2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships: Day 5 Prelims Live Recap

2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

• All sports: Friday, July 12 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
• Pool swimming: Sunday, July 21 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
• The Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, Gwangju, Korea
• Meet site
• Competition Schedule
• FinaTV Live Stream
• Entry Lists
• Results

This morning’s prelims session features the preliminary rounds of the women’s 100 freestyle, men’s 200 backstroke, women’s 200 breaststroke, men’s 200 breaststroke, and the women’s 4 x 200 free relay.

Day 5 prelims heat sheets

Australian Cate Campbell has emerged as the fastest 100 freestyler on the women’s side this meet based on her multiple 51-low relay splits, while Sarah Sjostrom earned a medal in the 200 free last night and is OK after needing oxygen after the 200 free. The Swede was 52.23 leading off her nation’s 4×100 free relay, and she’s the fastest swimmer thus far based solely on flat starts (which is, of course, excluding the fact that Campbell and Simone Manuel have split sub-52 this meet already). It’ll be the first individual race for Manuel and her fellow American Mallory Comerford.

The men’s 200 backstroke will see Russian Evgeny Rylov take on the field. After his 51.97 in the 100 back last night leading off Russia’s mixed medley relay, Rylov looks incredibly dangerous — the 200 back is his better event of the two, after all. His teammate Anton Chupkov will contest the 200 breast in a field that is incredibly deep; 20 men are entered under 2:10. On the women’s side, we’ll see how well Lilly King has figured out the 200 breast, though it’s Russian Yulia Efimova who has sub-2:20 potential.

Finally, with no news on Katie Ledecky‘s status after she still wasn’t feeling well enough to swim yesterday morning, the U.S. women may be trekking on without her in the women’s 4×200 free relay. She won’t be on the relay this morning– the lineups for that relay are available here.

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Record: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 2018, 51.71
• World Junior Record: Penny Oleksiak (Canada), 2016, 52.70
• World Championships Record: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 2018, 51.71
• 2017 Defending World Champion: Simone Manuel (USA), 52.27

Defending World Champion Simone Manuel of the U.S. took the heat eight win, clocking a 53.10 to edge past Great Britain’s Anna Hopkin (53.21), the latter hitting a new personal best. France’s Charlotte Bonnet (53.67) and Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands also broke 54 (53.99) in that heat.

That time would hold up through the final two heats. In heat nine, the Netherlands’ Femke Heemskerk took that heat in 53.56, just ahead of Australia’s Emma McKeon (53.58) and Russia’s Mariia Kameneva (53.68), with Canada’s Taylor Ruck bunched up behind them (53.69).

Sarah Sjöström of Sweden, the world record-holder, clocked a 53.11 to win the tenth and final heat, coming just shy of Manuel’s time. The Swede edged Australian Cate Campbell (53.36) and American Mallory Comerford (53.57).

Italy’s Federica Pellegrini, last night’s 200 free champion, missed the semifinals with a 54.68; she tied for 22nd. In 2017, a 54.49 was 16th (which was a tie– Andi Murez of Israel won that swim-off in 54.20 to move to semifinals), and only nine women broke 54 led by Sjöström at 53.01. This year, 13 women broke 54 in prelims.

Notably, Penny Oleksiak of Canada withdrew from the 100 free. She tied with Manuel for the 100 free gold medal at the 2016 Olympics.

TOP 16 – SEMIFINALS QUALIFIERS

1. Simone Manuel (USA) – 53.10
2. Sarah Sjöström (SWE) – 53.11
3. Anna Hopkin (GBR) – 53.21
4. Cate Campbell (AUS) – 53.36
5. Femke Heemskerk (NED) – 53.56
6. Mallory Comerford (USA) – 53.57
7. Emma McKeon (AUS) – 53.58
8. Charlotte Bonnet (FRA) – 53.67
9. Mariia Kameneva (RUS) – 53.68
10. Taylor Ruck (CAN) – 53.69
11. Freya Anderson (GBR) – 53.77
12. Siobhan Haughey (HKG) – 53.81
13. Beryl Gastaldello (FRA) – 53.95
14. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) – 53.99
15. Michelle Coleman (SWE) – 54.01
16. Zhu Menghui (CHN) – 54.25

MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: Aaron Peirsol (USA), 2009, 1:51.92
• World Junior Record: Kliment Kolesnikov (Russia), 2017, 1:55.14
• World Championships Record: Aaron Peirsol (USA), 2009, 1:51.92
• 2017 Defending World Champion: Evgeny Rylov (RUS), 1:53.61

In the first circle-seeded heat, heat three, Australia’s Mitch Larkin was a no-show. It looks like he’ll be focusing all of his efforts on the 200 IM final, which will be tonight. In Larkin’s absence, it was Radoslaw Kawecki of Poland at 1:56.99 to win the heat over China’s Xu Jiayu (1:57.15). Xu, a strong podium threat, really eased up over the final length and will likely be significantly faster in the semifinals.

American Ryan Murphy stole heat four over Great Britain’s Luke Greenbank with a 1:56.61, cruising for most of the race and picking it up a bit over the final 50 meters. Greenbank touched close behind him at 1:56.83.

