Fran Halsall of Great Britain opened up the day at the Mediterranean Open in Marseille winning the women’s 100 butterfly in a time of 58.21, but saved her best race for the end of her day putting up a 24.38 to win the women’s 50 freestyle.
Halsall’s 50 freestyle currently ranks second in the world with only Cate Campbell of Australia having swum faster, recording a time of 24.21 at the BHP Billiton Super Series. Halsall is only 17 one-hundredths of a second off her lifetime best of 24.11, which she posted in 2009 in a polyurethane suit.
Her 100 butterfly time also puts her in the top ten in the world rankings landing in the sixth position.
Anna Santamans of France finished second in the 50 freestyle hitting the wall in a time of 25.17 followed by Amy Smith of Great Britain who finished third in a time of 25.51.
In the 100 butterfly Rachel Kelly of Great Britain collected the silver in a time of 59.58 followed by Spaniard Judit Ignacio Sorribes who finished in a time of 1:00.37.
Jazz Carlin of Great Britain won the 400 freestyle in a time of 4:05.56, finishing two full seconds ahead of Mireia Belmonte of Spain who hit the wall in a time of 4:07.62. Charlotte Bonnet of France, who got the best of Carlin on day one in the women’s 200 freestyle, finished third in a time of 4:09.89.
With that time Carlin puts herself in the third position in the world rankings, while Belmonte’s time is good enough for fifth.
In the final women’s event of the evening Belmonte took the 200 IM in a time of 2:14.04. She was challenged by Bonnet who finished second in a time of 2:14.91. Fantine Lesaffre of France finished second in a time of 2:16.01.
James Guy of Great Britain destroyed the field in the men’s 400 freestyle winning the event by over seven second. Guy posted a lifetime best taking the event in a time of 3:47.75, beating the time of 3:47.86 that he recorded at the World Championships last summer. His time also ranks him fourth in the world.
Guy’s British teammate Robbie Renwick finished in second recording a time of 3:54.81 he was followed by Jay Lelliott who hit the wall in a time of 3:55.17.
Mehdy Metella of France won the men’s 100 butterfly in a time of 52.95. His times ties Australian Tommaso D’Orsogna for the sixth place position in the world rankings. Adam Barrett of Great Britain finished second in a time of 53.41 followed by Daniel Steen Andersen of Denmark who posted a time of 53.88.
Andy Weatheritt of Great Britain just out touched Giacomo Perez Gortona of France to win the men’s 50 breaststroke in a time of 28.12. Perez Dortona finished second hitting the wall in a time of 28.19 followed by Joseph Welstead of Great Britain who finished third in a time of 28.73.
In the women’s event Jessica Vall Montero of Spain took gold in a time of 32.35. Carmella Kitching of France finished second posting a time of 32.88 followed by Julie Cartier of France who recorded a time of 33.31.
Full results can be found here
Again, it’s Marseille without s at the end.
Halsall’s only problem is that she is giving away 7cm to Ranomi and 14cm to Cate. At 172cm she is small for a sprinter as well as being a slight build, 59kg is nothing for a woman who is focussing on sprint freestyle/fly. Her talent is supreme, I said last year, is Halsall can improve that start, 23. beckons for her, in my opinion.
Nice time from James Guy. What are the chances of Guy vs Horton in Glasgow? They are looking increasingly like the next very fast male freestylers.
The British invasion continues! 🙂
They swim crazy fast for a simple training meet.
I don’t know if they have their trials soon but it’s look like they are very well rested.
Florent Manaudou doesn’t swim this weekend. He has the flu. His next and final meet before the French championships is in 2 weeks in Sabadell.
The “british” will not have trials, because the “british” will not participate in the commonwealth games.
Instead, Wales, England, Scotland will compete.