2015 World University Games: Day 5 Finals Live Recap

by Robert Gibbs 45

July 08th, 2015 News

2015 WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES

Day 5 swimming finals at the 2015 World University Games has a bit of a lighter schedule than the past couple of days.  This is especially true with regards to finals, as there are only three of them.  The first will be the women’s 200 breaststroke, where Japan’s Keiko Fukudome comes in as the top seed.  Jack Conger (USA) had the fastest time in both prelims and semifinals, as well as an attention-grabbing 47.75 split in the finals of the 4×100 free relay on the first night of competition.  Finally, Italy’s Elena Di Liddo has the top seed going into the final of the women’s 100 fly.

Tonight will also feature semifinals in the men’s 200 back, women’s 200 free, women’s 50 back, men’s 50 breast.  With only three medal ceremonies, and no distance events, this should be one of the shorter sessions of the week.

Women’s 200 Breast – Final

Japan’s Reona Aoki, swimming out of lane five, jumped out to an early lead.  She touched first at the 50m mark, and had nearly a body-length lead at the halfway point of the race.  However, it was her teammate, the top-seeded Keiko Fukudome, who would take the gold medal, as she surged ahead over the final 50m of the race to beat Aoki by over a second, 2:24.92 to 2:26.17.  Those times put both swimmers inside the top 25 in the world this year.

Czech swimmer Martina Moravcikov also used a strong last 50 to pick up the bronze medal (2:27.35).  In doing so she picked off Andrea Cottrell (USA), who finished in fourth with a time of 2:28.08.

The final four spots went to Italy’s Francesca Fangio (2:28.18), American Molly Hannis (2:28.67), Suyeon Back of Korea (2:28.89) and British swimmer Olivia White (2:29.95).

Men’s 200 Back – Semis

Italy’s Christopher Ciccarese won the first heat, leading from start to finish and touching in 1:57.19.  Japan’s Keita Sunama touched second in 1:59.14, followed by Great Britain’s Joe Patching (1:59.67) and Poland’s Krzysztof Morawski (2:00.28).  All four will swim in the final tomorrow night.

In similar fashion, Jacob Pebley of the USA went out hard and maintained his lead the whole way.  His time of 1:57.01 will earn him lane four for the final.  Russia’s Andrei Shabasov was next, with a time of 1:59.63.  Also advancing through to the finals from the second heat will be the USA’s Connor Green (1:59.08) and Italy’s Giorgi Gaetani (2:00.09).

Pebley’s swim from this morning puts him at 11th-fastest in the world this year, placing him between fellow American swimmers Ryan Murphy and Matt Grevers.

Women’s 200 Free – Semis

Shannon Vreeland (USA) was the only swimmer in the first heat to swim under 2:00, touching in 1:59.15.  Italy’s Martina De Memme finished second in 2:00.11.  Shiji Wang of China (2:00.31), Japan’s Aya Takano (2:00.79), and Germany’s Alina Weber (2:00.99) also advanced to finals.

For the fourth semifinal heat in a row, the swimmer who touched first at the 50m mark went on to win the heat.  This time it was Leah Smith of the USA.  It looked like this race might be a little closer at first, as Japan’s Yasuko Miyamoto was just .03 behind Smith at the 100m mark.  However, Smith pulled away over the third 50, and continued to build that lead, touching in 1:58.79.  Miyamato finished over two seconds behind her, placing second in 2:00.79.  Ellen Fullerton of Australia will also advance to finals after finishing third in the heat (2:00.93).

Men’s 100 Free – Final

Brazil’s Henrique Martins picked up his second gold of the meet, just touching out the top seed, Jack Conger of the United States, 48.98 to 49.02.  Conger was first at the wall, with Martins over a half second behind, but Martins caught up to Conger in the final 25m.  That’s a personal best for both swimmers.

The race for bronze was also decided by the same .04 margin, with Italy’s Marco Belotti taking the medal over American Seth Stubblefield, 49.43 to 49.47.

Kemal Gurdal of Turkey was the only other swimmer under 50.0, touching fifth with a time of 49.86.  Toro Maruyama of Japan (50.00), Daniel Hunter of New Zealand (50.05), and Oleg Tikhobev of Russia (50.17) took the last three places.

Women’s 50 Back – Semis

In the first heat, Italy’s Arianna Barbieri won in a time of 28.55, despite having the slowest reaction time of the heat.  Australia’s Holly Barratt and France’s Camille Gheorghiu were just behind her, both touching in 28.61.  Hoi Au of Hong Kong and Yekaterina Rudenko of Kazakhstan will also advance to tommorrow’s final with times 28.66 and 28.67, respectively.

