The Montpellier Open in Montpellier, France was a fairly low-key, low-level meet. That is, except for the 200 freestyles, where the powerful teams from Nice and Marseilles broke out some impressive mid-season swims.
With the Olympic Trials coming up in March, most of these swimmers are likely putting in big workloads to finish off their work before they begin to taper, which puts these swims in a very positive perspective.
Yannick Agnel took top honors in the men’s race with a strong 1:46.94. That sits second in the world early this season just a tenth behind Sun Yang’s swim in Australia last weekend. Though that seems to be a blazing-fast time (and really, it is a good swim) it’s about four-tenths slower than he was at this same meet last year. Finally healthy for a full season, he’s going to be strong at Trials, and don’t be surprised if he grabs an individual spot in the 100 free to go with his 200/400 freestyles as well.
The runner-up in the race was Clement Lefert, who gave up a potential final season of eligibility at USC to train for and compete-at the French Olympic Trials. Thus far the decision is paying off for him big-time: his 1:47.84 here sits a tenth-of-a-second behind a pair of swims from the World University Games as the 3rd-best time of his career. He hasn’t historically had a huge taper, but should be lined up to break into a 1:46 at French Trials.
Gregory Mallet was 3rd in 1:48.76.
On the women’s side, Camille Muffat put up a huge 1:56.57 for a dominant, four-second win. Like her teammate Agnel, that swim ranks her 2nd in the world this season. Her challenge is that she’s always very fast in-season. The runner-up was up-and-coming 16-year old Charlotte Bonnet in 2:00.26. That’s within a second of her best flat-start time, but she was a relay-only swimmer in Shanghai last summer where she split a 1:58-flat in finals for France’s 800 free relay.
In the men’s 50 fly, Agnel and Lefert again squared-off, but this time it was the elder Lefert who took the title in 24.35. He’s been a very good butterflier in short course, but he has largely avoided the events in long course. With the French looking for an medley-relay 100 butterflier, however, take this 50 as a sign that he might be gunning for that spot at Trials.
In the 50 fly, Dutch swimmer Inge Dekker (who trains in France with Marseilles) won in 26.39. That’s the 5th-best swim in the world this year, though only the 2nd-best by Dekker. Camille Muffat showed nice versatility to take 2nd in 26.72.
I agree, France has some good depth in the 200. Aside from Lochte and Phelps I don’t know how strong we are in the 200 because of the different traing/racing stratagies of the swimmers that are being talked about for the relay spots. And don’t forget about the Chinese, those 400 times are scary fast and I gotta think they are going to throw done some incredible 200 times. The French aren’t to shabby when it comes to the 400 either.
Muffat swimming superb. However, cant remember her posting best times in a major champs. I would not be shocked if that ended up her best 400fr time of the year, although I expect her to drop time, not much however.
Pellegrini must be looking to improve on last year and go towards the 4.01 barrier and Adlington opened her season last weekend with a 4.06.80 at Zonal’s……Nearly 2 seconds faster than the same meet last year.
It looks like Muffat wants to bring the 400m free title back to France this summer. Isn’t it amazing what Laure did for that event in France? She came up and showed that French women can beat the best in the world, and now you’ve got Muffat, Balmy, and Cyrielle-Etienne knocking at the door of her records.
I think France is realizing they have a serious shot at an Olympic medal in the men’s 800 free, and it’s pushing up the level of competition domestically. When is the last time you saw sub 1:49 in the 200 free from anyone other than Agnel in a regional meet? Looks like leaving Trojan was a great move for Lefert.
Camille Muffat broke her PB in the 400 free in 4.03.21
Hard to see Agnel getting past Meynard and Gilot in the 100. I don’t think Mallet or Lefert beat him in the 200, though their performances are promising for the relay. Stravius has split 1:45 for two years, so he could push into 1:44 range. However the 200 free comes right before the 100 back.
Agnel will not be able to qualify top 2 in his current form. Although, I believe he could have a 48.3 or lower if he brings himself in 145 shape. Also, its not inconceivable for 1 or 2 French swimmers to beat him in the 200 given their improvement in recent years. Stravius is definitely a 145 swimmer at his best.
clement lefert is training in nice until london . camille muffat said in a radio interview this week that she and the ONN TEAM won’t be fully taped at the french trials because all they have to do is to swim like now to qualify because they are swimming allready the times they have to swim at the trials and they they would have to finish in the 2 FIRST places in finals . In the montpelier meet their goal is to achieve the qualifying time without taper .
Is Lefert training at Trojan or is he back at ONN with Agnel and Muffat?