2024 World Championships: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2024 WORLD AQUATIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

• February 11th – February 18th
• Doha, Qatar
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• Official Entries
• Live Results (Omega)
• Day 1 Prelims Live Recap | Day 1 Finals Live Recap

Day Two Prelims Start Lists

The second morning of action in Doha will feature five events: the women’s 100 back, men’s 100 back, women’s 100 breast, men’s 200 free, and women’s 1500 free. The two backstroke events will kick off the session, with USA teammates Claire Curzan and Hunter Armstrong entering as the top seeds.

Curzan is entered with her best time of 58.35, one of only two swimmers seeded under the 59-second barrier. Canada’s Ingrid Wilm is the other, seeded with her best time of 58.80. A pair of young Australians will also feature, Jaclyn Barclay and Iona Anderson. Barclay recently won the World Junior title in this event back in September, with Anderson snagging silver. Since then, Barclay has really improved in the 200m distance, while Anderson has really hit her stride in the sprint distances.

Though 18-year-old Anderson is only ranked 8th, she recently posted multiple best times in the event at the Queensland Championships. She posted 59.69 in the heats before touching in 59.43 for 2nd later in the day. She followed up those swims with another best time about a week later, touching in 59.24 leading off a relay at the Western Australian Relay Championships. If she entered the event with her best time, she would be the third seeded entrant.

Great Britain’s Kathleen Dawson will also compete in the event this morning, and owns a best time (and European record) of 58.08 from the 2021 European Championships. She has not been able to replicate the 58-second swims she was producing throughout 2021 since, but is a clear medal contender if she can get within about a second of her best time.

The men’s field is also quite deep behind Armstrong, with three other swimmers seeded under the 53-second barrier: Pieter Coetze (52.78) of South Africa, Ksawery Masiuk (52.81) of Poland, and Apostolos Christou (52.99) of Greece. Both Coetze and Masiuk are World Junior champions in backstroke events, while Christou has been as swift as 52.09 in the event. If Christou can be anywhere near his best time, he is very much in the gold medal conversation.

The women’s 100 breast will feature defending World Champion Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania. Ireland’s Mona McSharry (1:05.55), Tes Schouten (1:05.71) of the Netherlands, and Italy’s Benedetta Pilato (1:05.75) are seeded 2nd through 4th, and are among the several other swimmers in the field with 1:05 best times. South Africa’s Lara Van Niekerk, who is ranked 11th, is another name to watch. She won the Commonwealth title in 2022 with a best time of 1:05.47.

The men’s 200 free will feature several 1:44-range swimmers, including Hwang Sunwoo (KOR), Pan Zhanle (CHN), Lukas Märtens (GER), Luke Hobson (USA), Katsuhiro Matsumoto (JPN), Duncan Scott (GBR), Fernando Scheffer (BRA), and Danas Rapsys (LTU). Pan broke the world record in the 100 free last night, swimming 46.80 on the lead-off leg of China’s victorious 4×100 free relay.

The final event of the morning is the women’s 1500 free, where 2023 silver medalist Simona Quadarella enters as the top ranked athlete. Assuming she safely qualifies for the final, she will have the opportunity to win her second long course world title in the event. China’s Li Bingjie will also contest the event, and posted a near best time in the 400 free last night en route to silver.

WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record: Kaylee McKeown, Australia – 57.33 (2023)
• World Junior Record: Regan Smith, United States – 57.57 (2019)
• Championship Record: Kaylee McKeown, Australia – 57.53 (2023)
• 2023 World Champion: Kaylee McKeown, Australia – 57.53
• Olympic ‘A’ Qualifying Time: 59.99, Olympic ‘B’ Qualifying Time: 1:00.29

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Claire Curzan (USA) – 59.72
2. Ingrid Wilm (CAN) – 59.82
3. Iona Anderson (AUS) – 59.88
4. Jaclyn Barclay (AUS) – 1:00.05
5. Lauren Cox (GBR) – 1:00.27
6. Kathleen Dawson (GBR) – 1:00.36
7. Carmen Weiler Sastre (ESP) – 1:00.44
8. Kira Toussaint (NED) – 1:00.50
9. Maaike De Waard (NED) – 1:00.61
10. Adela Piskorska (POL) – 1:01.03
11. Hanna Rosvall (SWE) – 1:01.20
12. Anastasiya Shkurdai (NIA) – 1:01.43
13. Camila Rebelo (POR) – 1:01.51
14. Francesca Pasquino (ITA) – 1:01.54
15. Gabriela Georgieva (BUL) – 1:01.65
16. Stephanie Au (HKG) – 1:01.80

Heat 4 featured Australian backstroke duo Iona Anderson and Jaclyn Barclay, with Anderson charging through the first 50 in 29.04. She held the lead all the way to the finish, touching in a time of 59.88. Barclay (1:00.05) touched in 2nd place, while European record holder Kathleen Dawson (GBR) finished 3rd in 1:00.36.

