World Junior Championships, Day Six Prelims: John Shortt Leads 200 Backstroke; Americans Top 200 Freestyle
The final session of preliminaries at the World Junior Championships will be heavy on 200-meter events, with the men’s 200 backstroke jumpstarting action in Otopeni, Romania. Ireland’s John Shortt is the top seed in the 200 back and has already medaled in the other two backstroke distances. Shortt was the champion in the 100 back and grabbed the bronze medal in the 50 backstroke.
The women’s 200 breaststroke and men’s 200 butterfly will be the second and third events of the session, followed by the women’s 200 freestyle. China’s Yang Peiqi is the top seed in the 200 free, but will be challenged by American Rylee Erisman, who won gold in the 100 free and has the final of the 50 freestyle on Sunday night. Prelims of the men’s and women’s 400 medley relays will also be held, along with the slowest heats of the men’s 1500 freestyle.
Here is an event-by-event recap of the Day Six prelims:
Men’s 200 Backstroke
Ireland’s John Shortt took a big step toward his third medal in as many backstroke events when he led qualifying in the 200 backstroke. Shortt posted a prelims performance of 1:57.53, which was nearly two seconds faster than the No. 2 time of American David Melnychuk (1:59.31). Shortt has already won gold in the 100 backstroke and bronze in the 50 backstroke.
Women’s 200 Breaststroke
Korea’s Moon Sua comfortably advanced to the final of the 200 breaststroke, thanks to a swim of 2:26.39. That time was the only sub-2:27 effort of the session and was followed as the second seed by Germany’s Lena Ludwig, who checked in at 2:27.72. American Kaidy Stout was third-fastest, going 2:28.58.
Men’s 200 Butterfly
A time of 1:58.17 handed South African Kris Mihaylov Lane Four for the final of the 200 butterfly. A diverse field will join him in the championship race, as swimmers from eight countries booked a spot in the final. Hungarian David Antal earned the second seed in 1:58.46 while China’s Xue Zijan was the other athlete to go under 1:59 for the morning, behind a time of 1:58.74.
Women’s 200 Freestyle
The United States tandem of Rylee Erisman and Kennedi Dobson easily notched the fastest times of prelims in the 200 freestyle, with Erisman leading the way in 1:57.76. Erisman will pull triple duty in the evening, as she will contest the finals of the 50 freestyle, 200 free and 400 medley relay. Dobson, who was the bronze medalist in the 400 freestyle earlier in the meet, went 1:58.30 for second in the morning. China’s Yang Peiqi, the titlist in the 400 free, 800 free and 1500 free, moved on in fourth (1:59.20).
Men’s 400 Medley Relay
The United States secured the top seed for the final of the men’s 400 medley relay when the quartet of Collin Holgerson, Ian Call, Rowan Cox and Michael Rice combined for a time of 3:38.59. That effort was ahead of the 3:39.10 of Russia and Great Britain’s performance of 3:39.45.
Women’s 400 Medley Relay
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