Rachel Bootsma of the USA had the fastest time of either heat with a 28.13.  Canadian Kylie Masse, who upset Americans Bootsma and Elizabeth Pelton in the 100 back, had the 2nd-fastest time of the heat with a 28.46.

There will be a swim-off for the 8th spot in tomorrow’s finals, with both Hyounji Yu of the host South Korea and the aforementioned Pelton swimming a 28.76.

Men’s 100 Fly – Semis

Italy’s Piero Codia joined the sub-52 club in this event tonight, winning the first heat in a time of 51.75.  Evgeny Koptelov of Russia took second in 51.86.  Matthew Josa (USA) touched third with a 52.23.  Aleksandr Sadovinkkov of Russia (52.29) and Michal Poprawa (52.85) also advance to finals.

Heat two didn’t have quite the speed, with Youhen Tsurkin of Belarus finishing first in a time of 52.20, followed by Japan’s Masayuki Umemoto over a half second behind at 52.71.  American Matt Ellis was the only other man in the heat to swim under 53, touching in 52.95 and securing a spot in tomorrow’s final.  Notably, Henrique Martins finished fifth in the heat with a time of 53.33 approximately 15 minutes after winning the 100 free.

Women’s 100 Fly – Finals

Ying Lu (China) won her second gold medal of these Games, swimming a 57.83 for the win in this event after winning the 50 fly earlier this meet.  Lu, who was the Olympic silver medalist in 2012, has the 10th-fastest time in the world this year.

The silver medal went to Italy’s Elena Di Liddo (58.29), and Slovakia’s Katarina Listopadova took the bronze in a time of 58.37.

Svetlana Chimrova of Russia placed 5th (58.88), followed by the USA’s Felicia Lee (58.91), Japan’s Rino Hosoda (59.14), and Samantha Correa of Canada (59.83).

Men’s 50 Breast – Semis

Heat one went to Serbia’s Caba Siladi, who won by over half a second with a 27.41.  Carsten Vissering of the United States placed second out of lane one, and his 27.93 was a personal best.  They were the only two swimmers from the first heat to make it finals.

Swimmers from the second heat will fill the other six lanes tomorrow night.  Andrea Toniato of Italy couldn’t quite match his record-breaking time from preliminaries, but still had the fastest overall time with a 27.35.  Russia’s Kirill Prigoda placed second in the heat with a 27.45.  Kazakhstan’s Danny Balandin (27.62), USA’s DJ MacDonald (27.75), Martin Schweizer of Switzerland (27.77), and Raphael Rodrigues of Brazil (27.87) all had fast enough times to have finished ahead of Vissering in the first heat, and will advance to the final.

Women’s 50 Back Swim-off

Elizabeth Pelton closed over the final meters of the race, but couldn’t make up the ground she had lost in the opening, and the last place in tomorrow’s final will go to Hyounji Yu (28.26).  That time was over a half second faster than her semifinal swim and faster than every semifinal time except the one swum by top-seeded Bootsma.

 

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E GAMBLE
8 years ago

This site is about substance not spelling. But I appreciate the spell check Sean S.

Gina Rhinestone
Reply to  E GAMBLE
8 years ago

You are lucky you got any attention at all . 29/47 comments were about Jack Conger specifically & more that he was a big part of .

The only other WUG swimmer to get a mention was the winner . In reality his 49 is nothing to write home about – world juniors will be won in a faster time .

Rafael
Reply to  Gina Rhinestone
8 years ago

Chalmers.. will be 48.. Maybe..I don´t know how he will handle the pressure..

There is the English Guy.. and Ribeiro crushed all Santana age groups records.. he will try to get the age record for 17 years too..

At least these 3 can go 48…

DC in DC
8 years ago

A question for the “experts” — Conger has amazing underwaters. He showed that in this race…. He reached the wall first and appears to come up last from the turn. Current thinking encourages big underwaters like this. Bt is there a more optimal trade-off in the 100 Free LC between underwater oxygenation/acceleration?

sven
Reply to  DC in DC
8 years ago

I think it depends a lot on breathing pattern. If the swimmer is breathing every two strokes like we typically see out of elite male 100 freestylers, I say work the underwaters more. I can’t quite tell in his race video but from the relay video it looks like Jack may have a 2-4 breathing pattern for at least part of the race, so I’m not sure how much of a factor oxygen debt is.