Ingrid Wilm of Canada made her presence known in the penultimate heat, winning in 59.82. Kira Toussaint, who swam on the winning 4×100 free relay for the Netherlands last night, stopped the clock in 1:00.50 for runner-up status. Poland’s Adela Piskorska finished 3rd in this heat, hitting the touchpad in 1:01.03.

Top seed Claire Curzan (59.72) claimed victory in the final heat, posting the fastest time of the morning. She will notably feature in tonight’s 100 fly final, where she is the 2nd seed. The 100 fly final will occur before the 100 back semi-finals. Lauren Cox of Team GB was leading at the 50, and finished 2nd in the heat with a time of 1:00.27. Maaike De Waard of the Netherlands touched 3rd (1:00.61).

Anastasiya Shkurdai placed 12 this morning with a time of 1:01.43. She has been as quick as 59.08 in the event, which she did in 2020. Of note, it took a time of 1:01.80 to qualify for tonight’s semi-finals, with four swimmers under the 1:02-barrier missing out.

MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record: Thomas Ceccon, Italy – 51.60 (2022)
• World Junior Record: Kliment Kolesnikov, Russia – 52.53 (2018)
• Championship Record: Thomas Ceccon, Italy – 51.60 (2022)
• 2023 World Champion: Ryan Murphy, United States – 52.22
• Olympic ‘A’ Qualifying Time: 53.74, Olympic ‘B’ Qualifying Time: 54.01

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Pieter Coetze (RSA) – 53.32
2. Evangelos Makrygiannis (GRE) – 53.43
3. Hugo Gonzalez (ESP) – 53.61
4. Hunter Armstrong (USA) – 53.66
5. Michele Lamberti (ITA) – 53.73
6. Bradley Woodward (AUS) – 53.76
7. Apostolos Christou (GRE) – 53.79
8. Juho Lee (KOR) – 53.81
9. Kai Van Westering (NED) – 53.84
10. Jack Aikins (USA) – 53.87
11. Conor Ferguson (IRL) – 53.95
12. Roman Mityukov (SUI) – 54.10 & Ole Braunschweig (GER) – 54.10
13.  –
14. Miroslav Knedla (CZE) – 54.20
15. Kacper Stokowski (POL) – 54.23
16. Oleksandr Zheltiakov (UKR) – 54.24

Heat four was won by Hugo Gonzalez of Spain, who touched in 53.61 for the win. The Cal Bear finished strong over the closing meters, grabbing the win ahead of Ireland’s Conor Ferguson (53.95). Gonzalez and Ferguson were the only two swimmers to crack the 54-second barrier in this heat.

South African Pieter Coetze, who won the 200 back World Junior title in 2022, claimed the win in heat five. He opened the first 50 in 25.53, and never relinquished the lead. He finished the race in a final time of 53.32, touching out Australia’s Bradley Woodward (53.76) and Kai Van Westering of the Netherlands (53.84).

The final heat was taken by Evangelos Makrygiannis (53.43), posting the 2nd fastest time of the morning. American Hunter Armstrong, the top seeded entrant and a 2x Worlds medalist in this event, looked to cruise for most of the heat. He increased his tempo with 15 meters to go, snagging 2nd in 53.66.

Armstrong’s American teammate, Jack Aikins, qualified 10th into the semi-finals with a time of 53.87. World Junior Champion Oleksandr Zheltiakov of Ukraine snuck in, placing 16th this morning in 54.24.

A notable miss was Polish record holder and 2022 World Junior Champion Ksawery Masiuk. He finished 17th this morning, hitting the touchpad in 54.33.

Greece’s Apostolos Christou, who ripped a best time of 52.09 back in 2022, qualified 7th in 53.79.

WOMEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE – HEATS

• World Record: Lilly King, United States – 1:04.13 (2017)
• World Junior Record: Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania – 1:04.35 (2013)
• Championship Record: Lilly King, United States – 1:04.13 (2017)
• 2023 World Champion: Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania – 1:04.62
• Olympic ‘A’ Qualifying Time: 1:06.79, Olympic ‘B’ Qualifying Time: 1:07.12

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Tang Qianting (CHN) – 1:06.16
2. Tes Schouten (NED) – 1:06.46
3. Mona McSharry (IRL) – 1:06.49
4. Alina Zmushka (NIA) – 1:06.77
5. Yang Chang (CHN) – 1:06.80
6. Kotryna Teterevkova (LTU) – 1:06.85
7. Letitia Sim (SGP) – 1:06.97
8. Dominika Sztandera (POL) – 1:07.17
9. Sophie Hansson (SWE) – 1:07.19
10. Benedetta Pilato (ITA) – 1:07.24
11. Sophie Angus (CAN) – 1:07.37
12. Siobhan Haughey (HKG) – 1:07.41
13. Arianna Castigliona (ITA) – 1:07.58
14. Macarena Ceballos (ARG) – 1:07.61 & Lara Van Niekerk (RSA) – 1:07.61
15. –
16. Lisa Mamie (SUI) – 1:07.75

Tes Schouten of the Netherlands grabbed the win in the first circle seeded heat, stopping the clock in a swift 1:06.46. Sweden’s Sophie Hansson (1:07.19) was 2nd in the heat, while Italy’s Arianna Castiglioni (1:07.48) rounded out the top three.

China’s Tang Qianting got off to a fast start in the penultimate heat, splitting 30.64 at the 50m turn before winning in 1:06.16. Ireland’s Mona McSharry (1:06.49) got her hands on the wall for runner-up status, while Yang Chang (1:06.80) of China secured 3rd.

Alina Zmushka secured the final heat win, touching in a final time of 1:06.77. Shockingly, defending champion Ruta Meilutyte (1:07.79) of Lithuania finished 6th in the heat. She seemed to shut it down with 30m to go, and ultimately missed the semi-finals altogether in 17th place.

2022 World Champion Benedetta Pilato (1:07.24) of Italy qualified through in 10th, and has been 1:05 multiple times this season already.

Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong, who claimed the U.S. Open title in this event back in December, advanced in 12th position. Her time of 1:07.41 this morning is about 1.5 seconds shy of her national record from that meet, but look for her to near that mark in the first semi-final tonight.

The 2022 Commonwealth Champion, Lara Van Niekerk of South Africa, finished equal 14th this morning. Her time of 1:07.61 was over two seconds off her best time.

The American representative in this event, Piper Enge, finished 18th this morning in 1:08.14. Australian Abbey Harkin, who helped the Aussies win silver in the women’s 400 medley relay in Fukuoka, touched in 1:09.01 this morning. Harkin’s swim ranks her 25th overall, meaning she will not advance.

MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – HEATS

• World Record: Paul Biedermann, Germany – 1:42.00 (2009)
• World Junior Record: David Popovici, Romania – 1:42.97 (2022)
• Championship Record: Paul Biedermann, Germany – 1:42.00 (2009)
• 2023 World Champion: Matthew Richards, Great Britain – 1:44.30
• Olympic ‘A’ Qualifying Time: 1:46.26, Olympic ‘B’ Qualifying Time: 1:46.79

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Lukas Märtens (GER) – 1:45.74
2. Rafael Miroslaw (GER) – 1:45.89
3. Danas Rapsys (LTU) – 1:45.95
4. Duncan Scott (GBR) – 1:46.09
5. Luke Hobson (USA) – 1:46.54
6. Elijah Winnington (AUS) – 1:46.69
7. Kai Taylor (AUS) – 1:46.81
8. Katsuhiro Matsumoto (JPN) – 1:46.84
9. Lucas Henveaux (BEL) – 1:46.93
10. Lee Hojoon (KOR) – 1:46.97
11. Hwang Sunwoo (KOR) – 1:46.99
12. Ji Xinjie (CHN) – 1:47.13
13. Kamil Sieradzki (POL) – 1:47.25
14. Guilherme Costa (BRA) – 1:47.28
15. Felix Auboeck (AUT) – 1:47.30
16. Denis Loktev (ISR) – 1:47.37

Germany clocked the two fastest times of the morning in the 200 free, with Lukas Märtens leading the way. He clocked 1:45.74 for this morning’s top standard, while teammate Rafael Miroslaw (1:45.89) was just a tenth back. Only one other swimmer dipped under 1:46, and it was Lithuania’s Danas Rapsys. Rapsys clocked 1:45.95 to earn lane 5 in the second semi-final tonight, and will have the opportunity to chase his 1:44.38 national record.

