World University Games: Virginia Power on Full Display During Day Six Prelims; Tess Howley Shines in 200 Butterfly
Heading into the Day Six preliminaries at the World University Games in Berlin, the United States held a commanding lead in the medals count. Of the 29 medals captured by Team USA, 16 have been gold. Following the U.S., Japan has won 10 medals, with two of them gold.
The Day Six scheduled opened with the men’s 200 backstroke and also included heats in the women’s 50 freestyle, men’s 50 freestyle, women’s 200 butterfly, women’s 100 breaststroke and men’s 800 freestyle relay. Here’s a look at what transpired during Tuesday’s prelims:
Men’s 200 Backstroke
The American squad started the session on a positive note, as David King (Virginia) and Daniel Diehl (North Carolina State) finished first and third, respectively. King led qualifying into the semifinals with a swim of 1:58.53 while Diehl, chasing his third backstroke medal, checked in at 1:58.92. In between was Aleksei Tkachev, who went 1:58.90 while competing as an independent athlete.
Women’s 50 Freestyle
More United States dominance was on display in the women’s 50 freestyle, where Julia Dennis (Louisville) and Maxine Parker (Virginia) were the only swimmers to go sub-25 in the morning. Dennis topped the field in 24.88 and was followed by Parker in 24.96. Earlier in the meet, Parker was the bronze medalist in the 100 freestyle, with Dennis placing fifth. Both women were members of the title-winning 400 freestyle relay.
Men’s 50 Freestyle
For the third straight event, the United States earned the top seed for the semifinals, this time behind a 22.16 outing from Matt King (Virginia) in the 50 freestyle. King was the silver medalist in the 100 freestyle and was followed in the one-lap sprint by Lithuania’s Jokubas Keblys, who touched the wall in 22.22. Italian Andrea Candela was third in 22.26.
Women’s 200 Butterfly
The American duo of Tess Howley (Virginia) and Lindsay Looney (Arizona State) comfortably made their way through the opening round of the 200 butterfly. Howley produced an impressive mark of 2:06.75 to establish her presence as the gold-medal favorite while Looney was the only other swimmer to go under 2:10, thanks to an effort of 2:09.36. Great Britain’s Ciara Schlosshan was third in 2:10.44.
Women’s 100 Breaststroke
The University of Virginia roll continued in the women’s 100 breaststroke as Emma Weber posted a swim of 1:07.65 to secure the top seed. Weber has already won gold in the 50 breaststroke and was followed in the morning by South Africa’s Simone Moll, who clocked in at 1:07.87. Canadian Shona Branton was third in 1:08.58.
Men’s 800 Freestyle Relay
The United States capped another superb session by nailing down the fastest time in the prelims of the men’s 800 freestyle relay. The quartet of Mitchell Schott (Princeton), Jack Dahlgren (Missouri), Ryan Erisman (Cal) and Owen McDonald (Indiana) combined for a time of 7:07.45, which was nine-plus seconds faster than the 7:16.71 of the Independent Neutral Athletes (AIN). Schott (1:46.23) and Dahlgren (1:46.11) each contributed sub-1:47 splits on the front end of the relay.
