Ranomi Kromowidjojo Gives Full Play-by-Play of Skins Races

2019 INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING LEAGUE: GROUP B, MATCH 1

Reported by Anne Lepesant/Jared Anderson.

WOMEN’S 50 FREE SKINS

ROUND 1 – QUARTERFINAL

  1. Cate Campbell (LON) – 23.83
  2. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (IRO) – 23.85
  3. Emma McKeon (LON) – 24.01
  4. Margo Geer (LAC) – 24.22
  5. Beryl Gastaldello (LAC) – 24.23
  6. Pernille Blume (NYB) – 24.28
  7. Kim Busch (IRO) – 24.54
  8. Catie DeLoof (NYB) – 24.60

The Roar got two women into the final, as the McKeon for Bronte Campbell swap paid dividends. Cate Campbell just out touched Ranomi Kromowidjojo for the top spot, 23.83 to 23.84. McKeon qualified 3rd in 24.01, while Margo Geer make it in by 0.01s over teammate Beryl Gastaldello, 24.22 to 24.23.

London getting two swimmers into the next round is key. LA missed the cut with Gastaldello, though the top three were pretty far ahead. This will be an intriguing case study into exactly how much endurance matters – McKeon is much more of a 200 swimmer than anyone else left – but how much that will help is still somewhat unknown. LA probably needs Geer into the final to have a chance at winning the meet.

ROUND 2 – SEMIFINAL

  1. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (IRO) – 24.09
  2. Emma McKeon (LON) – 24.25
  3. Cate Campbell (LON) – 24.31
  4. Margo Geer (LAC) – 25.08

Kromowidjojo helped out the LA Current big-time, preventing a London 1-2. But McKeon’s endurance really held up – she was better than Cate Campbell in round 2, which is very surprising. Kromowidjojo’s 24.0 was excellent – only a tenth behind Sjostrom’s round 2 swim in Naples.

ROUND 3 – FINAL

  1. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (IRO) – 24.46
  2. Emma McKeon (LON) – 24.79

Kromowidjojo’s start probably made the difference here, as she shot out to the lead immediately, and held off McKeon down the final stretch.

With a 33-14 split over LA, London has probably iced this meet, even without a win from McKeon. Kromowidjojo really proved herself a massive sprint factor here, winning a brutal three-round showdown with no ‘easy’ rounds compared to the field. Iron could win both skins races – they scored 29 here compared to 33 for London and only 14 for LA.

In This Story

3
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

3 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Emily
4 years ago

What is a skins race? I keep seeing this and none of the articles explains what that means…

Admin
Reply to  Emily
4 years ago

Hey Emily, 8 swimmers race a 50. 3 minutes later, the top 4 swim another 50. 3 minutes later, the top 2 swim another 50. Winner of that last 50 takes the title.

The Kraken
4 years ago

LA Current, not LA chargers I believe

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

Read More »