World Championships: Katie Hoff Clocks Fastest 200 IM Prelim Time

By John Lohn

MELBOURNE, Australia, March 24. WE might have to wait until tomorrow, for the championship final, but American Katie Hoff started strongly in her chase for the world record in the 200 individual medley. Hoff had the fastest prelim time in the 200 IM at the FINA World Championships, clocking 2:12.04.

The defending champ, Hoff has been stalking the global standard of 2:09.72, held by China's Wu Yanyan since 1997, for some time. The record is considered drug-tainted and finally could be wiped from the books. Hoff was comfortable in her morning swim and qualified just ahead of Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry, the reigning silver medalist. Coventry checked in at 2:12.65.

Denmark's Julie Hjorth-Hansen was the suprise third-fastest qualifier, going 2:13.27. She was followed by Australia's Shayne Reese (2:13.61) and Stephanie Rice (2:14.18), France's Sophie De Ronchi (2:15.47), Hungary's Evelyn Verraszto (2:15.59) and American Whitney Myers (2:15.73).

Notably, France's Laure Manaudou withdrew from the event, in order to focus on the 400 freestyle, also contested on the first day of action. Manaudou is the world-record holder in the 400 free and the overwhelming favorite to win her pet event.

Click Here to view event results PDF file.

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