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2021 Short Course World Championships: Day 6 Prelims Live Recap

2021 FINA SHORT COURSE SWIMMING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Only 3 relay and 2 individual prelims remain at the 2021 Short Course Swimming World Championships. The 6th morning session in Abu Dhabi, the session will begin with the women’s 4×50 freestyle and will close out with the men’s and women’s 4×100 medleys.

Individually, we’ll see the likes of Radoslaw Kawecki, Christian Diener, and Lorenzo Mora try to hold on to their top spots in the men’s 200 backstroke heats. Then in the women’s 200 breaststroke, the USA’s Emily Escobedo will enter as the top seed, while world junior record holder Evgenia Chikunova and Molly Renshaw remain in the mix.

Check-in below for live results and analysis from day 6 prelims.

Women’s 4×50 Freestyle

  • World Record: 1:32.50 – Netherlands – 12 DEC 2020
  • Championship Record: 1:34.03 – United States – 16 DEC 2018

Top 8:

  1. USA – 1:35.88
  2. Netherlands – 1:36.27
  3. Sweden – 1:36.55
  4. Russia – 1:37.14
  5. China – 1:37.49
  6. France – 1:37.58
  7. Canada – 1:40.45
  8. Hong Kong – 1:40.64

The Americans staked their claim for yet another relay medal in Abu Dhabi with their 1:35.88 prelims swim. They used a fairly stellar lineup in the heats consisting of Katharine Berkoff, Torri Huske, Kate Douglass, and Abbey Weitzeil.

Douglass had the fastest split in the field with a 23.39, while Weitzeil also dipped under 24 in a 23.62. The Netherlands followed the USA with a 1:36.27 and had a duo of sub-24 splits of their own in the form of Tessa Giele (23.95) and Maaike de Waard (23.86).

Sarah Sjostrom opened Sweden’s efforts with a 23.50, which Michelle Coleman followed in a 23.98. Sara Junevik (24.31) and Hanna Rosvall (24.76) closed it out for the Swedes in a 1:36.55 for third overall. The race for 4th was tight during the prelims with Russia, China, and France all hitting a time between 1:37.14 and 1:37.58. Canada was 7th in a 1:40.45 and Hong Kong claimed the final spot with a 1:40.64.

Men’s 200 Backstroke

  • World Record: 1:45.63 – LARKIN Mitchell (AUS) 27 NOV 2015
  • Championship Record: 1:46.68 – LOCHTE Ryan (USA) 19 DEC 2010
  • World Junior Record: 1:48.02 – KOLESNIKOV Kliment (RSF) 13 DEC 2017

Top 8:

  1. Shaine Casas (USA) – 1:49.82
  2. Jan Cejka (CZE) – 1:50.50
  3. Yohann Ndoye-Brouard (FRA) – 1:50.71
  4. Christian Diener (GER) – 1:51.06
  5. Lorenzo Mora (ITA) – 1:51.58
  6. Antoine Herlem (FRA) – 1:51.93
  7. Armin Evert Lelle (EST) – 1:52.30
  8. Radoslaw Kawecki (POL) – 1:52.35

100 backstroke champion Shaine Casas was back for more in the 200 backstroke prelims, throwing down a 1:49.82 to win heat 3. Casas was entered low down in the psych sheets with his long course PB of 1:55.79, meaning that this is a major PB for him. He swam alongside the second seed heading into the final Jan Cejka who posted a new Czech record of 1:50.50. He held the former mark at a 1:51.20 from just a few weeks ago at the 2021 Slovak Cup.

France got two men into the final here in Yohann Ndoye Brouard and Antoine Herlem who were 3rd in a 1:50.71 and 6th in a 1:51.93, respectively. Brouard was a touch faster than Christian Diener who swam a 1:51.06 to trail his second-seeded entry time of 1:49.04.

Top seed Radoslaw Kawecki was just 0.13 seconds away from missing out on the final with his 1:52.35 (Hugo Gonzalez was 9th in a 1:52.47). Filling out tonight’s final will be Italy’s Lorenzo Mora in 5th (1:51.58) and Armin Evert Leller in 7th (1:52.30).

