The final day of competition at the 2011 InterCity Games in China wrapped up this morning with the shortest women’s race and the longest men’s race.
In the girls 50 free, Li Zhesi took the win in 25.17. That ties her time from China’s spring National Championship meet, and reaffirms her status as the country’s top 50 freestyler at only 16 years old. Now will be to see if she gets the opportunity to swim it at the Olympics – she was a “DNS” at Worlds.
In the boys 1500, Wang Shun capped a great meet with a win in 14:56.92. That moves him into 8th in the world, and shows that China has much more than just Sun Yang in the distance freestyles. Speaking of which, it was in this very race at this same meet in 2007 when a 15-year old Sun Yang first caught the world’s attention, and he wasn’t as fast as Wang was in this race. Foreshadowing?
Day 8 Medalists
Girls 50 free
Li Zhesi 25″17
Yao Jianan 25″69
Ye Shiwen 25″75
Boys 1500 free
Wang Shun 14’56″92
Li Yunqi 15’08″98
Wang kecheng 15’20″14
Girls 4×100 MR
Zhengzhou 4’05″30
Shanghai Minhang 4’10″32
Guangzhou 4’10″89
Boys 4×100 MR
Guangzhou 3’42″25
Zhengzhou 3’44″61
Shanghai Minhang 3’45″89
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Li’s DNS in Worlds was a sacrifice for the relay heat since she’s the 2nd best Chinese in the women’s 100m free. She did a non-textile 54.35pb in 4×100 free, just behind Tang Yi’s 54.08. I kinda hoped she could break Le Jingyi’s 17-year-old Asian record (24.51) this year. Maybe next year then.
I think China is building depth in distance freestyle. In addition to the established Sun and now Wang Shun, others like Dai Jun and Zu Lijun may be stepping up in 1500m free next year. We’ll aslo see a better Jiang Haiqi and Pu Wenjie (on 1:48 at National Youth championships in June) next year.
Is it bad that I read the head line and immediately thought of this:
http://youtu.be/BoXu6QmxpJE
HAHA! I’m glad somebody else thought of that…