I’d also say the quality of the breakout is pretty important, too. If the swimmer can breathe efficiently off their breakout, then I say work the underwater, but if their breakout isn’t as strong, they may have to go through a full stroke cycle… Read more »

E GAMBLE
8 years ago

I think the relay spots for Rio 4 × 100 free relay will be very competitive. I’m also biased and live in Florida. Here in Florida we have a little something called Caelab Dressel. If you guys think Conger has a shot, I know Caelab does as well. He had a spectacular freshman year and has a proven ability in meters. Plus, we have yet to see a fully tapered LCM 100 free since Caelab became a Gator. Watch out!

Sean S
Reply to  E GAMBLE
8 years ago

For such a big Caeleb Dressel it seems strange that you don’t know how to spell his name.

Joel Lin
8 years ago

Wow, quite a prediction from Gold Medal Mel. Agree though…Conger is nowhere near his roof yet. As a high school senior he was so skinny and his strokes were so crude, but man was he fast. He has one of the best coaches in the world and is rounding into great form going into the Olympic year. It is crazy to think 6 guys will get their hand on the wall ahead of him in the 100 free at trials, and he has a really good shot at getting his hand on the wall in the top 2.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Joel Lin
8 years ago

i agree with u Joel . He can surely be in the top 3 next year on the 100 free . Apart from Adrian who is untouchable in the Usa on 100 free , there aren’t many right now who crack 49 in season . He has more chances to make the team on the 100 free than he has on any other race . And that’s what Usa desperately needs : new 100 free sprinters who can go around 48.2 flat start .

drew
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
8 years ago

if phelps doesn’t swim the 2 fly, I think that’s his strongest chance of making the team in an individual event..

100 fly is going be really competitive.. then there is the 2 back

but with the 1 and 2 free you have the relay spots

BaldingEagle
8 years ago

There are lots of people who aren’t entirely impressed with Jack’s 100 free, and I have no idea why. There aren’t many people who’ve been faster than 49.03 (including commentators on this thread) but he has. Not to mention the rest of his incredible achievements (500 HS record, 200 fly US Open record, etc), plus his amazing versatility (he’s on this team in the 100 free and the backstroke, after setting all those records in the 500 and fly). Give the kid a break. Congratulations on a great last several years, Jack! We look forward to watching your future success! Hook ’em!

drew
8 years ago

as for his NCAA schedule.. he goes 1 & 2 fly and 100 free, right?

murphy has the 100 back on lock.. and Nolan is strong too

but looking at the schedule that would be a tough 3rd day, with 100 free then 2 fly (with only the 2 breast in between) and then 4 x 100 free relay

Admin
8 years ago

I did a quick scan of the comments, re: Conger WUGS 100 free.

Everyone please consider this: US athletes always struggle when competing overseas. It typically takes an international trip or two for them to figure it out. Often times, US athletes will swim slower on their first few international competitions. Keep this in-mind, I think Conger’s performance is VERY PROMISING. Sure, we would all like to have seen a sub 49 100 free, but any improvement is positive…and coupled with his 47.7 relay split, I think it’s FANTASTIC.

US OLYMPIC TRIALS PREDICTION:

I think Conger will swim 100 free at trials, and I see Conger going sub 48. I think 47.9 makes the US Olympic relay. I think he… Read more »

drew
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel Stewart
8 years ago

completely agree.. as I said above I see him doing 1 & 2 fly.. 1 & 2 free, mainly for relay purposes.. if he has a strong morning swim in the 2 free, I could see him dropping it to focus on the other events

don’t see him doing the 100 back.. but I could see him doing the 200 back, depending on how the schedule breaks down

OLDBALDIMER
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel Stewart
8 years ago

Huge Conger Fan as well and in live in Austin. Let’s not forget that Conger has one of the greatest coachs ever in Eddie Reese helping and training him. This kid has a very bright future!

Hey…Gold Metal Mel…come train with Whitney and the gang at Longhorn masters sometime!

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel Stewart
8 years ago

I also beleive he has had a pretty good week at WUG , pretty promising for next year . He can surely learn how to pace better his 100 free LC with Eddy Reece … that shouldn’t be the biggest obstacle so far . He will surely be 48. something within one year and a great 200 free as well . The Usa relays anyway need new fresh blood ( Conger , Malone , Dressel ,…..) by next year to be on top of their game . We will see

Tm
8 years ago

Congers best events will be the 100 and 200 fly. He should swim the 100 and 200 free to be on the relay team where he is needed. Btw which idiot made this meets schedule ? So uneven one day six finals, then three finals then six finals, plus the fiasco with the 200 and 400 finals in the same session !

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