The start lists are up for day 2 of the Duel in the Pool. Check them out on Omegatiming.com at this link. We’ll do a quick preview today, as the start of the meet is only an hour away.
Notably, Missy Franklin will swim back-to-back races (something she shyed away from on day 1) with the 200 free followed by the 100 back.
Ryan Lochte will swim the 100 back and 200 IM (but not the 200 free, though he had enough events in his schedule to do so). Lochte is not entered in the American 400 free relay, meaning that the country’s biggest swimming star (who is at this meet) will only use 4 of his possible 6 events, including no relays. Peculiar for a made-for-TV event.
The women’s 50 free (very similarly to the women’s 100 free from yesterday) will be the most stacked final on day 2. Natalie Coughlin, Ranomi Krowidjojo, Jessica Hardy, Aleksandra Herasimenia, Fran Halsall, and so on.
Relays
The women’s 400 free relay will actually be identical (order and all) to the medley, save for substituting Jessica Hardy in for Rebecca Soni on the 2nd leg. The Europeans, who have a ton of options, have pulled a bit of an audible in this relay. After Marleen Veldhuis finished last in the 100 free, they’ve pulled her and replaced her with Jeanette Ottesen, who swam very well in the 100 free. I think that was a good choice. This is the relay where the Europeans, throughout the meet, have known that there best chance to win will be. It will be a great end to the women’s portion of the meet, as it should be highly competitive. Based on yesterday’s individual, the Europeans should take this win, unless Franklin does something really special on the anchor. The World Record should hold up, but it will be tight.
| edge | USA | Europe | edge |
| √ | Natalie Coughlin | Jeanette Ottesen | |
| Jessica Hardy | Fran Halsall | √ | |
| Dana Vollmer | Aleksandra Herasimenia | √ | |
| Missy Franklin | Ranomi Kromowidjojo | √ | |
| Winner? | Winner? | √ |
Men
This men’s race should be absolute domination by the Americans, just like we saw in day 1’s medley.
| edge | USA | Europe | edge |
| √ | Matt Grevers | Konrad Czerniak | |
| √ | Garrett Weber-Gale | Adam Brown | |
| Nick Brunelli | Vlad Morozov | √ | |
| √ | Ricky Berens | Kristian Takacs | |
| √ | Winner? | Winner? |
Very tough schedule for Missy. I think she’ll win only one race tonight, the 200 free. In the 100 back she will have a lack of energy against Natalie Coughlin and Elizabeth Simmonds. And in the 4X100 free relay, I think she will start behind. If she was fresh she could swim very fast but with two races in her legs it will be very hard. But Missy is Missy. She’s a special swimmer.
I’m also waiting for the big battle between Lotte Friis and Chloe Sutton in the 800 free.