Belmonte On Fire; Ledecky 6th In 400 Freestyle; Europe 68 USA 54 after Day 1 of 2013 Duel in the Pool

In what was one of, if not the most anticipated races of the evening the crowd saw an extremely shocking result. It was not a surprise to see the short course world record holder Mireia Belmonte of Spain hit the wall first, posting a time of 3:57.65, what was shocking was that Olympic and World Champion Katie Ledecky of the USA finished sixth in a time of 4:02.68. This is not to take away from the strong results of Spaniard Melanie Costa who finished second in a time of 3:59.14 followed by her fellow European teammate Lotte Friis of Denmark who posted a time of 4:00.19. The two women along with Belmonte swept the points in the event now putting the European team up 17 points. The score is now Europe 58 USA 41

Women’s 400 IM

The Europeans started the evening by taking the first and second position in the women’s 400 IM. Four time European Short Course Championship gold medalist Mireia Belmonte of Spain lead the race from start to finish winning in a time of 4:24.58, well of her winning time of 4:21.23 from Herning. Hometown favourite Aimee Willmott finished second in a time of 4:26.80 followed by Caitlin Leverenz who posted a time of 4:28.45.

Men’s 400 IM

In what was not a surprise American Connor Dwyer, who came into the event ranked third in the world with a season’s best of 3:59.90 took the event in a time of 4:01.76. He was pushed by his American teammate Chase Kalisz who finished second in a time of 4:02.40. Hungarian David Verraszto made a push in the final 50 meters gaining ground on Kalisz, but fell just short hitting the wall in a time of 4:03.04.

Although Roberto Pavoni finished fourth his time of 4:04.86 is a British best in a textile
suit. That now puts the score at 9 for each side after the 400 IM.

Women’s 100 freestyle

With alternating wins for each team Michelle Coleman of Sweden took the victory for the Europeans in the women’s 100 freestyle posting a time of 52.65. She was followed closely by American Shannon Vreeland who recorded a 52.73 touching out her teammate Olivia Smoliga who hit the wall in a time of 52.74. That now puts the score at 14 for the Europeans and 13 for the USA.

Men’s 100 freestyle

The Europeans have now taken two events in a row as Yannick Agnel of France recorded a 47.13 to take the men’s 100 freestyle with his teammate Adam Brown of Great Britain who
touched in a time of 47.24. American Anthony Ervin captured the final scoring position posting a time of 47.36. None of the times put up in the event would rank in the world’s top 10.

The score is now Europe 22 USA 14.

Women’s 200 backstroke

The Europeans have now begun to separate themselves from the Americans after capturing the last three events. Ukrainian Daryna Zevina dominated the women’s 200 backstroke winning in a time of 2:01.62, three seconds ahead of her European teammate Simona Baumrtova of the Czech Republic who finished second in a time of 2:04.62. Zevina was off of her world’s number one ranked time of 2:00.81 which she posted at the World Cup in Berlin. American Kathleen Baker finished third posting a time of 2:05.08.

The score is now Europe 30 USA 15

Men’s 200 backstroke

In the men’s 200 backstroke as expected American Eugene Godsoe used his speed to gain an advantage at the beginning of the race while Olympic champion Tyler Clary began to make up ground and passed his American teammate by the 150 meter mark. Godsoe did not go away easily though as he once again took over the lead winning the event in a time of 1:52.14,  followed by Clary who posted a time of 1:52.27.

German Yannick Lebherz finished third in a time of 1:53.41.

The score is now Europe 31 USA 23

Women’s 200 breaststroke

And the battle is on as the Americans have now almost made up their point deficit finishing in the top two spots in the last two races. In the women’s 200 breaststroke the two American women, Micha Lawrence and Breeja Larson separated themselves from the pack by the first 100 meters with Lawrence turning in a time of 1:07.06 followed by Larson who hit the wall with a time of 1:07.89. The next fastest swimmer at the halfway mark was Petra Chocova of the Czech
Republic who turned in a time of 1:09.17. Lawrence then pulled away from Larson eventually winning the event in a time of 2:19.15. Larson finished second in a time of 2:22.20 followed by
Sophie Allen of Great Britain who finished third posting a time of 2:23.36.

The score is now Europe 32 USA 31

Men’s 200 breaststroke

Marco Koch of Germany was out like a shot turning at the 100 meter mark almost half a second ahead of the rest of the field turning in a time of 58.79. Koch did his best to hold on to that lead, but much to the crowd’s delight hometown favourite Michael Jamieson of Great Britain managed to get his hands on the wall just ahead of Koch winning the event in a time of 2:01.83 with Koch finishing second in a time of 2:01.90.

Both men were just off their own national records as Jamieson set the British mark of 2:01.43 at the European Championships and Koch recorded his German mark of 2:01.62 at the same competition. American Kevin Cordes finished third in a time of 2:02.83. With that time Cordes takes down Ed Moses 2004 American record of 2:02.91.

The score is now Europe 40, USA 32.

Women’s 100 butterfly

The women’s 100 butterfly was a tight battle for the top spot and then again for the final scoring position. Jeanette Ottesen of Denmark and Claire Donahue of the USA had a battle right to the finish, with the Dane posting a winning time of 56.78 five one-hunderdths of a second ahead of the American who recorded a time of 56.83.

The fight for third between American Kendyl Stewart and Fran Halsall of Great Britain was just as close with Stewart touching out Halsall by five one-hundredths of a second finishing in a time of 57.63 followed by Halsall who put up a time of 57.68.

Men’s 100 butterfly

The top ranked swimmer in the world dominated this race from start to finish. American Tom Shields, who posted a 48.80 won the men’s 100 butterfly by almost two full seconds posting a time of 49.80. He was followed by Serbian teammates Ivan Lendjer and Velimir Stjepanovic who were only separated by one one-hundredths of a second with Lendjer finishing second in a time of 51.67 followed by Stjepanovic who posted a time of 51.68.

The score is now Europe 49, USA 41

Men’s 400 freestyle

American Michael Klueh got his hand on the wall first in what was an incredible race that saw the top six men separated by 74 one-hundredths of a second. Klueh took the men’s 400 freestyle in a time of 3:39.94 followed by Yannick Agnel of France who posted a 3:40.19 and Connor Dwyer of the USA who hit the wall in a time of 3:40.24. Michael McBroom of the USA finished tied for fourth with James Guy of Great Britain both touching the wall in a time of 3:40.57.

Matt Mclean, the final American in the race, was sixth recording a time of 3:40.68.

Women’s 4 x 100 medley relay

The European women took the event in a time of 3:49.14. Their time is faster than the European record of 3:49.87 that was put up by the Danes last year, but since it is a team that consists of swimmers from different nations the old record will still stand. The European team consisted of:

• Simona Baumrtova
• Moniek Nijhuis
• Jeanette Ottesen
• Fran Halsall

The Americans
finished in a time of 3:51.38. Their team was made up of:

• Olivia Smoliga
• Breeja Larson
• Claire Donahue
• Megan Romano

Men’s 4 x 100 medley relay

The American men took the final event of the evening by over two seconds hitting the wall in a time of 3:23.24 with the European team finishing in a time of 3:25.42. The American team was made up of:

• Eugene Godsoe – 50.32
• Kevin Cordes – 56.05
• Tom Shields – 49.97
• Jimmy Feigen – 46.90

The European team consisted of:

• Chris Walker-Hebborn – 50.68
• Damir Dugonjic – 56.80
• Ivan Lendjer – 50.88
• Yannick Agnel – 47.06

Full results are posted below, but official results page can be found here.

All of our Duel in the Pool coverage can be found on our Duel in the Pool Channel.