Day 5 at the 2011 FINA Youth World Swimming Championships, there are a slwe of shorter races kicking off, which means a smaller roster of finals in tonight’s finals.
But for todays prelims, it was a very busy session that included Japan’s Kosuke Hagino dominating Tyler Clary’s Meet Record in the 400 IM. Hagino, who already has the 200 IM title for this meet, swam a 4:19.86 in these prelims with a 4:19.86. That broke Clary’s mark from 2008 of 2:21.33. Seeded 2nd in that race is Maksym Shembrev of the Ukraine in 4:21.96, who is a great breaststroker. Both swimmers could be much faster in finals. Canada’s Alec Page, and the Americans Josh Prenot and Chase Kaliz will join the top pair in the finals.
Russia’s Oleg Utekhin broke a meet record in the boys 50 breaststroke in 28.01. The old record was held by Great Britain’s Daniel Slawinski of 28.37.
Another 50-meter Meet Record was broken in the girls 50 free by Australia’s Bronte Campbell in 25.37. That’s a great early-round time for her, though things could tighten up considerably as the rounds progress. The old mark was held by Germany’s Daniela Schreiber in 25.55.
The 2nd and 3rd seeds went the Americans Kristen Vredeveld (25.60) and Lia Neal (25.81). For Vredeveld, Baylor School swimmer who was a part of their National High School Record Setting sprint relay, that’s a career-best time by .01. Canada’s Chantal van Landeghem was a bit off in this prelim, but was still easily through to the semifinal in 26.02.
The American girls 400 free relay already is scaring the Meet Record, and will be the top seed in 3:43.64. That’s one-tenth away from their mark in 2008. That relay, which will at the least add Neal in tonight’s final, should easily break the record tonight. Canada is the 2nd seed in 3:46.84.
Other prelims swims
- Three swimmers broke the minute in the girls 100 fly, lead by Great Britain’s Rachel Kelly in 59.63. The other two were Rino Hosoda of Japan in 59.70 and Kendyl Stewart of the US in 59.97. Those three, along with South Africa’s Vanessa Mohr, could all break the meet record of 59.47 in finals, if not tonight’s semi-final.
- Budding Australian sprint star Cameron McEvoy backed off a little in this men’s individual 100 free prelim from his record-setting leadoff in the 400 free relay. Still, he took the top seed in 50.27. Russia’s Aleksandr Kluykin and Dmitry Ermakov also took two of the top-four seeds. This final, aside from McEvoy as the favorite, this race seems pretty wide open. Both Americans made it through to the semis, with Matt Ellis in 6th in 51.11 and Seth Stubblefield in 9th in 51.20.
Girls 1500 free early heats were not completed at the time of posting.
Full day 5 prelims results availalble here.