Kyle Chalmers Charges In 100 Freestyle and Siobhan Haughey Dominates 200 Free At World Cup in Berlin
The second day of action at the FINA World Cup stop in Berlin figures to build on a quality opening day, one in which Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey excelled in the 400-meter freestyle and Chad Le Clos shined in the 100 butterfly. Haughey’s presence in the 200 freestyle, where she is the world-record holder, is one of Saturday’s leading storylines. Additionally, Kyle Chalmers is scheduled to contest his prime event, the 100 freestyle.
Here is what unfolded during Day Two competition in the German capital.
Women’s 400 Individual Medley
Trailing Abbie Wood by nearly a second heading into the closing freestyle leg, American Hali Flickinger drew even by the 350-meter mark and pulled away over the last two laps to win in 4:30.36, with Wood following for second place in 4:31.60. Flickinger is one of a handful of Americans who made the trip over to Berlin and also plans to contest the World Cup’s North American stops in Toronto and Indianapolis.
Canadian Bailey Andison finished third in 4:31.66.
Men’s 1500 Freestyle
Germany’s Florian Wellbrock and Ukraine’s Mykhailo Romanchuk engaged in a 60-lap duel, the victory going to Wellbrock in 14:25.41. Wellbrock and Romanchuk were side by side at 1000 meters, but Wellbrock was able to edge ahead during the last third of the race. Romanchuk touched the wall for silver in 14:26.69.
Men’s 50 Backstroke
Coming off a victory in the 50 freestyle on Day One, Trinidad & Tobago’s Dylan Carter added another spring gold to his collection. Carter bested a strong field in the 50 backstroke behind a swim of 23.15, which was quick enough to turn back Italian Thomas Ceccon (23.22) and Canadian Javier Acevedo (23.24).
Women’s 200 Freestyle
When Siobhan Haughey won the 400 freestyle in 3:56.52 on Friday, the effort suggested an impressive showing in the 200 freestyle was around in the corner. Indeed, the Hong Kong standout delivered, as she won the 200 free during Saturday action in 1:51.36. Haughey’s swim was a second slower than her world record, but it comfortably topped the field, as Australia’s Madison Wilson was the runnerup in 1:54.01.
Men’s 200 Individual Medley
South Africa’s Matthew Sates cruised to the win in the 200 medley, as he stopped the clock in 1:51.64. Sates was first after the opening butterfly leg, slipped back to second on backstroke, but moved back in front on breaststroke and extended that edge to the finish. Sates was followed to the wall by Hungarian Hubert Kos, who was timed in 1:53.89, ahead of the 1:54.59 of Lithuanian Danas Rapsys.
Women’s 100 Backstroke
American Beata Nelson, a short-course standout, used a superb back half to get the better of Canadian Kylie Masse and win the 100 backstroke in 56.03. Masse led Nelson by .01 at the 50-meter mark, but Nelson was stronger over the last two laps, out-splitting Masse, 28.66 to 28.96. Masse touched in 56.32 to beat countrywoman Ingrid Wilm (56.37) for the silver medal.
Men’s 50 Breaststroke
The United States’ Nic Fink secured his second triumph of the weekend when he comfortably prevailed in the 50 breaststroke, thanks to the line sub-26 mark in the field. Fink turned in a time of 25.86 to finish nearly three tenths ahead of Italian Nicolo Martinenghi (26.12), who was third to Fink’s gold in the 100 breaststroke on Friday. American Reece Whitley, who was second in the 100 breast, was third in the 50 distance.
Women’s 50 Butterfly
Frenchwoman Beryl Gastaldello used her sprint prowess to take top honors in the 50 fly, as she covered her two laps in 25.16. A tie for second place unfolded behind Gastaldello as France’s Melanie Henique and Australia’s Holly Barratt posted identical times of 25.39.
Men’s 100 Freestyle
World-record holder Kyle Chalmers, the 2016 Olympic champ in the event, put his talent on display by winning the 100 freestyle in 45.88. Chalmers went out in 22.09, trailing the 21.97 of France’s Maxime Grousset, but Chalmers turned to his finishing power to pull away. Chalmers went 23.79 on the back half of his race, compared to the 24.41 of Grousset, who logged an overall effort of 46.38 for second place.
Women’s 100 Breaststroke
Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte, who enjoyed a resurgent summer campaign, rolled to first place in the 100 breaststroke, her mark of 1:03.07 well ahead of the 1:04.71 by Dutchwoman Tes Schouten in second place. Back in the pool after a brief retirement, Meilutyte collected several medals during the summer between the World Championships and European Champs.
Men’s 200 Butterfly
As an encore to his Friday triumph in the 100 butterfly, South African Chad Le Clos took first in the 200 butterfly as the only swimmer to go under 1:50. Le Clos went 1:49.62 in the final event of the Saturday night session, a swim that beat runnerup Noe Ponti of Switzerland and his time of 1:50.43.
More to come…