World University Games, Day Two Prelims: Virginia Women Put Together Dominant Morning; Leah Hayes Leads 400 IM
The United States opened action at the World University Games in strong fashion, as Team USA’s men and women picked up gold medals in the 400-meter freestyle relays in Berlin on Thursday. Meanwhile, Nikolai Kolesnikov was the winner of the men’s 400 freestyle during the Night One finals.
The second morning of competition featured preliminaries in seven events: women’s 400 individual medley, men’s 200 freestyle, women’s 100 freestyle, men’s 100 backstroke, women’s 50 breaststroke, men’s 200 individual medley and women’s 800 freestyle. The University of Virginia women were dominant during the session, as they registered three top times.
Here is what took place during the Day Two prelims:
Women’s 400 Individual Medley
The United States’ Leah Hayes jumpstarted a strong morning for University of Virginia swimmers, as she easily earned the top seed for the final of the 400 medley. Hayes checked in with a time of 4:41.81, which was nearly three seconds clear of Japan’s Ayami Suzuki (4:44.12). The United States will have another podium contender in the final in Teagan O’Dell, who is headed into her freshman year at Cal. O’Dell recorded a morning mark of 4:44.78.
Men’s 200 Freestyle
Already the champion of the 400 freestyle from the opening night of the meet, Nikolai Kolesnikov took the first step toward a double when he led qualifying into the semifinals in 1:47.23. The Russian swimmer, who is competing as an individual athlete in Berlin, was slightly quicker than the 1:47.39 posted by Brazil’s Kaique Kauan de Morais Alves. Baylor Nelson of the United States was third in 1:47.67.
Women’s 100 Freestyle
After leading off the United States’ winning 400 freestyle relay on Day One, Virginia’s Maxine Parker cruised to the top time of the morning in the 100 freestyle. Advancing to the semifinals as the top seed, Parker was the lone sub-55 performer in the field, going 54.99. She was sub-54 on her relay leadoff, so the American clearly has more for the later rounds. France’s Lison Nowaczyk was second in 55.03.
Men’s 100 Backstroke
Preparing for the World Championships later this month, South African Pieter Coetze eased through his morning swim of the 100 backstroke in 53.34. Coetze is in fine form in Berlin, as he posted a sub-48 leadoff in the 100 freestyle during relay action on Thursday. In the 100 back, he was followed in second and third by the American duo of Texas’ Will Modglin (53.47) and North Carolina State’s Daniel Diehl (53.60).
Women’s 50 Breaststroke
Another event and another top seed for a Virginia woman in the semifinals, as Team USA’s Emma Weber clocked 30.79. She was one of two athletes to go below 31 seconds in the morning, joined by South Africa’s Lara van Niekerk, a veteran of international competition. Van Niekerk touched the wall in 30.90. Weber and van Niekerk have both represented their countries at the Olympic Games.
Men’s 200 Individual Medley
The United States snared the top-two positions in prelims of the 200 IM, with Princeton’s Mitchell Schott going 1:59.39 for the top seed into the semifinals. Meanwhile, Owen McDonald of Indiana also cracked the two-minute barrier, touching the wall in 1:59.74. They were followed by the Japanese pair of Yuta Watanabe (2:00.10) and Takumi Mori (2:00.18).
