World Cup Westmont, Day 1 Prelims: Gretchen Walsh Adds to 50 Back Hyperspeed
The World Aquatics World Cup tour of North America shifts to Westmont this weekend. All 12 of the champions from the first day of the meet last week in Carmel, Indiana, are entered in their respective events on Friday, the opening day of 3 at FMC Natatorium.
The mix of stars is slightly different this weekend – Leon Marchand is not in the meet, nor is Chad le Clos, while the mix of American collegians is slightly different. But a star-studded cast has made the trip to the Chicago area for more than just basketball, with a couple of world records on alert.
The action from the first morning prelims, which started with the slowest heats in the 400 freestyle.
In the preliminary heats of the women’s 400 free, Minna Abraham set the fastest time in 4:03.44. that would’ve been good for sixth in Carmel. The top six finishers from Carmel are all entered in the final heat Friday night, led by winner Lani Pallister, the Kiwi duo of Erika Fairweather and Caitlin Deans, American Anna Peplowski, Canadian Mary-Sophie Harvey and British swimmer Freya Colbert. Bella Sims is also in the fastest heat.
In the men’s side, Luke Hobson laid down a marker that could get him on the podium, the American going 3:38.90. That would’ve finished fifth in Carmel, where the winning time was Carson Foster’s 3:37.80. Hobson was eighth in Carmel in 3:43.87.
Three of the top five are back from Carmel, with Foster joined by runner-up Sam Short and fourth-place Kieran Smith. Marchand and Lewis Clareburt aren’t swimming. But Lucas Henveaux and Zalan Sarkany are entered in the fastest heat.
Women’s 50 backstroke
The showdown is set again in the women’s 50 backstroke Friday night, though with the addition of Gretchen Walsh to the mix.
The top three from Carmel were the top three qualifiers again Friday, with Mollie O’Callaghan going 25.73 to lead the field. American Katharine Berkoff was second in 25.84, with Kaylee McKeown third in 25.87. McKeown won the race in Carmel in 25.42. She’s stalking the world record in that event (Regan Smith’s 25.23) and McKeown’s own meet record of 25.36 from Shanghai last year. Smith is not entered in the event.
But Walsh is, and after a stellar spring weekend to open the circuit, she’s looking to see what she can do in the 50 back. She was fourth in 25.99 in prelims, .08 ahead of Kylie Masse of Canada. Italian Sara Curtis tossed her hat in the ring with a time of 26.33.
Men’s 200 backstroke
Carmel champ Hubert Kos is after the first two legs of the triple crown with a time of 1:50.68 to lead prelims. Second was Thomas Ceccon in 1:51.21, with Australian Enoch Robb third in 1:51.57.
The race is without two of the podium finishers in the first leg, with Leon Marchand not swimming and Shaine Casas opting for other events.
Women’s 200 butterfly
In an event with just 17 entrants after the scratch of Lana Pudar, Regan Smith eased to the top time of 2:04.48. After setting the meet record in Carmel, she’s eying a time under two minutes, with Summer McIntosh’s world record 1:59.32 in her sights.
Second was Brittany Castelluzzo of Australia, who finished fourth last week. She went 2:06.97. Laura Lahtinen of Finland and Emily Richards of Great Britain followed with 2:07s.
Men’s 100 butterfly
Another battle is in the offing in the men’s 100 fly, even without le Clos this weekend. Ilya Kharun set the pace in 49.16 in prelims, well ahead of reigning winner and world-record holder Noe Ponti. The Swiss sprinter was second in 49.94. Five 50-points followed, led by Ksawery Masiuk’s 50.05. Finlay Brooks, Josh Liendo and Trenton Julian are also in the mix.
Women’s 200 breaststroke
Kate Douglass is chasing a second title in the 200 breast, a process aided by the absence of Carmel runner-up Anna Elendt. Douglass led the field with a time of 2:18.34. That was a second and a half ahead of Rebecca Meder, who was third in Carmel. She went 2:19.92, edging Alex Walsh by .15 seconds and Mona McSharry by two tenths.
Men’s 100 breaststroke
The men’s 100 breast was a muddled one in Carmel, and that shows no signs of changing, with times two through eight separated by eight tenths.
Leg 1 champ Caspar Corbeau proved he is ahead of the field, going 56.24 to set the pace. Second was American Van Mathias in 57.10. Shin Ohashi was third in 57.48, with Josh Matheny, Ilya Shymanovich, Brian Benzing and Adam Peaty following. There was no room in the A final for either Carles Coll Marti or Denis Petrashov.
Women’s 50 freestyle
The women’s 50 sans Gretchen Walsh was suitably chaotic, and it’ll create some decisions for swimmers on the beck end of doubles Friday night.
First the specialists. Alexandria Perkins of Australia led the way in 23.78, .04 seconds up on Kasia Wasick. That was the reverse order of finish in Carmel. Third was Taylor Ruck of Canada in 24.00.
In a tie for fourth at 24.02 were Mollie O’Callaghan and Marrit Steenbergen. The Aussie did the 50 back/50 free double in Carmel, finishing second and third, respectively. Steenbergen did an even tougher 50 free/100 IM pairing.
Florine Gaspard of Belgium and Aussie Olivia Wunsch tied for sixth in 24.18. Eighth was Katharine Berkoff, .09 ahead of Sara Curtis for the last spot. Both have the 50 back earlier in the program.
Men’s 50 freestyle
Women’s 100 individual medley
Men’s 100 individual medley