Women’s 200 Breaststroke

  • World Record: 2:14.57 – SONI Rebecca (USA) 18 DEC 2009
  • Championship Record: 2:16.08 – PEDERSEN Rikke Moller (DEN) 16 DEC 2012
  • World Junior Record: 2:17.71 – CHIKUNOVA Evgeniia (RSF) 21 DEC 2019

Top 8:

  1. Evgeniia Chikunova (RSF) – 2:19.56
  2. Sophie Hansson (SWE) – 2:20.31
  3. Molly Renshaw (USA) – 2:23.33
  4. Francesca Fangio (ITA) – 2:20.53
  5. Emily Escobedo (USA) – 2:21.30
  6. Tessa Cieplucha (CAN) – 2:21.35
  7. Kristyna Horska (CZE) – 2:21.59
  8. Mona McSharry (IRL) – 2:21.59

Evgeniia Chikunova has been a 200 breaststroke elite for a number of years, having set the world junior record at a 2:17.71 back in 2019. She lowered that mark earlier this year to a 2:16.88 at the European Championships. She led the way in the prelims with a 2:19.56 but could be in for a big swim tonight in lane 4.

The race for third is tight here considering that Sophie Hansson, Molly Renshaw, and Francesca Fangio all hit 2:20s. Hansson was a 2:20.31, Renshaw a 2:20.33, and Fangio a 2:20.53. Fangio earned bronze a few weeks ago at European Championships with a 2:19.69 to Chikunova (2:16.88) and Maria Temnikova (2:18.45).

Top seed Emily Escobedo fell to 5th here with a 2:21.30, which is slower than her entry time of 2:16.51. She narrowly out-swam Canada’s Tessa Cieplucha who posted a 2:21.35 for 6th here. Cieplucha will be on the hunt for her second medal of the meet following her 400 IM victory on day 1.

Kristyna Horska and Mona McSharry will round out the final, having both hit a 2:21.59 for 7th place. Notable names who missed the final were Euros silver medalist Mariia Temnikova (9th), 100 breaststroke champion Tang Qianting (12th), and Melanie Margalis (13th).

Men’s 4×100 Medley

  • World Record: 3:19.16 – Russian Federation – 20 DEC 2009
  • Championship Record: 3:19.98 – United States – 16 DEC 2018

Top 8:

  1. Russia – 3:25.01
  2. Italy – 3:25.58
  3. USA – 3:25.97
  4. Brazil – 3:26.30
  5. Netherlands – 3:27.26
  6. France – 3:27.52
  7. Norway – 3:27.59
  8. Lithuania – 3:29.18

The Russians didn’t use their A lineup here but still managed to claim the top seed heading into finals. Pavel Samusenko opened things up with a 50.48 backstroke split, which was second only to Guilherme Guido‘s 50.31 for Brazil.

Olympic medalist Nicolo Martinenghi was solid here for Italy, delivering a 56.90 breaststroke split, which helped his team towards their 3:25.58 for second seed in the final. The Americans were third overall courtesy of Hunter Tapp, Will Licon, Trenton Julian, and Zach Apple, but will likely be faster during finals.

Brazil was fourth here, while Arno Kamminga‘s 56.17 breaststroke split aided significantly in the Netherlands’ 3:27.26 effort for 5th overall. France, Norway, and Lithuania rounded out the top 8.

Women’s 4×100 Medley

  • World Record: 3:44.52 – United States – 21 NOV 2020
  • Championship Record: 3:45.58 – United States – 16 DEC 2018

Top 8:

  1. Sweden – 3:52.67
  2. Canada – 3:52.04
  3. Italy – 3:52.68
  4. USA – 3:53.73
  5. Russia – 3:55.15
  6. Netherlands – 3:56.68
  7. Switzerland – 3:56.79
  8. China – 3:57.20

After racing in the 4×50 freestyle prelims, Sarah Sjostrom did not compete in the 4×100 medley relay for Sweden. The Swedes, however, were able to nonetheless pull off a 3:52.67 performance to win their heat and lead the field.

The Canadian women were next in a 3:53.04, led by Kylie Masse in the backstroke who was followed by breaststroker Sydney Pickrem, butterflier Katerine Savard, and freestyler Summer McIntosh. The Canadians have broken several national records this week but will need to go a bit faster in the final in order to crack the 3:48.87 mark from back in 2016.