In the final heat, Evgeny Rylov of Russia swam a smooth race, winning at 1:56.76. His countrymate, Grigory Tarasevich, will move on to semis as well after his 1:57.99 in that final heat. Tarasevich was called up to replace Kliment Kolesnikov, who has been dealing with injury and dropped the event to focus on shorter races.

American Jacob Pebley nearly missed the semifinals, squeezing into semis with a 1:58.07.

TOP 16 – SEMIFINALS QUALIFIERS

1. Ryan Murphy (USA) – 1:56.61
2. Evgeny Rylov (RUS) – 1:56.76
3. Luke Greenbank (GBR) – 1:56.83
4. Radoslaw Kawecki (POL) – 1:56.99
5. Xu Jiayu (CHN) – 1:57.15
6. Adam Telegdy (HUN) – 1:57.20
7. Ryosuke Irie (JPN) – 1:57.60
8. Christian Diener (GER) // Jakub Skierka (POL) – 1:57.61 *TIE*
9. –
10. Matteo Restivo (ITA) – 1:57.67
11. Daniel Martin (ROU) – 1:57.76
12. Lee Juho (KOR) – 1:57.80
13. Grigory Tarasevich (RUS) – 1:57.99
14. Danas Rapsys (LTU) // Roman Mityukov (SUI) – 1:58.04 *TIE*
15. –
16. Jacob Pebley (USA) – 1:58.07

WOMEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: Rikke Moller Pedersen (Denmark), 2013, 2:19.11
• World Junior Record: Viktoria Gunes (Turkey), 2016, 2:19.64
• World Championships Record: Rikke Moller Pedersen (Denmark), 2013, 2:19.11
• 2017 Defending World Champion: Yulia Efimova (Russia), 2:19.64

Sydney Pickrem of Canada earned the heat two win, clocking a 2:24.53. The 200 IM bronze medalist from earlier in the meet was one of just two women under 2:25; the other was Swiss breaststroker Lisa Mamie at 2:24.93.

In heat four, Lilly King took the race out fast, but it was Tatjana Schoenmaker of South Africa shot out to a big lead on the third 50. King fought back, however, and won the heat in 2:24-mid. Quickly after the conclusion of the race, the board showed a DQ, with Schoenmaker winning at 2:24.66. This article will update when we have confirmation and details on King’s DQ.

• **UPDATE**
• 10:35 p.m. EST – King has reportedly been DQ’d for a non-simultaneous touch on the first turn of her 200m breaststroke heat. USA Swimming has a 30min window to protest.**
• 10:44 p.m. EST – The DQ is under review.
• 10:45 p.m. EST – USA Swimming says the results “are under review.”
• 10:57 p.m. EST – USA Swimming has reportedly submitted an official appeal.

The final heat started with no swimmers yet under 2:24. Canada’s Kelsey Wog opened up a lead and held it through the final wall, but Kaylene Corbett of South Africa, Yulia Efimova of Russia, and Micah Sumrall of the USA charged. Corbett wound up with the win, the 20-year-old touching at 2:24.83. Efimova and Wog tied for second there in 2:25.01, with Sumrall grabbing fourth in 2:25.17.

It’s fairly uncommon to see a South African woman near the top of the results at a Worlds– there are two in the top three of this event today.

TOP 16 – SEMIFINALS QUALIFIERS

1. Sydney Pickrem (CAN) – 2:24.53
2. Tatjana Schoenmaker (RSA) – 2:24.66
3. Kaylene Corbett (RSA) – 2:24.83
4. Lisa Mamie (SUI) – 2:24.93
5. Yulia Efimova (RUS) // Kelsey Wog (CAN) – 2:25.01
6. –
7. Fanny Lecluyse (BEL) – 2:25.05
8. Molly Renshaw (GBR) // Micah Sumrall (USA) – 2:25.17
9. –
10. Ye Shiwen (CHN) – 2:25.41
11. Reona Aoki (JPN) – 2:25.93
12. Mariia Temnikova (RUS) – 2:25.98
13. Jessica Vall (ESP) – 2:26.04
14. Victoria Kaminskaya (POR) – 2:26.06
15. Jenna Stauch (AUS) – 2:26.25
16. Back Suyeon (KOR) – 2:26.56

MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: Ippei Watanabe (Japan), 2017, 2:06.67
• World Junior Record: Qin Haiyang (China), 2017, 2:09.39
• World Championships Record: Anton Chupkov (Russia), 2017, 2:06.96
• 2017 Defending World Champion: Anton Chupkov (Russia), 2:06.96

In the first circle-seeded heat, Australia’s Matthew Wilson took things out very hard; he was out under WR pace at every wall except for the last. He touched in 2:07.29, just .13 off of his lifetime best in a very impressive morning performance. Sweden’s Erik Persson was the closest to Wilson over 200 meters, clocking a 2:08.87. Wilson’s teammate Zac Stubblety-Cook was third at 2:09.05, with world junior record-holder Qin Haiyang fourth at 2:09.86.

