PARIS, Open, June 17. WHILE last year's version of the Paris Open contended with the USA Swimming National Championships for some top talent, this year's field has a much more European flair. Today marked the first evening of preliminary action.<\/p>\n
Sweden's Gabriela Fagundez led the women's 800 free qualifying with an 8:41.22, while Spain's Rafael Munoz Perez topped the men's 50 fly with a 24.02.<\/p>\n
Elizabeth Simmonds of Great Britain snatched the top time in the women's 200 back with a 2:09.84, while French-record holder Laure Manaudou qualified second in 2:16.85.<\/p>\n
The men's 200 breast followed with France's Hugues Duboscq touching in 2:13.48. Christophe Richard qualified second in 2:14.66.<\/p>\n
Sweden's Therese Alshammar then paced the women's 50 free in 25.51 with France's Alena Popchanka (25.96) and Malia Metella (26.00) qualifying right behind her.<\/p>\n
Amaury Leveaux of France led a 1-2-3 for his country in the men's 400 free with a 3:48.99. Clement Lefert (3:50.59) and Andy Schmitt (4:00.11) took second and third in qualifying.<\/p>\n
French-record holder Camille Muffat owned the top time in the women's 200 IM with a 2:14.14, while Spain's Mireia Belmonte placed second in 2:14.73, while Manaudou placed well behind with a 10th-place 2:20.51.<\/p>\n
The men's 200 fly had Great Britain qualifying 1-3 as Michael Rock (1:58.55) and Joseph Roebuck (2:00.81) qualified high for the Brits. France's Christophe Lebon placed second in 1:59.80.<\/p>\n
Spain's Nina Zhivanevskaya owned the women's 50 back preliminary round with a 28.86, while Italy's Elena Gemo took second in 29.42 and Manaudou finished third in 30.09.<\/p>\n
The men's 100 back featured a strong field with Great Britain's Liam Tancock touching out Randall Bal of the U.S., 55.53 to 55.67, for the top seed. Sweden's Pontus Renholm (56.87), South Africa's Gerhard Zandberg (57.27) and France's Benjamin Stasiulis (57.44) all qualified in the top five.<\/p>\n
France swept the top two qualifying spots in the women's 100 fly when Aurore Mongel hit the wall in 58.73, just off her French record of 58.33, and Popchanka took second in 1:00.01.<\/p>\n
The men's 400 IM had Thibault Bayrac of France with the top time of 4:29.34, although the event may be swum as a timed final. Kate Haywood of Great Britain then paced the women's 100 breast in 1:08.63. France's Sophie De Ronchi qualified second in 1:10.25.<\/p>\n
South Africa's Cameron van der Burgh snagged the top spot in the men's 50 breast with a 28.32, while Duboscq finished second in 28.60. Ukraine's Valeriy Dymo rounded out the top three in 28.92.<\/p>\n
Great Britain picked up the center lanes in the women's 200 free as Caitline McClatchey touched in 1:59.07 and Rebecca Adlington followed in 1:59.73. Mongel qualified third for France in 2:00.53, while Manaudou had another rough swim with a 10th-place 2:02.47.<\/p>\n
Another strong sprint battle, this time in the men's 100 free, closed down the first night of swimming. France went 1-2-3-5 with Fabien Gilot (48.83), world-record holder Alain Bernard (49.05) Leveaux (49.08) and Bousquet (49.35) performing well with Sweden's Stefan Nystrand blocking the top four sweep with a fourth-place 49.27.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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