The silver medalist in this event from the Tokyo Olympics, Team GB’s Duncan Scott, finished in 1:46.09 for the 4th fastest time of the morning. American Luke Hobson posted a respectable 1:46.54 for 5th, while Australian teammates Elijah Winnington and Kai Taylor posted the 6th and 7th fastest times of the morning. Winnington clocked 1:46.69 and Taylor finished in 1:46.81. Winnington secured silver in yesterday’s 400 free final, while this was Taylor’s first swim in Doha.

Top seed Hwang Sunwoo of Korea qualified through in 11th, posting a sub-1:47 effort of 1:46.99. His teammate, Lee Hojoon (1:46.97), touched just ahead of him for 10th place heading into semi-finals.

Japanese record holder Katsuhiro Matsumoto touched in 1:46.84 for the 8th qualification spot, and may have hopes to challenge his 1:44.65 best from 2021.

China’s Pan Zhanle, who ripped a new world record in the 100 freestyle (46.80) last night, missed tonight’s semi-finals. He finished 38th overall, clocking 1:51.03 to touch 10th in heat six. He owns a best time of 1:44.65 in the event, and was expected to be a major medal contender.

Another notable athlete to miss the semi-finals was Matthew Sates of South Africa. He recorded a time of 1:47.98 this morning, good for 27th overall.

WOMEN’S 1500 FREESTYLE – HEATS

• World Record: Katie Ledecky, United States – 15:20.48 (2018)
• World Junior Record: Katie Ledecky, United States – 15:28.36 (2014)
• Championship Record: Katie Ledecky, United States – 15:25.48 (2015)
• 2023 World Champion: Katie Ledecky, United States – 15:26.27
• Olympic ‘A’ Qualifying Time: 16:09.09, Olympic ‘B’ Qualifying Time: 16:13.94

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Simona Quadarella (ITA) – 16:02.96
2. Isabel Gose (GER) – 16:10.60
3. Li Bingjie (CHN) – 16:13.61
4. Maddy Gough (AUS) – 16:14.48
5. Anastasiia Kirpichnikova (FRA) – 16:14.76
6. Yang Peiqi (CHN) – 16:14.85
7. Eve Thomas (NZL) – 16:16.43
8. Kristel Kobrich (CHI) – 16:16.62

The first of two circle seeded heats saw a big battle between the swimmers in lanes one through six. Those six swimmers were Caitlin Deans (NZL), Eve Thomas (NZL), Maddy Gough (AUS), Anastasiia Kirpichnikova (FRA), Li Bingjie (CHN), and Yang Peiqi (CHN). They all flipped through the first 800 around the 8:40-mark, all within a meter of each other.

At the 1050m turn, Li, Yang, Gough, and Kirpichnikova began to build a gap between the two New Zealand swimmers. Those four flipped within 0.85 of each other at the 1100m turn, and continued to breakaway from the rest of the field. It was Li taking leading duties, with Gough in 2nd place. Kirpichnikova and Yang were swimming stroke for stroke in 3rd and 4th at this stage.

Heading into the final 50, Li was in full control but Kirpichnikova began to challenge Gough for the runner-up spot. Li touched in 16:13.61 for the heat win, Gough took 2nd in 16:14.48, and Kirpichnikova clocked 16:14.76 for 3rd. Yang (16:14.85) and Thomas (16:16.43) were in close pursuit, safely qualifying for the final.

The final heat featured a much faster pace, as Simona Quadarella of Italy flipped through the 800 over ten seconds faster than the previous heat. Quadarella and Germany’s Isabel Gose were in full control of this heat the whole way, with Quadarella maintaining a lead on Gose. Quadarella touched in 16:02.96 for the fastest time of the morning, while Gose hit the wall in 16:10.60.

38-year-old Kristel Kobrich qualified 8th for tomorrow’s final, clocking 16:16.62. American World Junior Champion Kate Hurst finished in 16:17.83, narrowly missing out in 9th.