World record-holder Ippei Watanabe wound up third in heat three of four. It was the German Marco Koch who lunged ahead over the final length, winning the heat in 2:08.70. Arno Kamminga of the Netherlands clocked a 2:09.39, and Watanabe settled for third in 2:09.68.

In the final heat, it was Andrew Wilson of the USA taking out the race hard, and he held on through the final wall with teammate Josh Prenot right behind him. It was defending World Champion Anton Chupkov, however, who clocked a 2:08.22 to win the heat. What stuck out most from Chupkov’s swim was his back half: going out in just 1:03.77, he came back in 32.16 and 32.29, both splits the best of anyone else on the back half. He will be a huge threat tonight in the semis.  Wilson and Prenot would fade to 2:09.6’s.

TOP 16 – SEMIFINALS QUALIFIERS

1. Matthew Wilson (AUS) – 2:07.29
2. Anton Chupkov (RUS) – 2:08.22
3. Marco Koch (GER) – 2:08.70
4. Erik Persson (SWE) – 2:08.87
5. Zac Stubblety-Cook (AUS) // Ross Murdoch (GBR) – 2:09.05
6. –
7. Arno Kamminga (NED) – 2:09.39
8. Andrew Wilson (USA) – 2:09.61
9. Josh Prenot (USA) // Ippei Watanabe (JPN) – 2:09.68
10. –
11. Dmitriy Balandin (KAZ) – 2:09.72
12. Qin Haiyang (CHN) – 2:09.86
13. James Wilby (GBR) – 2:09.90
14. Kazuki Kohinata (JPN) – 2:09.92
15. Mykyta Koptielov (UKR) – 2:09.94
16. Anton McKee (ISL) – 2:10.32

WOMEN’S 4×200 FREE RELAY – PRELIMS

• World Record: China, 2009, 7:42.08
• World Junior Record: Canada, 2017, 7:51.47
• World Championships Record: China, 2009, 7:42.08
• 2017 Defending World Champion: USA, 7:43.39

Heat one went to the United States, with their team of Allison Schmitt, Gabby Deloof, Melanie Margalis, and Leah Smith getting the job done. After being in a hole halfway through, Margalis shot back to reel in the Russians with a mighty 1:56.37 split, then moved right on past them to give Smith a lead. Margalis would have the quickest split of prelims, and the Americans would win it in 7:51.58, about a second ahead of Russia (7:52.66).

Heat two was all Australia, as the quartet of Leah Neale, Madi Wilson, Brianna Throssell, and Kiah Melverton sailing to the win at 7:50.64, almost a full second quicker than the American team. Wilson (1:56.46) and Throssell (1:56.70) had excellent legs, and will join Ariarne Titmus and Emma McKeon tonight in what will be a very hard Aussie team to beat. The Americans, meanwhile, will have at least Katie McLaughlin switch on for Schmitt, while Margalis and Smith will stay. With Ledecky back in the pool doing some swimming, she may be back for the relay tonight, but it’s unclear if she will and what form she’s in.

China will get an upgrade, too, with newly minted WJR-holder Yang Junxuan having just gone a 1:55.39 last night hopping on as well as distance phenom Wang Jianjiahe, making them a threat as well. Canada will add in Penny Oleksiak and Taylor Ruck to the final, too, and the Canadians will likely get well under 7:50 with those two on board.

The top 12 teams from prelims of a relay event at this Worlds automatically qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

TOP 8 – FINALS QUALIFIERS

1. Australia – 7:50.64
   1. Neale (1:58.30)
   2. Wilson (1:56.46)
   3. Throssell (1:56.70)
   4. Melverton (1:59.18)
2. USA – 7:51.58
   1. Schmitt (1:59.37)
   2. Deloof (1:58.35)
   3. Margalis (1:56.37)
   4. Smith (1:57.49)
3. Russia – 7:52.66
   1. Guzhenkova (1:59.04)
   2. Salamantina (1:57.54)
   3. Mullakaeva (1:58.74)
   4. Andrusenko (1:57.34)
4. China – 7:54.10
   1. Ai (1:58.83)
   2. Dong (1:59.72)
   3. Zhang (1:57.16)
   4. Li (1:58.39)
5. Germay – 7:54.30
   1. Foos (1:58.81)
   2. Gose (1:57.51)
   3. Pietruschka (1:59.23)
   4. Bruhn (1:58.75)
6. Canada – 7:55.10
   1. Sanchez (1:58.88)
   2. Overholt (1:57.11)
   3. Smith (1:58.74)
   4. O’Croinin (2:00.37)
7. Hungary – 7:55.40
   1. Kesely (1:58.82)
   2. Verraszto (2:00.37)
   3. Jakabos (1:59.60)
   4. Hosszu (1:56.61)
8. Japan – 7:56.00
   1. Shirai (1:59.68)
   2. Igarashi (1:59.17)
   3. Aoki (1:58.17)
   4. Ikemoto (1:58.98

ADDITIONAL OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS

• Poland
• New Zealand
• Hong Kong
• Korea

VIEW RELAY LINEUPS HERE