On the final day of the 2nd International Meeting of the Mediterranean in Marseille Great Britain’s Fran Halsall capped off a successful weekend by winning both the 100 freestyle and 50 butterfly.
On the final night of the meet Halsall went up against American Natalie Coughlin in both events. The two met earlier in the competition where they battled for the top spot in the 50 freestyle with the Brit being victorious. On the final evening Halsall would once again get the best of Coughlin in both the 100 freestyle and 50 butterfly.
In the 100 freestyle Halsall won the event in a time of 54.61 which is the third fastest time in the world this year, behind Cate Campbell and Sarah Sjostrom. Coughlin was second with a time of 54.79.
In the 50 butterfly Halsall won in a time of 26.91 followed by Coughlin who posted a time of 27.42.
800 freestyle Olympic silver medallist Mireia Belmonte Garcia started the evening off by winning the 1500 freestyle in a time of 16:17.80 which is the third fastest time in the world this year behind Becca Mann and Lotte Friis.
Marina Garcia Urzainqui of Spain won the 200 breaststroke in a time of 2:27.89 holding off a fast charging Elisa Celli of Italy who finished in a time of 2:28.79.
Spaniard Mercedes Peris Minguet won the 100 backstroke in a time of 1:00.81 while her fellow countrywoman Beatriz Gomez Cortes was victorious in the 400 IM posting a time of 4:44.60.
In the 50 butterfly Frenchmen Florent Manaudou and Frederick Bousquet went the two fastest times in the world this year with Manaudou posting a time of 23.51 beating Bousquet by the narrowest of margins who finished in a time of 23.52.
Earlier in the evening American Nathan Adrian posted the fastest time in the world in the 100 freestyle swimming a 48.11. That bettered his own time of 48.32 which he swam at the Austin Grand Prix in January. Fellow American Anthony Ervin was second in a time of 49.08.
Spaniard Marc Sanchez Torrens had a busy night first winning the 800 freestyle in a time of 8:12.26 and followed that up by winning the final event of the competition, the 400 IM in a time of 4:26.45.
Frenchman Giacomo Perez Dortona won the 200 breaststroke in a time of 2:15.43 while Aschwin Wildeboer Faber of Spain won the 100 backstroke in a time of 54.67.
I defenetly felt that since 2012 , the hard work of Nathan Adrian would pay up and he has shown very good consistency since London . He is allready close to the 47.8/9 which is very good sign for Barcelona . I still beleive he is the man to beat in the 100 free this summer .
Tough to say. I believe James Magnussen still has the key. If he swims 47/47.1 I think he’ll easily win in Barcelona but if he swims 47.50 he will be beaten by Nathan Adrian like at the last olympic games.
With IF’s , anything is possible ! The this is , they don’t count on If’s on the “J ” Day , they will count on how well prepared they are …… so , we can all have some intuitions about this , rarely precise predictions . Magnussen is a young swimmer , Nathan is a allready more experienced swimmer . This fact may balance the contest they will face in barcelona …. Let’s have fun
Nathan Adrian looks stronger than ever. Ok. But I just say that James Magnussen has already swum 47.10 in his life. And until now, based on their PB, the Australian is well ahead. And I think he has something to prove this year. It will be a big race. 2 swimmers around 47 without the magical suits, it would be great.
Agreed with your comment.
And I think we should also be waiting for something from Hanser Garcia, he is by far the fastest man in the water, but he still has very bad start and turns, if he got a coach and fix that to Worlds he will be a major force on 100. Considering we don´t hear anything about him, he have no clue what to expect..
Please, it’s not Maresille, it’s Marseille!
Not a very good meet overall for the French. William Meynard was disappointing in the 100 free. Fabien Gilot shows he’s far from his best after his shoulder surgeries. Camille Lacourt hasn’t a shape problem but he has slept in the 100 back prelims on Sunday morning and hasn’t qualified for the A-Final. Florent Manaudou has finished second in the 50 free at home behind Nathan Adrian.
Nathan Adrian was dominant in the 50 free and in the 100 free. Natalie Coughlin has shown she was in good shape for her first races since London. Anthony Ervin has been good.
Mireia Belmonte had a big schedule of races. I think she… Read more »
Halsall is not rested for this meet or next weeks British open meet. The sprint squad have been in Thailand recently training. I suspect this will be the start of a small rest cycle for Halsall going into this weeks meet. None of the senior Brits will rest seriously for this meet, the juniors will as it is their qualification meet.
That brings me to one to watch for this weeks British meet. Nova’s ’98 born Rosie Rudin. Her distance freestyle, 200 Backstroke and 400IM are fast, she is 2.18 and 4.51 already this year at a local meet and Pursley has suggested her potential in the freestyle in close to Rebecca Adlington.