ANTWERP – The Flanders Speedo Cup featured a trio of swimmers doubling up as James Guy, Aimee Willmott and Laszlo Cseh each earned a pair of golds on day one.
Jazmin Carlin kicked off 2015 with a significant win against Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu in the women’s 800-meter free as Carlin clocked an 8:25.18 for the title.
That’s a meet record for Carlin, downing her own 8:26.12 from this meet a year ago.
Hosszu, as part of her full schedule, took second in 8:38.68. Holly Hibbott of Great Britain finished third in 8:41.39.
James Guy of Great Britain became the first man in meet history to clear the 1:47 mark in the 200-meter free with a 1:46.94.
That swim beat Pieter van den Hoogenband’s 2004 record of 1:47.14, which had become pretty historic entering its 11th year in existence.
Lithuania’s Danas Rapsys placed second in 1:47.90 with Great Britain’s Robbie Renwick claiming third in 1:48.11.
Guy added a second meet record with a sizzling 3:45.77 in the men’s 400-meter free. That effort smashed David Carry’s 2012 mark of 3:49.29.
Lander Hendrickx took second in 3:50.66 with Stephen Milne placing third in 3:53.74.
Belgium’s Kimberly Buys clipped Hosszu, 26.63 to 26.72, in the women’s 50-meter fly, while Greece’s Anna Ntountounaki earned third in 26.92.
Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh hit the wall in 52.95 to win the men’s 100-meter fly. That just missed Francois Heersbrandt’s meet record of 52.67 from 2009.
Adam Barrett of GBR took second in 53.23 with teammate Liam Selby placing third in 54.32.
Cseh doubled up with a 2:00.91 in the men’s 200-meter IM. Emmanuel Vanluchene took second in 2:02.04 with Great Britain’s Roberto Pavoni placing third in 2:02.48.
Hosszu claimed her third silver of the night in the women’s 200-meter back as Great Britain’s Lauren Quiqley posted a 2:12.43 for the win. Hosszu posted a 2:13.06 for silver, while Great Britain’s Rosie Rudin wound up third in 2:13.11.
In a heavyweight matchup, Hungary’s Daniel Gyurta powered his way to a 2:11.62 to win the men’s 200-meter breast.
Great Britain’s Adam Peaty put up a second-place 2:12.22, while teammate Michael Jamieson snared third overall in 2:12.37.
Sophie Taylor led a Great Britain top five sweep in the women’s 100-meter breast.
Taylor (1:07.86), Siobhan-Marie O’Connor (1:08.17), Katie Matts (1:08.53), Molly Renshaw (1:09.33) and Hannah Miley (1:09.55) dominated the event.
Hosszu finally had a breakthrough in the women’s 100-meter free with a 54.77 to win the finale. O’Connor took second in 55.30 with teammate Shauna Lee finishing third in 55.63.
Great Britain’s Aimee Willmott put on a show in the women’s 400-meter IM with a 4:35.74 for the win, while Hosszu snagged her fourth runner-up finish this evening.
Hosszu checked in with a 4:37.73 to clear Hannah Miley’s 4:38.39 for second-place overall.
Willmott then doubled up with a 2:10.85 in the women’s 200-meter fly with Hungary’s Zsuzsanna Jakabos touching second in 2:11.89. Hosszu picked up her first bronze of the night with a 2:12.30 to run her medal tally to six.
Rapsys moved from silver earlier in the night to gold in the men’s 100-meter back with a 54.88 to 54.96 touchout triumph against Christopher Walker-Hebborn. Liam Tancock wound up third in 55.61.
Great Britain’s Ben Proud just missed Bruno Fratus’ meet mark of 22.25 in the men’s 50-meter free with a winning 22.26.
Hungary’s Krisztian Takacs touched second in 22.63 with Pieter Timmers taking third in 22.71.
Great Britain’s Georgia Davis won the women’s 50-meter back in 28.16 with Quigley (29.08) and Kathleen Dawson (29.30) taking second and third alongside their compatriot.
Adam Peaty, who gave his men’s 50-meter breaststroke world record a run in prelims with a 26.95, settled for a 27.19 to win this evening. Italy’s Fabio Scozzoli took second in 27.97 with Gyurta placing third in 28.30.
Flanders Speedo Cup, Day One – Results