World Championships, Day Seven Prelims: Sarah Sjostrom Sizzles in 50 Freestyle; Paltrinieri, Hafnaoui Eliminated From 1500 Free

SJOSTROM Sarah SWE 100m Freestyle Women Heats Swimming FINA 19th World Championships Budapest 2022 Budapest, Duna Arena 22/06/22 Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

World Championships, Day Seven Prelims: Sarah Sjostrom Sizzles in 50 Freestyle; Ruta Meilutyte Bounces Back

The seventh day of prelims at the World Championships in Doha was sprint-heavy, with action over one lap taking place in the women’s 50 freestyle, men’s 50 backstroke and women’s 50 breaststroke. There was also competition in the men’s 1500 freestyle and the mixed 400 freestyle relay. Here’s a look at how prelims unfolded on Saturday morning.

Women’s 50 Freestyle

World champion and world-record holder Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden looked sharp in her morning swim, as she registered the lone performance under the 24-second barrier. Sjostrom, who will chase her sixth title in the 50 butterfly at night, touched the wall in 23.91. Last summer, Sjostrom set the world record in the event at 23.61.

American Kate Douglass, who has embraced one of the heftiest schedules in Doha, was the No. 2 qualifier with a strong showing of 24.19. That mark enabled Douglass to finish ahead of Australian Shayna Jack, who was the silver medalist at the 2023 World Champs in Fukuoka and went 24.30 on Saturday. Also cruising through the morning was Poland’s Kasia Wasick in 24.36.

Men’s 50 Backstroke

The United States’ Hunter Armstrong took the first step toward defending his world title in the 50 backstroke by moving through the prelims in 24.66, good for the second-fastest time of the morning. Armstrong was topped only by Poland’s Ksawery Masiuk, who checked in with a leading mark of 24.58.

Hugo Gonzalez continued his stellar meet by clocking 24.72 for the No. 3 seed into the semifinals. Gonzalez is coming off a gold medal in the 200 backstroke and was the silver medalist to Armstrong in the 100 backstroke.

Women’s 50 Breaststroke

After failing to advance out of the prelims of the 100 breaststroke, Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte bounced back in the 50 breaststroke with the No. 3 time of the morning. The reigning world champ went 30.05 to finish behind the tandem of Italy’s Benedetta Pilato (29.89) and China’s Tang Qianting. The Chinese standout was the gold medalist in the 100 breaststroke and set an Asian record with her morning outing.

Men’s 1500 Freestyle

Germany’s Florian Wellbrock earned the top seed for tomorrow’s final of the 1500 freestyle, going 14:48.43 to finish ahead of France’s David Aubry (14:49.01). Meanwhile, Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen eased into the final in sixth. But on the outside of the top eight, and not advancing to the final, were Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri and Tunisia’s defending world champ Ahmed Hafnaoui. Paltrinieri and Hafnaoui were ninth and 17th, respectively.

Mixed 400 Freestyle Relay

Numerous changes are expected for the evening final, but China led the way into the medals race of the mixed 400 freestyle relay with a swim of 3:24.47. Canada (3:24.78) and Australia (3:25.30) followed in second and third and the United States managed to advance in fifth, with the possibility of Claire Curzan and Kate Douglass joining the relay for the final.

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