James Guy put on a show today with a meet record and a pair of triumphs on day one of the 2016 Speedo Flanders Cup.
Guy, who was the top-ranked swimmer in the world last year with a 1:45.14 at Worlds, clipped his own meet record in the men’s 200-meter free today with a 1:46.91. That time beat his 1:46.94 from 2015. Dieter Dekoninck (1:48.90) and Nicholas Granger (1:49.50) finished second and third.
Guy doubled up with a 3:49.20 to win the men’s 400-meter free. That’s well off his meet record of 3:45.77 set just last year. Jay Lelliott (3:51.03) and Max Litchfield (3:51.17) comprised the rest of the top three.
Danas Rapsys lowered the second meet record of the day with a 54.31 in the men’s 100-meter back. That swim cleared the 54.33 set by Chris Walker-Hebborn back in 2014. Liam Tancock (55.95) and Jonatan Kopelev (56.01) claimed second and third.
Fran Halsall, who ranked sixth in the world last year with a 25.71 at Worlds, won the women’s 50-meter fly in 26.06. Rachael Kelly finished second in 26.50 with Kristel Vourna taking third in 26.79.
Julie-Marie Meynen then touched out Halsall in the women’s 100-meter free, 55.18 to 55.19. Lauren Quigley took third in 55.89.
Andrew Willis, who ranked sixth in the world in 2015 with a 2:08.52 at Worlds, captured the men’s 200-meter breast with a 2:14.13. Laurent Carnol finished just behind with a 2:14.51, while Luke Davies took third in 2:14.74.
Aimee Willmott, the fifth-ranked swimmer in the world last year with a 4:33.66, topped the women’s 400-meter IM today in 4:34.82. Ranohon Amanova finished well back in second with a 4:40.71, while Georgia Coates took third in 4:41.49.
Holly Hibbott topped the women’s 800-meter free in 8:36.09. Eleanor Faulkner placed second in 8:44.67 with Tamila Holub claiming third in 8:46.89.
Deividas Margevicius won the men’s 100-meter fly in 53.12, while Adam Barrett took second in 53.47. Braxston Timm earned third in 53.87.
Rosie Rudin cruised to victory in the women’s 200-meter back with a 2:12.91. Brittany Horton (2:14.73) and Anna Newlands (2:15.58) rounded out the top three.
Katie Matts hit the wall in 1:08.88 for the women’s 100-meter breast victory. Ana Pinho Rodrigues took second in 1:10.28 with Imogen Clark earning third in 1:10.96.
Emmanuel Vanluchene snagged the men’s 200-meter IM title in 2:02.13, while Tristan Slater wound up second in 2:03.47. Aleksey Derlyugov picked up third in 2:03.57.
Amelia Clynes won the women’s 200-meter fly in a time of 2:11.87. Hibbott picked up second in 2:11.93 after winning the 800 free earlier in the evening. Willmott snared third in 2:13.52 as part of a double of her own as she won the 400 IM earlier.
Jasper Aerents posted a 22.37 for the men’s 50-meter free victory. Glenn Surgeloose finished second in 22.98 with James Disney-May earning third in 23.04.
Davies claimed the women’s 50-meter back title in 28.07. Lauren Quigley posted a second-place time of 28.53 with Ana Sofia Leite winding up third in 29.56.
Vlad Mustafin topped the men’s 50-meter breast in 27.83 with Andrius Sidlauskas placing second in 28.35. Charlie Attwood closed out the top three in 28.50.
GET OFF THE LANE LINE!!!! YOU”RE GOING TO BREAK IT!!!