Photo Courtesy: Raia Rapida
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, September 14. THE host country topped the third edition of the fun-filled Raia Rapida/Fast Lane meet today in Rio De Janeiro by having a strong performance in the 50 knockouts, then winning the men’s 200-meter medley relay at the end of the day.
The meet, which features teams of four men from four countries competing in a round-robin elimination set of 50-meter stroke swims, is one of the more enjoyable competitions to keep an eye on during this part of the year. It’s definitely unorthodox with the slowest swimmer of the four of each stroke getting knocked out in each round as the countries claim team points throughout the individual events that feature the 50 free, 50 back, 50 fly and 50 breast. The meet then tops off with a 200-meter medley relay.
Brazil won the overall team points with 15, while USA took second with 11 points. South Africa placed third with 9, while Australia finished last.
Brazil’s foursome of Guilherme Guido, Felipe Franca, Nicholas Dos Santos and Matheus Santana won out with a 1:37.68 in the men’s 200-meter medley relay at the end of the day.
In the individual 50-meter knockouts, USA’s Anthony Ervin topped South Africa’s Roland Schoeman, 21.92 to 22.19, in the men’s 50-meter free. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Gerhard Zandberg downed Guido in the 50-meter back, 25.00 to 25.12.
Dos Santos hit the wall in 22.97 in the men’s 50-meter fly to more to third in the world behind Andrey Govorov (22.87) and Ben Proud (22.93) as he topped USA’s Eugene Godsoe (23.79) in the process. Franca then won the 50 breast, 27.21 to 27.60, against South Africa’s Cameron van der Burgh.
Full Results
First Round
50 Back
Gerhard Zandberg 25”60 1 1
David Plummer 25”66 1 1
Guilherme Guido 25”69 1 1
Daniel Arnamnart 26”19 0 0
50 Breast
Cameron Van Der Burgh 27”61 1 2
Felipe França 27”92 1 2
Michael Alexandrov 28”20 1 2
James Stacey 28”76 0 0
50 Fly
Nicholas Santos 23”74 1 3
Eugene Godsoe 23”91 1 3
Jayden Hadler 24”32 1 1
Giulio Zorzi 24”44 0 2
50 Free
Anthony Ervin 22”81 1 4
Matheus Santana 22”83 1 4
Roland Schoeman 23”02 1 3
Kurt Herzog 23”51 0 1
Second Round
50 Back
Gerhard Zandberg 25”21 1 4
Guilherme Guido 25”36 1 5
David Plummer 25”86 0 4
50 Breast
Cameron Van Der Burgh 27”67 1 5
Felipe França 27”87 1 6
Michael Alexandrov 28”20 0 4
50 Fly
Nicholas Santos 23”76 1 7
Eugene Godsoe 23”86 1 5
Jayden Hadler 24”30 0 1
50 Free
Anthony Ervin 22”63 1 6
Roland Schoeman 22”64 1 6
Matheus Santana 22”86 0 7
Final Round
50 Back
Gerhard Zandberg 25”00 1 7
Guilherme Guido 25”12 0 7
50 Breast
Felipe França 27”21 1 8
Cameron Van Der Burgh 27”60 0 7
50 Fly
Nicholas Santos 22”97 1 9
Eugene Godsoe 23”79 0 6
50 Free
Anthony Ervin 21”92 1 7
Roland Schoeman 22”19 0 7
200 medley relay
Brazil 1’37”68 6 15
USA 1’37”75 4 11
South Africa 1’39”15 2 9
Australia 1’42”29 0 1