Record Setting Night for Mao and Zetao in Liaoning

On the fifth day of competition at the 2013 National Games of the People’s Republic of China, or the “Chinese National Games” in Liaoning two Olympic champions fought for the 200 butterfly crown while the men’s events saw two national records fall.

Men’s 200 breaststroke

It was earlier this year that Mao Feilian began concentrating on the 200 breaststroke along with the 200 IM. He experienced his first success in the event at the Chinese Nationals in April where he qualified for the world championships and set a new Chinese record positing a 2:11.16.

This evening Mao added another national title to his collection fighting off a second half charge by Li Xiang. Mao lead the way at the 100 meter mark turning in a time of 1:03.36 with Li more than a second and a half behind hitting the 100 meter wall in a time of 1:05.00. In the final 100 meters Li overtook five swimmers, but did not have enough pool to catch Feilian who finished first in a time of 2:10.25. Li picked up the silver posting a time of 2:10.55.

Both men finished well under Mao’s national record.

Mao – 29.93, 1:03.36, 1:37.18, 2:10.25

Li – 31.30, 1:05.00, 1:37.82, 2:10.55

Xie Zhi finished third in a time of 2:11.25.

Women’s 200 butterfly

Olympic champion Jiao Liuyang and 2013 world champion Liu Zige had an extremely close race battling for the gold in the women’s 200 butterfly. Liu took the race out in a time of 59.77 followed by Jiao who turned in a time of 1:00.37, but it was Jiao who had the backend speed and passed Liu to take the national title in a time of 2:04.54.

Liu finished second in a time of 2:04.78.

Jiao – 28.51, 1:00.37, 1:32.21, 2:04.54

Liu – 28.18, 59.77, 1:31.92, 2:04.78

Jiao’s time would have been good enough for the gold in Barcelona as Liu won the event in a time of 2:04.59. At the world championships Jiao was well off top form finishing sixth in a time of 2:06.65.

Sun Mengyue finished third in a time of 2:07.71.

Men’s 100 freestyle

On the second night of competition in the pool in Liaoning Lu Zhiwu broke both the Asian and Chinese records leading off the 4 x 100 freestyle relay in a time of 48.33. The Asian record of 48.49 had been set by Takuro Fjii of Japan in 2009 while the Chinese record of 48.60 had been set by Ning Zetao in April.

In this evening’s events Ning took back his record winning the event in a time of 48.27. Lu finished second in a time of 48.60.

Sun Yang who has already picked up four gold in the competition added a bronze in the event finishing in a time of 48.94.

Women’s 4 x 200 freestyle relay

The first half of the women’s 4 x 200 freestyle relay was a tight race between Shanghai and Zhejiang. That all changed when Shanghai’s Yi Pang entered the water swimming a split of 1:57.06 out swimming She Junjie of Zhejiang who posted a 1:58.35.

Shanghai won the event in a time of 7:50.50 while Zhejiang finished second in a time of 7:51.47.

The team from Shandong finished third, but were disqualified as Chen Qian left early in the second position of the relay. Liaoning finished third as a result of the disqualification.

Semi-finals

• It will be anyone’s race in the women’s 100 freestyle as Chen Xinyi qualified first in a time of 54.28 followed by Shen Duo who qualified second in a time of 54.66 while Tang Yi qualified third posting a time of 54.86
• Zang Fenglin lead the way in the men’s 200 backstroke qualifying with the fastest time of 1:57.43 well ahead of Xu Jiaxu who posted a 1:59.17 and Chen Feiyi who recorded a 2:00.09. The national record of 1:55.59 should be challenged in tomorrow night’s final.
• The women’s 200 breaststroke is shaping up to be a tight race as He Yun qualified first in a time of 2:27.20 followed by Zhao Jin who recorded a 2:27.80 and Shi Jinglin who posted a 2:28.38
• In men’s 200 IM Yang Zhixian qualified first in a time of 2:00.89 followed by Wang Shun who qualified second in a time of 2:01.09 and Hao Yun who touched in a time of 2:01.44

Medal Standings: