By Phillip Whitten & Michael Collins
SYDNEY, Friday Sept. 22
Men's 400 Medley Relay
Top 8 advance to the Final:
1. Germany 3:38.50
2. Hungary 3:38.58
3. United States 3:38.59
4. Australia 3:39.38
5. Great Britain 3:39.60
6. Netherlands 3:40.10
7. France 3:40.31
8. Canada 3:40.56
Germany was the top qualifier with Hungary second.
The Americans qualified third, just .09 out of first with their B swimmers – Walker (55.10), Moses (1:01.34), Hannan (53.32), and Lezak (48.83)
Women's 400 Medley Relay
Top 8 advance to the Final:
1. Australia 4:04.75
2. Japan 4:05.76
3. Germany 4:06.02
4. United States 4:06.16
5. South Africa 4:07.19
6. Great Britain 4:07.52
7. China 4:08.47
8. Canada 4:08.64
Austrlia qualified first while the US qualified fourth using a B team.
Men's 1500 Free – Prelims
Top 8 advance to the Final:
1. Pierkins AUS 14:58.34
2. Vendt USA 15:05.11
3. Hackett AUS 15:07.50
4. Neethling RSA 15:09.12
5. Filipets RUS 15:10.94
6. Thompson USA 15:11.21
7. Hell GER 15:11.91
8. Chervynskiy UKR 15:12.30
Perkins Splits (from 3rd to last heat)
200 – 1:55.42
500 – 4:55.43
800 – 7:56.37
1000 – 9:57.08
1500 – 14:58.34
Vendt Splits:
200 – 1:59.48
800 – 8:00.64
1500 – 15:05.11
Hackett Splits:
200 – 1:57.10
500 – 4:59.01
800 – 8:03.03
1500 – 15:07.50
Thompson Splits:
200 – 1:59.74
800 – 8:04.06
1500 – 15:11.21
Australia's favorite event. The crowd loves Kieren Perkins and Grant Hackett. They showed the entire prelim race of both Perkins and Hackett live in Australia, but nothing of the heat with Vendt and Thompson.
Speculation continues as to whether Hackett is injured or off-form, or just saving himself for the final. He finished very strongly over the last 200 meters to pull away from Neethling and Coman to win his heat.
The entire country will nearly shut down tommorow to watch this Hackett-Perkins showdown. Hopefully Vendt and Thompson will play a roll in the medals, and possibly South African, Ryk Neethling who trains in Arizona.
Women's 50 Free Prelims
Top 16 advance to Semi-Finals:
1. de BRUIJN Inge NED 24.46 Olympic Record
2. TORRES Dara USA 24.96
3. van DYKEN Amy USA 25.04
4. ALSHAMMAR Therese SWE 25.24
5. MORAVCOVA Martina SVK 25.39
6. VOELKER Sandra GER 25.44
7. Rignall NZL 25.52
7. Minamoto JPN 25.52
9. SHEPPARD Alison GBR 25.53
10. Meissner GER 25.64
11. Mukomol 25.67
12. O'NEILL Susie AUS 25.73
13. Kammerling SWE 25.79
14. van RIJN Wilma NED 25.81
15. ELWANI Rania EGY 25.87
16. Palomo ESP 25.96
16. JACOBSEN Mette DEN 25.96
16. KOLUKANOVA Jana EST 25.96
No big surprises here. The top five qualifiers are the top five in this event, with de Bruijn breaking the Olympic record.
An exciting side note is that three women tied for 16th and will need to do a swim-off for the last spot in the semi-finals.
Top 8 advance to the Final: