as Ye Shiwen finished in second at 2:27.54. Ye missed the A standard of 2:25.52 as she had a chance to make her third Olympics after winning both IMs at the 2012 Games at age 16. Ye was a medal contender heading into this year in the 200 breaststroke, but may still have an opportunity to swim in Tokyo.

In semi-final action, Sun Jiajun is on top of the 100 fly field at 52.45, while Peng Xuwei is the top seed in tomorrow’s 200 back (2:11.35) ahead of Liu Yaxin (2:11.38).

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