Canada’s luck turned for the better Wednesday at FINA World Championships.
A night after having no evening swims and seeing three-time medallist Ryan Cochrane unexpectedly miss the 800-m freestyle final, Santo Condorelli caught a break in the men’s 100-m freestyle semifinals. Condorelli’s time of 48.49 would have left him ninth, but a disqualification to Russia’s Vladimir Morozov bumped him into the final. Condorelli had mixed feelings after the race at Kazan Arena.
“It took a little away from it because Vladimir is my friend. I look up to him a lot and he’s helped me out a few times,” Condorelli said. “But then again it also gives me another shot. Hopefully I can put it to good use and not disappoint.”
Condorelli will be Canada’s first finalist in the event since Brent Hayden, who won silver in 2011.
“Santo Condorelli progressing through the heats and semifinals in the 100 freestyle and making his first ever world championship final in that event was a great effort,” said Swimming Canada High Performance Director John Atkinson. “He’s in there again tomorrow night to see what can happen and it’s great that we have another guy making the final in that event following on from Brent Hayden.”
Australia’s Cameron McEvoy earned top seed in the meet’s marquee event with a 47.94, fastest in the world this year. Condorelli is hoping to tweak his strategy to get himself back into 47 territory. The 47.98 he swam to lead the 4×100-m freestyle relay to a silver medal at Pan Am Games last month in Toronto is still the second-fastest time this year.
In his morning heat he went out hard with a 22.57 on the first 50, fastest among all competitors, then came back in 26.20 for a 48.77. He felt he eased off too much in the evening with a 23.36 going out, 25.13 coming back.
“I’m not satisfied with that at all. I think I can do better no doubt,” Condorelli said. “I took it out way too easy. There’s a couple things I can work on for sure. I usually just go for it and then pray to come home. Tonight I tried it a little different. It worked out a little better but definitely not where I can be or where I need to be.
The mixed medley relay finished up the evening by finishing seventh in the first-ever world championship final for the event. Russell Wood, Richard Funk, Katerine Savard, Sandrine Mainville combined for a time of 3:46.23, establishing a Canadian record in the new event. Wood, Rachel Nicol, Noemie Thomas and Karl Krug had qualified Canada through in eighth with a time of 3:49.60 in the morning heats.
“I think the team performed very well tonight,” Atkinson said. “It was good for the mixed medley relay to make the final. We mixed it up a little bit following the heats and swapped the swimmers around. Most of those swimmers will be in action again in the medley relays.”
Earlier in the evening, Audrey Lacroix finished 12th in women’s 200-m butterfly with a time of 2:08.66 in her semifinal. The Pont-Rouge, Que., native went slightly faster than her morning time of 2:08.79 but wasn’t able to get back near the 2:07.68 that won her a gold medal at Pan Am Games. It took 2:07.69 to qualify for the world final Wednesday.
“It wasn’t a great race for me,” said the 31-year-old, competing in her seventh world championships. “I know I can do better and I was better at Pan Am Games. I told myself I had nothing to lose. I was hoping to go faster here and make the final but it didn’t work out. Now I’m going to be in the stands cheering my teammates on as loud as I can.”
The eight-day meet continues Thursday with Day 5 morning heats beginning at 2:30 a.m. ET. Canadian swimmers to watch include Pan Am Games gold medallist Chantal Van Landeghem of Winnipeg in the women’s 100-m freestyle, Pan Am Games gold medallist Kierra Smith and 2011 world championship medallist Martha McCabe in the women’s 200-m breaststroke, as well as the women’s 4×200-m freestyle relay.
Swimming News is courtesy of Swimming Canada.
bolles!!!