2017 FRENCH ELITE LONG COURSE NATIONALS
- Tuesday, May 23 – Sunday, May 28, 2017
- Centre Nautique de Schiltigheim, Strasbourg
- 50-meter course
- Prelims at 9:00 AM / Finals at 5:30 PM
- Televised on beIN SPORTS1 Tue-Fri / beIN SPORTS2 Sat / beIN SPORTS3 Sun
- FINA Qualifying Standards for 2017 Worlds
- Meet Central
- Start Lists
- Results
The 2017 French Elite Long Course Nationals continued this morning in Strasbourg with day 3 prelims. Swimmers gathered to compete in the men’s 200 fly, 100 back, and 800 free, while the women competed in the 50 breast, 200 IM, and 200 free. The fastest 8 seeds in the men’s 800 free haven’t swum yet, as they’ll be racing during the finals session. Read on for highlights from today’s morning session.
In the men’s 100 back prelims, Thomas Avetand and Benjamin Stasiulis were narrowly separated as they raced to the top 2 seed. It should be a good race in the middle of the pool tonight, as Avetand touched in 54.79 to take lane 4 by just 2 hundredths of a second over Stasilius (54.81). Also in the mix will be Paul-Gabriel Bedel, who qualified 3rd with a 55.17.
Olympic freestyler Charlotte Bonnet led the way through the women’s 200 free prelims. Bonnet, who finaled in this event at the 2016 Rio Olympics, was the only woman to crack the 2:00-barrier this morning. She touched the wall in 1:58.45, finishing well ahead of 2nd seed Margaux Fabre (2:00.16).
Additional Top Seeds:
- Women’s 50 breast- Solène Gallego, 32.29
- Men’s 200 fly- Matthias Marsau, 2:01.12
- Women’s 200 IM- Cyrielle Duhamel, 2:16.86
Did Stravius retire?
Women’s 200 free. 1. Charlotte Bonnet in 1.55.80
The only qualification of the day. Happy to see her swim 1.55 for the first time.
My only concern is that she does it 2 months before worlds. Hopefully she can do it again in Budapest.
Bonnet 1:55.8 The best two swims so far at French Trials were done by Nice swimmers! I am surprised more swimmers don’t train there….great tradition with Fabrice (Agnel at his best and Muffat). Maybe many French don’t really want to put in the work it takes to be World Class????
Look at the Spanish case. Only a few swimmers are training with French coach Fred Vergnoux, among them Mireia Belmonte. Top level is very hard. Vergnoux, for example, only wants swimmers concentrating exclusively on swimming. People are not ready for that.
Men’s 100 back. 1. Benjamin Stasiulis in 54.79
The favorite has won this time but he’s far from the required time.
No qualification.
One female favorite has won so far with Lesaffre. Stasiulis 1st male favorite of the day to win but he’s 1.52 s off his PB. To be fair it was done in 2009 with the magical suit.
Yes, Stasiulis’s time about what’s expected considering his form of the last few years. Disappointing from Avetand considering his morning time. So Stasiulis as a relay swimmer assuming they qualify? Bouchaut and Joly underwhelming in the 800, good result for Olivier about whom I don’t know much.
Lesaffre with a slight PB in the 200 im which is good. Sadly a bit outside the QT still…
And. Fine swim by Bonnet to indeed nail that 1:55 for the first time. Like you I hope she hasn’t peaked too soon and will be at her best in Budapest. With SS not swimming the 200 she could be in the mix for the minor medals…
If mehtella and the free leg are not 51 low mid and 48 low WI they send a relay?
Hmm..,Ledecky, Pellegrini, McKeon are my steady favorites for 200 free podium at Worlds,
Weird. Mathieu destroys his 200 back PB by 2.92 s in 1.57.04 and drops “only” 0.54 s off his best time in the 100 back. He wins the B-Final in 55.56. Clearly only a 200 back swimmer for the moment. Lack of power and speed.
And the list goes on….
Women’s 200 IM. 1. Fantine Lesaffre in 2.13.58
No qualification
And another bad surprise from the favorite.
Men’s 200 fly. 1. Paul Lemaire in 1.58.05
2. Jordan Coelho in 1.58.07
No qualification.
Only 3 swimmers qualified so far. Geoffroy Mathieu in the men’s 200 back (1.57.04), Anna Santamans in the women’s 50 free (24.71) and Ophélie Muller in the 1500 free (16.24.38).
Women’s 50 breast. 1. Solène Gallego in 31.74 2. Fanny Deberghes in 31.80
No qualification again….
No qualification. No qualification.
I’m afraid of writing the same words until Charlotte Bonnet in the 200 free.