Record Setting Night for Mao and Zetao in Liaoning

On the fifth day of competition at the 2013 National Games of the People’s Republic of China, or the “Chinese National Games” in Liaoning two Olympic champions fought for the 200 butterfly crown while the men’s events saw two national records fall.

Men’s 200 breaststroke

It was earlier this year that Mao Feilian began concentrating on the 200 breaststroke along with the 200 IM. He experienced his first success in the event at the Chinese Nationals in April where he qualified for the world championships and set a new Chinese record positing a 2:11.16.

This evening Mao added another national title to his collection fighting off a second half charge by Li Xiang. Mao lead the way at the 100 meter mark turning in a time of 1:03.36 with Li more than a second and a half behind hitting the 100 meter wall in a time of 1:05.00. In the final 100 meters Li overtook five swimmers, but did not have enough pool to catch Feilian who finished first in a time of 2:10.25. Li picked up the silver posting a time of 2:10.55.

Both men finished well under Mao’s national record.

Mao – 29.93, 1:03.36, 1:37.18, 2:10.25

Li – 31.30, 1:05.00, 1:37.82, 2:10.55

Xie Zhi finished third in a time of 2:11.25.

Women’s 200 butterfly

Olympic champion Jiao Liuyang and 2013 world champion Liu Zige had an extremely close race battling for the gold in the women’s 200 butterfly. Liu took the race out in a time of 59.77 followed by Jiao who turned in a time of 1:00.37, but it was Jiao who had the backend speed and passed Liu to take the national title in a time of 2:04.54.

Liu finished second in a time of 2:04.78.

Jiao – 28.51, 1:00.37, 1:32.21, 2:04.54

Liu – 28.18, 59.77, 1:31.92, 2:04.78

Jiao’s time would have been good enough for the gold in Barcelona as Liu won the event in a time of 2:04.59. At the world championships Jiao was well off top form finishing sixth in a time of 2:06.65.

Sun Mengyue finished third in a time of 2:07.71.

Men’s 100 freestyle

On the second night of competition in the pool in Liaoning Lu Zhiwu broke both the Asian and Chinese records leading off the 4 x 100 freestyle relay in a time of 48.33. The Asian record of 48.49 had been set by Takuro Fjii of Japan in 2009 while the Chinese record of 48.60 had been set by Ning Zetao in April.

In this evening’s events Ning took back his record winning the event in a time of 48.27. Lu finished second in a time of 48.60.

Sun Yang who has already picked up four gold in the competition added a bronze in the event finishing in a time of 48.94.

Women’s 4 x 200 freestyle relay

The first half of the women’s 4 x 200 freestyle relay was a tight race between Shanghai and Zhejiang. That all changed when Shanghai’s Yi Pang entered the water swimming a split of 1:57.06 out swimming She Junjie of Zhejiang who posted a 1:58.35.

Shanghai won the event in a time of 7:50.50 while Zhejiang finished second in a time of 7:51.47.

The team from Shandong finished third, but were disqualified as Chen Qian left early in the second position of the relay. Liaoning finished third as a result of the disqualification.

Semi-finals

  • It will be anyone’s race in the women’s 100 freestyle as Chen Xinyi qualified first in a time of 54.28 followed by Shen Duo who qualified second in a time of 54.66 while Tang Yi qualified third posting a time of 54.86
  • Zang Fenglin lead the way in the men’s 200 backstroke qualifying with the fastest time of 1:57.43 well ahead of Xu Jiaxu who posted a 1:59.17 and Chen Feiyi who recorded a 2:00.09. The national record of 1:55.59 should be challenged in tomorrow night’s final.
  • The women’s 200 breaststroke is shaping up to be a tight race as He Yun qualified first in a time of 2:27.20 followed by Zhao Jin who recorded a 2:27.80 and Shi Jinglin who posted a 2:28.38
  • In men’s 200 IM Yang Zhixian qualified first in a time of 2:00.89 followed by Wang Shun who qualified second in a time of 2:01.09 and Hao Yun who touched in a time of 2:01.44

