Day 1 “swimming” prelims of the 2013 FINA World Championships are in the can. As expected Sun Yang cruized to 3:44 in the men’s 400 free, Katie Ledecky controlled the women’s 400, and Roland Schoeman–the elder speed master–warmed our hearts qualifying first in the 50 butterfly.
But it was another old statesman of the sport that wowed us this morning in Barcelona, Anthony Ervin.
Ervin dropped a 47.38 on the men’s 4×100 freestyle relay. Ervin flew 2nd on the prelim US Team relay after Jimmy Feigen’s leadoff (48.39). Berens was 3rd off the blocks splitting an impressive 47.56, and Conor Dwyer anchored in 48.36.
The web has been buzzing with predictions over who will win the 2013 World Crown in the men’s 4×100 free relay. Most fans put little stock in Team USA’s chances for gold, particularly after a sleepy and slow US World Trials in the men’s 100 free, where Nathan Adrian won in 48.10, followed Feigen’s 48.24, Ervin’s 48.49, and Ryan Lochte’s 48.58.
Swim coaches and swim analysts will tell you a proper flying relay start should give you a time .6 to .7 tenths faster than your flat start. That would’ve put Ervin in the 47.8-9 range stepping and swinging his arms into a relay leg. Off Ervin’s US World Trials 100 free (48.49), his 47.38 is a 1.1 second improvement, and Berens’ 47.56 relay split this morning is also a 1.1 second improvement over his 48.68 US Trials time.
PRELIM MEN’S 4×100 FREE RELAY RESULTS: USA – 3:11.69, RUSSIA – 3:12.43, AUSTRALIA – 3:13.04, FRANCE – 3:14.01
Prelims are prelims, however, forgotten after the big show, the final. SwimSwam readers know this, and many, while perhaps rethinking their top 3 picks for the 4×100 free relay final, are sticking to their guns, calling Russia and/or Australia (with star James Magnussen in the batter’s box) to win the World Championship. Moreover, a second debate is developing over who will swim on the 4×100 free realy final (as many countries keep their top talent fresh for the medal race). Here’s what a “few” are saying this morning after the prelim relay results came in:
LIQUIDASSETS
Great 47.3 for Ervin, solid 47.5 for Berens, Feigen lead off at 48.3 and Dwyer anchored with the same. Adrian, Ervin, Feigen, 3 choices for 4th spot: Berens, Lochte, or Grevers?? I’d say Berens.
WHOKNOWS
Berens was .07 on relay exchange…. but had great leg of the race…. Ervin really pulled off a great swim!
DON
Looks like Feigen and Ervin tonight.
ERVINFORTHEWIN
He (Anthony Ervin) was hungry to be part of that relay and happy he did a fast split . The question is : What will Adrian split ( for his first race of the meet) and in which position ? this is gonna be exciting tonight .
HKSWIMMER
Given Beren’s swim – I would say he’s got a very strong claim to be that 4th leg swimmer. The choice by the US coaches will be a really interesting decision – especially given that Ervin’s undoubtedly sealed his place on that relay tonight. Going out in a 21.74 is ballsy – but I’m even more glad that he managed to keep it together coming home. I remember him talking about hoping that he would get a relay start instead of a lead-off swim – looks like the prophecy has come true.
With these swims I fear for my picks. I put Russia in first, but I actually backed Rus->Aus->Fra->USA. No way the US doesn’t medal. I fear for France, even though they have a lot of room for improvement in the final with 3 new people coming in.
Amaury Leveaux was disgraceful leading off. 49.1! Bobo you’re right about the hamburgers…
BOURDAIS
Gilot was okay, the rest of the French were quite merde. Expected more out of Meynard. The Australians in general have also been disappointing so far, McKeon and Barratt were the clear number two ranked swimmers in the 400m, but both missed the final by a big margin. And the Australian men and women were average in the relays, especially the men. Roberts with a 48.57 leadoff, I hope he is holding something in for the final but this isn’t usually the case for him. Targett was underwhelming as well.
Predicting RUS – USA – AUS – FRA
BOBO GIGI
Well, I’ve just watched the prelims and I’m back to comment them. Very interesting first session. We have already learned many things for the rest of the week. My dear American friends, you can wake up!!!! You can can be happy! Most of your swimmers, unlike Australians and French, have been really good.
ZANNA
The American Men’s Relay has a deep field. Better than most people expected. Everybody is out to prove themselves and win that gold! Lochte and Grevers already has multiple events which they should save their energy for. Ervin a true sprinter and Berens is going all out after a disappointing trials. With Adrian and Fiegen, they are great contenders for that gold! Go USA!
SEE 109 COMMENTS IN THE PREVIOUS 4X100 FREE RELAY DEBATE HERE.
Adrian – 47.5 or whatever it takes to be in lead.
LOCHTE – 47.2 with some excitement and likely be in the lead – plus redemption Pts…
Ervin – 47.2 swims an even more controlled race now that he knows what he is capable of!
Feign – 47.5 relay Baus from Texas won’t let us down. Will be a big opportunity to show he can contend with intl. big boys finally.
Why Lochte over Berens after this morning?!
Omega timing lists Adrian, Lochte, Ervin and Fiegen. Is that the team or likely to change?
That’s gotta be it.
I’d actually be OK with Lochte getting a spot on the relay tonight.
1) He hasn’t swam anything yet, so he won’t be too sapped already from multiple rounds of 4 IMs or anything.
2) I had been expecting his 100s to be pretty good this year, given he hasn’t been training as much.
3) If he does suck again, just more things to yell at Ryan Lochte about. And that’s never a bad thing, I don’t think.
Between the Olympics last year and the times they threw down this morning I don’t wanna see lochte anywhere near this race tonight
I don’t want to see Lochte on any relay after London, but I agree he would have swam this am if his spot was in question. Lochte should lead off and he NEEDS to be sub 48. Ervin (47.3) Berens (47.5) and Adrian (46.85) is the best we have. GO USA!!!
If Lochte is on the relay you just about have to have him lead off. I think his relay take off would be the worst of the bunch. And I think it would be best to put a heck of a lot of pressure on him. Berens second. I like Ervin third and Adrian in the cleanup position.
for the record from Sydney 2000:
SILVER – USA, 3:13.86
Ervin (48.89), Walker, (48.31), Lezak (48.42), Hall Jr. (48.24)