By Stephen J. Thomas
ATHENS, August 18. WORLD record-holder Amanda Beard made her mark on the semifinals of the women's 200 meter breaststroke with a swift 2:25.62.
Japan's Masami Tanaka was next in 2:26.38 ahead of 100-meter silver medalist Brooke Hanson (2:26.43), US-trained German Anne Poleska (2:26.59), and Olympic record-holder Agnes Kovacs of Hungary (2:26.63), who seems to be regining her form of yesteryear with every swim.
Aussie Leisel Jones made it through in 2:26.71 as did China's Qi Hui (2:26.75) and Austrian Mirna Jukic (2:26.95).
American Caroline Bruce just missed dispite swimming a PR 2:26.95.
If the wind stays away the world record may well be blown away!
Women 200m Breaststroke Semifinals
Record Splits Name NOC Location Date
WR 2:22.44 33.25 1:09.60 1:46.24 BEARD Amanda USA Long Beach (USA) 12 JUL 2004
OR 2:24.03 33.36 1:10.72 1:47.71 KOVACS Agnes HUN Sydney (AUS) 20 SEP 2000
Event No: 22
Rank Heat Lane Name NOC R.T. 50m 100m 150m Time Time
Behind
1 2 5 BEARD Amanda USA 0.74 33.66 1:11.04
37.38 1:48.39
37.35 2:25.62
37.23
2 2 3 TANAKA Masami JPN 0.78 34.07 1:11.65
37.58 1:49.43
37.78 2:26.38
36.95 0.76
3 1 3 HANSON Brooke AUS 0.78 33.31 1:10.28
36.97 1:48.15
37.87 2:26.43
38.28 0.81
4 1 4 POLESKA Anne GER 0.80 33.81 1:11.32
37.51 1:48.80
37.48 2:26.59
37.79 0.97
5 1 5 KOVACS Agnes HUN 0.87 33.88 1:11.28
37.40 1:49.07
37.79 2:26.63
37.56 1.01
6 2 4 JONES Leisel AUS 0.74 33.36 1:11.12
37.76 1:48.92
37.80 2:26.71
37.79 1.09
7 1 2 QI Hui CHN 0.80 33.27 1:10.42
37.15 1:48.44
38.02 2:26.75
38.31 1.13
8 2 2 JUKIC Mirna AUT 0.78 33.84 1:10.95
37.11 1:48.70
37.75 2:26.95
38.25 1.33
9 1 6 BRUCE Caroline USA 0.76 34.02 1:11.59
37.57 1:49.83
38.24 2:27.60
37.77 1.98
10 2 7 BALFOUR Kirsty GBR 0.82 33.68 1:10.62
36.94 1:48.82
38.20 2:28.92
40.10 3.30
11 2 6 STEVEN Birte GER 0.80 33.34 1:10.58
37.24 1:48.66
38.08 2:29.22
40.56 3.60
12 1 8 BOGOMAZOVA Elena RUS 0.82 34.71 1:12.76
38.05 1:51.46
38.70 2:30.35
38.89 4.73
13 1 1 van OOSTEN Lauren CAN 0.80 34.61 1:13.06
38.45 1:51.90
38.84 2:30.39
38.49 4.77
14 1 7 BOGGIATTO Chiara ITA 0.81 34.75 1:12.45
37.70 1:51.10
38.65 2:30.76
39.66 5.14
15 2 1 KUC Marina SCG 0.92 34.60 1:13.26
38.66 1:52.40
39.14 2:31.77
39.37 6.15
2 8 KAPISHINA Ina BLR 0.79
DSQ