Medal Standings:

 
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Total
Zhejiang
11
2
2
15
Shanghai
3
4
4
11
Shanxi
3
0
0
3
Army
2
3
3
8
Yunnan
1
0
0
1
Hibei
0
4
1
5
Liaoning
0
3
1
4
Hunan
0
1
3
4
Henan
0
1
2
3
Jiangsu
0
1
0
1
Beijing
0
0
2
2
Shandong
0
0
1
1
Tanjin
1
1

 

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aswimfan
10 years ago

Speaking about free versatility,
IN NSW open titles last year, over three days, Tae Hwan Park went:

22.74
49.65
1:46.78
3:45.57
14:47.38
(the 22.74 and 14:47 were done within half hour).

Can’t wait for people to quickly change again and declare post 2016 that Horton is the most versatile freestyler ever.
Such a very short memory that people have.

Philip Johnson
Reply to  aswimfan
10 years ago

That 50 and 100 time … that is the definition of range.

john26
10 years ago

One also has to consider that Sun loses half a second off the start, and probably more to the pure sprinters. Give him a decent turn, and we’re probably speculating that Sun can chop over a second off that 100m time. If he ever wants to drop the 1500, he has options elsewhere.

Reply to  john26
10 years ago

Maybe i am wrong, but i still believe the best times of Sun Yang are still to come.We will see.

aswimfan
Reply to  DDias
10 years ago

Obviously, I do think Sun Yang will get faster in 400 and shorter, but he is on borrowed time to get faster in 800 and 1,500

Yangvsagnel300m
10 years ago

A sub 49 100 probably makes him the most versatile. I’d maybe wait until (if) he passes thorpe for 3rd all time in the 200, or maybe a 48 mid would do it. Best ever at 1500 and 800. 2nd in the 400 and 5th in the 200 so far I think( angel is 1st, phelps is 2nd, thorpe 3rd and lochte 4th I think)

aswimfan
Reply to  Yangvsagnel300m
10 years ago

Sun Yang is the most versatile freestyler ever?

Try googling Shane Gould.

People do have very short memory.

mcgillrocks
Reply to  aswimfan
10 years ago

pshhh, Charles Daniels held every WR from 25 to mile in 1908

aswimfan
Reply to  mcgillrocks
10 years ago

True, but Charles Daniels didn’t win medals in all freestyle events at the olympics (didn’t even qualify to represent USA in 880 yards in 1904 St. Louis even with only very few competitors).

Meanwhile, Shane Gould not only held all free WRs at the same time, but she also medaled in ALL free events in 1972 Munich.

Caleb Crann
10 years ago

With this I have to say it cements Sun as one of the most versatile freestyle swimmers of all time!

john26
Reply to  Caleb Crann
10 years ago

I’d wait until he breaks his eminent milestones in the 200 and 400, and 48.50 in the 100free. His time will come

Rafael Teixeira
10 years ago

Now Sun has some amazing times across everything

Sub-49 100 free
1:44 200 free
3:40 400 free
7:38 800 Free
14:31 1500 free

Philip Johnson
Reply to  Rafael Teixeira
10 years ago

Park still has him beat in the 50 and 100 distances … for now.

Rafael Teixeira
Reply to  Philip Johnson
10 years ago

I know park 100.. what are Sun and park 50 times?

Philip Johnson
Reply to  Rafael Teixeira
10 years ago

Don’t think there’s any official 50 free time for Sun. I believe Park has gone 22 something.

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Jeff is a 500 hour registered yoga teacher who holds diplomas in Coaching (Douglas College) and High Performance Coaching (National Coaching Institute - Calgary). He has a background of over 20 years in the coaching profession, where he has used a unique and proven teaching methodology to help many achieve their …

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