2018 FINA SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

The first finals session of the meet kicks off with finals of the men’s 400 free, women’s 200 free, men’s 200 fly, women’s 400 IM, men’s 200 IM, men’s 4×100 free relay, and women’s 4×100 free relay. There will also be semifinals heats of the men’s 100 back, women’s 50 breast, men’s 100 breast, and women’s 100 back.

Danas Rapsys had a stellar performance in this morning’s men’s 400 free, shattering the Lithuanian Record, and landing the top seed for finals by well over a second. Mallory Comerford will look to take home Gold in the women’s 200 free after posting the top prelims time in an American Record. Comerford will by side-by-side with Ariarne Titmus, who nearly overtook Comerford in this morning’s prelims.

Daiya Seto was the only man under 1:50 in the 200 fly this morning, and has set himself up nicely as the favorite going into the finals heat. Katinka Hosszu, the Iron Lady, controlled the heats of the women’s 400 IM this morning, posting the fastest time by over 4 seconds. In finals, it may well be a race between Hosszu and Mireia Belmonte‘s World Record. The men’s 200 IM prelims were abnormally tight, with the entirety of the top 8 swimming 1:53’s this morning, and a separtion of just .51 seconds between 1st and 8th. Wang Shun led that charge, but with such a tight finish in the heats, everyone is in play for that title tonight.

Despite only 3 teams from prelims not making finals, tough times were still put up in the heats of the women’s 4×100 free relay. The Americans led the way, touching only 2.99 seconds off the World Record, which is also the Championship Record. The only likely changes to that relay team is the addition of Mallory Comerford and possibly Olivia Smoliga as well, who could provide some extra boost for a faster time tonight. 3 teams were even closer than that to the World Record in the men’s 4×100 free relay. Russia came within 2 seconds, while Brazil and the US came within 2.5.

MEN’S 400 FREE – FINALS

WR – 3:32.25 – Yannick Agnel – 15 NOV 12

CR – 3:34.32 – Peter Bernek – 5 DEC 14

WJ – 3:39.48 (Best Time)

Danas Rapsys opened up an early lead, building up nearly a full body-length lead over the rest of the field on the first 50, and a little more than a full body-length lead over the field at the 100 mark. He only built on that lead as he went, knocking an impressive 2.64 seconds off his prelims time. Rapsys’ winning time of 3:34.01 obliterated the Lithuanian Record which he broke this morning by 4 seconds. It was also a Championship Record. He was out very fast, hitting the 200 mark in 1:45.58.

Norway’s Henrik Christiansen managed to pull away from the remainder of the field in the back half of the race, establishing himself as the Silver contender. He finished about a second ahead of Gabriele Detti.

WOMEN’S 200 FREE – FINALS

WR – 1:50.43 – Sarah Sjostrom – 12 AUG 17

– 12 AUG 17 CR – 1:50.78 – Sarah Sjostrom – 7 DEC 14

– 7 DEC 14 WJ – 1:53.07 (Best Time)

There were 3 different leaders at various points in this race, making a thrilling first women’s final of the meet. Femke Heemskerk jumped out to the early lead, and held that lead for about the first 125 meters. Mallory Comerford then took over, openeing up roughly a half body-length lead over the next 50 meters. Ariarne Titmus, however, exploded off the final turn and ran down Comerford on the final 25 meters, getting her hand on the wall nearly half a second ahead of Comerford.Titmus’ time comes in as 5th all-time, while Mallory Comerford broke her own American Record, which she set in prelims.

Federica Pellegrini finished in 4th, posting a 1:53.18, while rising star Wang Jianjiahe came in 5th at 1:53.23.

MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

WR – 48.88 – Xu Jiayu – 11 NOV 18

– 11 NOV 18 CR – 48.95 – Stanislav Donets – 10 DEC 10

WJ – 48.90 – Kliment Kolesnikov – 22 DEC 17

2016 Olympic Gold Medalist Ryan Murphy took the first heat of semifinals, shedding a little off his prelims time of 49.72. The current World Record holder, Xu Jiayu, closed fast to take the 2nd heat of semifinals, coming withina whisper of his own World Record. Brazil’s Guilherme Guido turned at the 50 mark about .3 seconds ahead of World Record pace, but was unable to hold the pace in this session, ultimately getting passed by Jaiyu on the back half. Kliment Kolesnikov, the World Junior Record holder, came in 3rd in that heat with a 49.62. Guido broke his own South American Record.

WOMEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

WR – 28.56 – Alia Atkinson – 6 OCT 18

– 6 OCT 18 CR – 28.81 – Ruta Meilutyte – 3 DEC 14

– 3 DEC 14 WR – 29.84 (Best Time)

Alia Atkinson, the World Record holder, handled the first of the semifinals heats decisively, knocking nearly half a second off her prelims time of 30.00. Martina Carraro took the 2nd semifinal, and broke the Italian Record, becoming the first Italian woman to break 30 seconds. Ruta Meilutyte was right behind, touching just .01 seconds behind Carraro. Finland qualified 2 swimmers to the final, Jenna Laukkanen and Ida Hulkko. There was a tie for 8th, between Jessica Hansen and Miho Teramura, which will likely result in a swim-off later in the session.

MEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – FINALS

WR – 1:48.56 – Chad le Clos – 5 NOV 13

CR – 1:48.61 – Chad le Clos – 7 DEC 14

WJ – 1:51.30 (Best Time)

Chad le CLos took the race out fast, hitting the first 50 wall nearly a second under World Record pace. Daiya Seto caught and passed le Clos over the next 100 meters, and finishing strong to claim Gold. Both Seto and le Clos came in under the WR, with Seto touching just .08 seconds ahead of le Clos. Le Clos broke the African Record, which he already held. Seto won the race with the fastest middle 100 in the field, while le Clos was fastest on the first and last 50s.

WOMEN’S 400 IM – FINALS

WR – 4:18.94 – Mireia Belmonte – 12 AUG 17

– 12 AUG 17 CR – 4:19.86 – Mireia Belmonte – 3 DEC 14

– 3 DEC 14 WJ – 4:23.33 (Best Time)

Katinka Hosszu ran away with the title, as expected, staying pretty close to the World Record pace for most of the race, but ultimately falling off that pace on the freestyle leg. Her first 200 was an impressive 2:05.70 (59.59/1:06.11), touching the halfway point at more than 3 seconds ahead of the next closest swimmer. Melanie Margalis went a personal best by 4 seconds to claim Silver, posting the fastest back half in the field. Margalis was 1:14.34 on the breat split, and 59.53 on the free split, posting the fastest time in the field on both splits. Fantine Lesaffre came in 3rd, netting France its first medal of the meet.

MEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

WR – 55.61 – Cameron van der Burgh – 15 NOV 09

– 15 NOV 09 CR – Felipe Franca de Silva – 4 DEC 14

WJ – 57.27 – Nicolo Martinenghi – 16 DEC 17

Fabio Scozzoli took the first semifinals heat, shedding about .6 seconds off his prelims time to begin closing in on the World Record heading into finals. Kirill Prigoda took the 2nd heat, finishing jut .01 off Scozzoli’s time. The world record holder, Cameron van der Burgh made it into finals, coming in 6th. Notably, Michael Andrew (USA) came in 10th, not qualifying for the final.

WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

WR – 55.03 – Katinka Hosszu – 4 DEC 14

– 4 DEC 14 CR – 55.03 – Katinka Hosszu – 4 DEC 14

– 4 DEC 14 WJ – 55.99 (Best Time)

Olivia Smoliga was 6-tenths of a second off her American Record performance in prelims, but appeared to be backing off towards the end of the race. Smoliga turned at the 50 ahead of World Recor pace, but fell well off that pace in the 2nd 50. She and fellow American Kathleen Baker took the top 2 spots for finals tomorrow. Katinka Hosszu managed to clinch the 3rd spot for tomorrow, just swimming roughly 20 minutes after the 400 IM, where she claimed Gold. Georgia Davies won the first semifinal, beating out Australia’s Emily Seebohm. Minna Atherton will also be representing Australia in tomorrow’s final, finishing just behind Seebohm.

MEN’S 200 IM – FINALS

WR – 1:49.63 – Ryan Lochte – 14 DEC 12

CR – 1:49.63 – Ryan Lochte – 14 DEC 12

WJ – 1:52.48 (Best Time)

Shun Wang was in control of this race from the start, expanding a lead throughout the race. He had the fastest splits in the field on both the fly and back (23.79/27.77). Josh Prenot managed to out-touch Hiromasa Fujimori by .04 at the finish. Mitch Larkin of Australia had the fastest free split in the field by far (26.97), but fell just short, finishing in 4th with a 1:52.78.

WOMEN’S 4×100 FREE – FINALS

WR – 3:26.53 – Netherlands – 5 DEC 14

CR – 3:26.53 – Netherlands – 5 DEC 14

WJ – 3:32.63 (Best Time)

USA – 3:27.78 Netherlands – 3:28.02 China – 3:30.92

Netherlands got out to the lead in the 2nd leg leg, thanks to a blistering 50.93 split from Femke Heemskerk. Mallory Comerford than threw down a 51.09 for the US to pull them into the lead by .8 seconds. Kelsi Dahlia then managed to hold off Ranomi Kromowidjojo, splitting 51.40 to Kromowidjojo’s 50.77. Netherlands had the fastest 2 spits in the field between Heemskerk and Kromowidjojo, while the US had the next 2 fastest with Comerford and Dahlia.

MEN’S 4×100 FREE – FINALS

WR – 3:03.30 – USA – 19 DEC 09

CR – 3:03.78 – France – 3 DEC 14

WJ – 3:12.56 (Best Time)

USA – 3:03.03 (WR) Russia – 3:03.11 Brazil – 3:05.15

Caeleb Dressel led the US off in an American Record 45.66. The Americans never let go of the lead after that, with Blake Pieroni, Michael Chadwick, and Ryan Held each doing their part and splitting under 46 seconds. The Russians had the top 2 fastest splits in the field, with Vlad Morozov and Kliment Kolesnikov splitting 45.06 and 45.46 respectively. Both the USA and Russia came in under the Championship Record and World Record, but Ryan Held managed to hold off Kolesnikov to get his hand on the wall less than 1-tenth of a second ahead. The Americans used consistency to claim Gold, with all 4 splits clocking in between 45.66 and 45.86.