Budapest 2024, Day 6 Prelims: Claire Weinstein Sets WJR To Head 200 Free
Claire Weinstein set a world junior record in the 200 free on the final day of prelims at short-course worlds in Budapest.
The 17-year-old clocked 1:52.51 to take 0.08 off Bella Sims’ standard of 1:52.59, set two years ago in November 2022.
Also being contested on Sunday morning are the men’s 200 free, the women’s and men’s 200 back and the women’s and men’s 4×100 medley relay.
Women’s 200m Freestyle
Weinstein headed the eight-length event as she seeks to claim her second gold of the meet following her eye-watering anchor leg of 1:50.31 as she helped steer the USA to the 4×2 title.
Mary-Sophie Harvey also went sub-1:53 in 1:52.81 with Siobhan Haughey fifth through in 1:53.76 as she launched her bid for a third straight title following gold at Abu Dhabi 2021 and Melbourne 2022.
Men’s 200m Freestyle
Luke Hobson elevated himself to the top of the men’s 200 free with a blast out of lane eight in the final prelim. The USA swimmer – who downed Paul Biedermann’s super-suited individual WR to 1:38.91 on the 4×2 lead-off – posted 1:41.55, 0.03 swifter than Lucas Henveaux of Belgium.
Tomas Koski of Finland also went inside 1:42, posting the third-swiftest heat in 1:41.92. Danas Rapsys, who won the title at Hangzhou 2018, claimed the eighth and final spot in 1:42.84.
Women’s 200m Backstroke
Summer McIntosh – with three titles in as manty world record times so far in Budapest – headed the field in an event in which she rarely competes. The 18-year-old stopped the clock in 2:01.52, 0.26 off Kylie Masse’s Canadian record of 2:01.26 set en-route to bronze at Melbourne 2022.
She was followed by neutral athlete Anastasiya Shkurdai in 2:01.78 and Carmen Weiler Sastre of Spain in 2:02.16. American pair Phoebe Bacon and Regan Smith fourth and fifth respectively.
Men’s 200m Backstroke
Home favourite Hubert Kos emphatically booked lane four for Sunday evening’s final. The Olympic champion was the only man inside 1:50 as he posted a national record of 1:48.02, taking a sledgehammer to Peter Bernek’s standard of 1:49.41 which had stood since November 2012.
Mewen Tomac of France was second through, 2.32secs slower than Kos in 1:50.34 with Jan Cejka of Czechia clocking 1:50.36. Jack Aikins of the USA claimed the final spot in 1:51.28, 0.01 ahead of Radoslaw Kawecki in ninth.
Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay
The USA quartet of Katharine Berkoff (55.34), Emma Weber (1:05.30), Alex Shackell (55.81) and Alex Walsh (52.11) booked top spot in 3:48.56.
China – featuring a 1:3.11 breaststroke leg by individual 100br champion Tang Qianting – booked the adjacent lane in 1:49.10 ahead of Sweden (1:49.79) with Great Britain progressing fourth in 1:50.20 following an anchor leg of 51.68 from Freya Anderson.
However, Australia – winners of the silver medal at Melbourne 2022 – failed to navigate their way into the final with their time of 1:53.82 only good enough for 10th and second reserve, one behind the Netherlands (1:53.02).
Canada were DQd because of a faulty changeover going into the freestyle leg.
Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay
The final prelim of Budapest 2024 brought with it the promise of a real thriller come the final on Sunday evening. Poland led the way in 3:21.70 ahead of a neutral team (3:22.08), Canada in a national record of 3:22.66, the USA (3:22.83), Australia (3:23.45), Italy (3:23.53), Japan (3:23.67) and France (3:23.88). Spain (3:24.39) and Switzerland (3:24.74) are the two reserve teams.
