WUHAN, China, April 2. THE Chinese Long Course Nationals started off with a national record and a world-best time all wrapped up into one.
Zhang Fenglin downed the Chinese record in the men's 200 back with a time of 1:56.34. The previous record had been a 1:57.53 set at the Asian Games in December 2010. Zhang moved ahead of James Goddard (1:57.08) for first in the world rankings, and also pushed Zhang up to a 19th-ranked tie with Helge Meeuw in the all time list. Chen Feiyi placed second in 1:58.18 to move to seventh in the world, while Diao Jigong earned third-place honors in 1:58.99 to grab a top-10 spot in the rankings.
Li Xuexu took second in the world rankings with a winning 8:23.96 in the women's 800 free. Only Rebecca Adlington has been faster this year with an 8:20.23 from last month in Great Britain. Chen Qian finished second in 8:24.96, while Shao Yiwen earned third in 8:26.94.
Lu Ying topped the women's 50 fly in 26.23 to take sixth in the world rankings, while Ling Shu Yuon (26.91) and Guo Fan (26.93) placed second and third. Liu Zige finished fourth in 26.96.
Chen Yan snatched the men's 200 fly title in 1:57.25 for eighth in the rankings, while Shi Feng placed second in 1:57.58. Chen Weimu wound up third in 1:58.27.
Huang Chaosheng pushed into the top 10 in the world rankings with a winning 2:12.35 in the men's 200 breast. Xue Ruipeng placed second in 2:14.10, while Xie Zhi finished third in 2:14.13.
Shanghai's Zhu Qianwei, Pang Jiaying, Lu Ying and Tang Yi won the women's 400 free relay in 3:39.18, while Liaoning took second with a 3:41.38. Guangzhou snared third with a 3:42.55.
Special thanks to Christopher Chow for contributing to this report.