The lineups for the finals relays are out, and the top-seeded Americans have made a pair of swaps in their 400 free relay. Out came Shannon Vreeland and Olivia Smoliga, and on came Jessica Hardy and Megan Romano.
The Americans are apparently refocused on this relay after getting just a bronze in the 400 medley on day 3 of the meet; Romano scratched the 200 backstroke and Hardy scratched the 50 free, both apparently in preparation for these finals swims.
The first three prelims swimmers (with the exception of Smoliga) were almost identical in speed when reacti0n times were accounted for, so this move was probably fairly predetermined. In any case, it was justified based on the morning swims so there shouldn’t be much in the way of complaints from anybody.
The Australians are again keeping the same relay but changing the order for this final women’s relay. They were a full second behind the Americans in prelims, and will have a tough time making up that ground. The Brazilian female sprinters are getting in on the fun too, as they fill fight the Danes for bronze.
US Lineup:
Megan Romano
Jessica Hardy
Lia Neal
Allison Schmitt
Australia Lineup:
Angie Bainbridge
Marieke Guehrer
Brianna Throssell
Sally Foster
Full relay lineups are available here.
Nobody can beat that very strong Us team , specially with Schmitty at the end ! it’s true that Jessica is not really fast since wednesday . The only weak link i think .
Braden,
Brazil fighting for bronze in female 4x100free???hahaha.. the fight will be between China-Russia and the Danes.
I guess you were a tad off on that one other than the Danes getting a bronze.
I would take Vreeland over Hardy. Hardy is not having a good meet and underperformed in relays in the past
can anyone beat the Americans? looks like they have a strong lineup.