Italy and the USA were only 0.05 seconds apart from each other with a 3:53.68 and 3:53.73, respectively. Italy got closer to their national record than the Canadians did, training the 2018 mark of 3:51.38 by just over 2 seconds.

Joining that top 4 in the finals will be the Russians, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and China.

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Willswim
2 years ago

I’m not great at conversions; how should I feel about Trent Julian’s 49.25 fly split as it relates to Cal’s chances to beat Texas, Florida, Louisville, or Indiana in the 400 medley relay at NCAAs?

Ol' Longhorn
2 years ago

Man, the 200 back is such a leg killer and on the last day here and at NCAAs. At least Casas knows what he’s in for.

Noah
2 years ago

Lots of athletes with doubles and triples tonight

Tomek
2 years ago

Huske swam 58.81 fly leg in medley relay, it looks like all this racing is catching up with her

Last edited 2 years ago by Tomek
Njones
Reply to  Tomek
2 years ago

Someone said something similar about Maggie 😉
I’m thinking they know how much room they have to cruise in relay prelims as top 8 not difficult.

Troyy
Reply to  Njones
2 years ago

I’m not sure the gamble that MacNeil took in the 100 fly heats was wise. She could very easily have been left in the heats given she only qualified by 0.26s. There’s no way she intended to cut it that close.

Daaaave
Reply to  Troyy
2 years ago

I sort of respect you slowly bleeding out on this hill after getting put on absolute blast on SwimSwam insta.

Troyy
Reply to  Daaaave
2 years ago

Well I don’t even follow Swimswam insta. So I guess the take away from the comments on insta is that MacNeil intended to scrape into the semis by 0.26s.

Last edited 2 years ago by Troyy
Troyy
Reply to  Daaaave
2 years ago

I don’t even follow this site on insta. My take away from the insta replies is that progressing to the semis by only 0.26s was part of her masterplan and exactly as intended.

Last edited 2 years ago by Troyy
Hodbsosn
Reply to  Troyy
2 years ago

It’s odd that people havent noticed that Maggie never tries in prelims… look at the progression in any of her races on an international stage and you will see it.

Tobi
Reply to  Hodbsosn
2 years ago

Exactly let’s reminsce back at the Olympics her time In the semis was 56 flat and she saw 55.59 In the final she swims at her best in the final

anonymous
Reply to  Hodbsosn
2 years ago

She is super pro

Splash
2 years ago

I think the top 3 will be in the same in the final with the teams:
USA (Berkoff, Curzan, Douglass, Weitzeil)
Netherlands (Kromo, Toussaint, De Waard, Busch)
Sweden: (Sjostrom, Coleman, L Hansson, Junevik)

Hodbsosn
Reply to  Splash
2 years ago

Canada went really easy this morning so watch for them.

Splash
Reply to  Hodbsosn
2 years ago

Smith struggles over 50, Savard is a 24 mid, they have to use Sanchez for lead off which means they lose a potential 23 low/mid split.

Andrei Vorontsov
Reply to  Splash
2 years ago

L. Hansson, S. Hansson, S. Sjostrom, M. Coleman

Craig
Reply to  Andrei Vorontsov
2 years ago

I so want them to win.

Splash
Reply to  Andrei Vorontsov
2 years ago

I don’t think Sophie will be on the 4×50 free – she has the 200 breast final and Junevik has a quicker PB (who has also split an impressive 24.00 at Euros).

Mark
Reply to  Splash
2 years ago

I doubt if Busch will swim for the NL team. Guess Giele will be favoured above Busch.

Miguel
Reply to  Splash
2 years ago

I hope Sweden decides to scratch the 4×50 free.. and let the Hansson sisters and Sjöström focus in the individual event (all strong contenders to medal) and then go all in for the medley relay.

Splash
2 years ago

Douglass on heats, suggesting they will see her time to compare to Escobedo’s individual.

Noah
Reply to  Splash
2 years ago

Douglass split 1:05.0, that should put her in finals IMO.

Splash
Reply to  Noah
2 years ago

Escobedo swam 1:04 in the semis from a flat start though but she does have the 200

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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