Meili Sneaks Ahead of Efimova and Atkinson in 100 Breast at Dubai WC

FINA WORLD CUP DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

There have been quite a few sprint breaststroke battles at the FINA World Cup Series this fall, primarily between three stalwarts of the discipline: American Katie Meili, Russian Yulia Efimova, and Jamaican Alia Atkinson. Tonight in Dubai, in the 100m breast, it was Meili who found the wall first.

Meili, who trains with SwimMAC Carolina, posted a 1:03.26 to nip Atkinson (1:03.32) and Efimova (1:03.43).

Vladimir Morozov took home two wins tonight. The Russian scored a victory in the 100 free (46.71) over Pieter Timmers (47.14) and then in the 100 IM (51.05). He was challenged in the 50 breast, and gave up the win there to Felipe Lima. Lima took the win in 26.02 to Morozov’s 26.61.

Another swimmer to win two men’s events was South African Chad Le Clos— he took two butterfly events in Dubai. First, Le Clos took the 200 fly, cracking the 1:50 barrier in the process (1:49.71). Japan’s Daiya Seto swam a strong 1:50.73 to take 2nd in that race. Seto came back to win the 400 IM with a 4:00.93, winning by almost four seconds.

In the 50 fly, Le Clos nearly broke the 22.0 second barrier, posting a 22.08 to blow away the field by almost seven tenths.

Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu continued her winning ways, taking four events on the night. She won a close battle in the 200 free with Madeline Groves of Australia, topping Groves 1:54.37 to 1:54.53. Hosszu also dominated the 200 IM with a 2:05.87.

In the 50 back, she was able to touch ahead of Ukrainian Daryna Zevina, 26.35 to 26.57. Hosszu was not able to defeat Zevina in the 200 back, however, as the Ukrainian blasted a 2:00.97 to dominate the competition, including 2nd place Hosszu (2:04.65).

Dane Jeanette Ottesen also got the better of Hosszu, this time in the 100 fly. Ottesen posted a 56.11 for the win over the Iron Lady (56.57). Ottesen also won the 50 free handily with a quick 24.12.

Hosszu, however, was able to return in the 800 free towards the end of the session to take the event with an 8:27.45.

OTHER WINNERS:

  • Belarusian Pavel Sankovich popped a 50.20 to take the men’s 100 back, edging out Bobby Hurley of Australia by nine hundredths.
  • Hurley was able to come back to top the field in the 400 free with a 3:41.94 over Myles Brown of South Africa (3:42.38) and Briton James Guy (3:44.38).
  • Marco Koch of Germany took the men’s 200 breast (2:03.41) over Japan’s Seto (2:05.29) and American Josh Prenot (2:05.66).
  • Russia won the mixed medley relay in 1:40.81, getting a 29.56 breast split from Efimova and a 21.05 anchor from Morozov.

 

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About Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon studied sociology at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, graduating in May of 2018. He began swimming on a club team in first grade and swam four years for Wesleyan.

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