The second and final day of finals at the Flanders Cup in Antwerp was littered with tight races. One of the most exciting came when two heavy weights went head to head in the women’s 200 IM.
At the end of the 2014 season Hungarian Katinka Hosszu won the 200 IM at the European Championships posting a time of 2:08.11 putting her in the top spot in the world rankings. Siobhan-Marie O’Connor of Great Britain took the Commonwealth gold in the event in a time of 2:08.21 which placed her second in the world rankings.
Today in Antwerp the were neck and neck throughout the entire race:
- Hosszu – 28.82; 1:02.88 (34.06); 1:40.35 (37.47); 2:10.36 (30.01)
- Siobhan-Marie O’Connor – 28.23; 1:01.93 (33.70); 1:39.62 (37.69); 2:10.84 (31.22)
It was Hosszu who prevailed coming home in a freestyle split of 30.01 touching in a time of 2:10.36. O’Connor finished second in a time of 2:10.84. Aimee Willmott of Great Britain finished third in a time of 2:13.28.
Adam Peaty of Great Britain took the men’s 100 breaststroke in a time of 59.48. This time may not seem extremely impressive since Peaty’s best is a 58.68, but at this meet last year he posted a 1:00.73. Daniel Gyurta of Hungary finished second in a time of 1:00.65. Followed by Craig Benson of Great Britain who recorded a 1:02.07.
The men’s 100 freestyle was decided by only one one-hundredths of a second. Belgian countrymen Pieter Timmers and Jasper Aerents fought right to the end with Timmers finishing on top in a time of 49.27 followed by Aerrents who touched in a time of 49.28.
The Belgians swept the medals in this event as Emmanuel Vanluchene finished third in a time of 49.76.
The men’s 1500 freestyle came down to the touch. Up until the 1400 meter mark it was a three man race between Jay Lelliott, Stephen Milne and Gergely Gyurta. Gyurta was not able to stay with the other two men in the last 100 meters.
Milne had a strong final 100 meters of the race almost catching and surpassing Lelliott who had a lead of one and a half seconds at the 1400 meter mark. Lelliott took the event in a time of 15:15.15 followed by Milne who posted a 15:15.27.
Gyurta finished third in a time of 15:20.28.
Rachel Kelly of Great Britain took the women’s 100 butterfly posting a time of 58.99, only 59 one-hundredths of a second off her best. Anna Ntountounaki of Greece gave her a run for her money finishing second in a time of 59.09.
Kimberly Buys of Belgian finished third in a time of 59.78.
After breaking the Lithuanian national record in the 100 backstroke yesterday Danas Rapsys returned to the pool setting a new meet record in the men’s 200 backstroke posting a time of 1:58.04. Craig McNally of Great Britain finished second in a time of 1:59.11.
Roberto Pavoni and James Guy had a tremendous race in the men’s 400 IM. The two Brits fought to the finish with only six one-hundredths of a second separating the two. Pavoni posted a time of 4:19.56 followed by Guy who recorded a 4:19.61.
Jazz Carlin continued to look very strong winning the women’s 400 freestyle with ease posting a time of 4:10.83. Aimee Willmott picked up her second medal of the evening finishing second in a time of 4:13.14 just ahead of Hannah Miley who touched in a time of 4:13.70.
Ben Proud took the men’s 50 butterfly in a time of 23.66. Laszlo Cseh finished second in a time of 23.86 followed by Adam Barrett who touched in a time of 24.35.
European Championships silver medalist Molly Renshaw took the women’s 200 breaststroke in a time of 2:26.12. She was followed by Hannah Miley who finished in a time of 2:28.00 and Katie Matts who touched in a time of 2:28.29.
Lauren Quigley picked up a win in the women’s 100 backstroke recording a time of 1:00.62. She was followed by British teammate Georgia Davies who recorded a 1:00.98. Hosszu finished third in a time of 1:01.12.
Louis Croenen took the men’s 200 butterfly in a time of 1:57.83. Laszlo Cseh picked up his second silver of the evening finishing in a time of 1:59.08.
Zsuzsanna Jakabos won the women’s 50 freestyle posting a time of 25.97 followed by Flora Molnar who recorded a 26.04 and Chantal Senden who touched in a time of 26.17.
Christopher Walker-Hebborn battled fellow Brit Liam Tancock for the gold. Walker-Hebborn finished in a time of 25.41 followed by Tancock who posted a time of 25.81.
In the final individual event of the evening Sophie Taylor took the women’s 50 breaststroke recording a time of 31.47.
Full results can be found here.
The structure of prize money can be found here.
Interesting:
Hosszu – 28.82; 1:02.88 (34.06); 1:40.35 (37.47); 2:10.36 (30.01)
Siobhan-Marie O’Connor – 28.23; 1:01.93 (33.70); 1:39.62 (37.69); 2:10.84 (31.22)
SMOC was faster on fly/back, Hosszu faster on breast/free. Race strategy always makes the 200 IM more than just the sum of four strokes.