NANCY, France, January 21. THE two-day long course meter Nancy Invitational came to a close with some seriously strong in-season swimming from all in attendance in the meet held in France.
Yannick Agnel jumped into the early top 10 in the men's 100 free with a 49.44, while Alain Bernard (49.92) and Clement Lefert (49.93) also broke 50 seconds. Agnel doubled up on the first night with a 3:50.57 in the men's 400 free to move to third in the early rankings behind David Carry (3:49.29) and Matt McLean (3:49.88). Lefert touched second in the middle distance race with a 3:52.54.
Agnel snatched his third title of the meet with a 1:47.01 in the men's 200 free. He jumped well ahead of Ricky Berens (1:47.92) for the top swim in the world. Lefert (1:49.57) and Jeremy Stravius (1:49.87) both cleared 1:50 for second and third tonight. Agnel's fourth crown came by way of a 2:04.71 in the men's 200 IM. Quentin Coton placed second in 2:05.93.
Camille Lacourt moved to second in the world rankings in the men's 100 back with a 53.59. That swim missed Matt Grevers' Austin Grand Prix effort of 53.55. Both Grevers and Lacourt slid down to second and third today as Ryosuke Irie clocked a 53.32 in Australia. Lacourt picked up the top time in the world in the men's 50 back with a 25.05 shortly after Irie turned in a 25.24 down in Australia today. Stravius (25.78) and Dorian Gandin (25.79) also broke 26 seconds.
Ben Stasiulis clocked a 1:59.03 to win the men's 200 back, moving to third in the early rankings. Grevers (1:57.76) and Ryan Murphy (1:58.96) own the top two times from Austin.
Femke Heemskerk jumped into second in the early world rankings in the women's 200 free with a 1:56.78. That effort stands only behind Allison Schmitt's 1:55.83 from the Austin Grand Prix earlier this month. Mylene Lazare (1:59.82) and Coralie Balmy (1:59.84) also cleared 2:00. Earlier in the meet, Balmy won the women's 800 free with an 8:38.99. Balmy won her second race of the meet with a 4:07.89 in the women's 400 free. That swim matched Jazmin Carlin for second in the early rankings with Schmitt leading the way with a 4:05.90 from Austin.
Inge Dekker blazed to second in the rankings in the women's 50 free with a 25.13 for the win. Only Jeanette Ottesen (24.91) has been faster, as Dekker leapfrogged Amanda Weir (25.23). Heemskerk finished second in the event in 25.51 to move into the top 10.
Heemskerk claimed her second victory of the two-day meet with a 54.27 in the women's 100 free. That swim pushed her to third in the early rankings behind Melanie Schlanger (53.87) and Amanda Weir (54.14). Dekker took second in the event in 55.76, while Lazare tied for third with Charlotte Bonnet with matching 55.93s. Bonnet took home the women's 200 IM crown in 2:18.66. Dekker picked up the win in the final race of the meet with a 25.90 in the women's 50 fly. That put her second in the early rankings behind only Ottesen (25.75) from the Flanders Cup in Antwerp.
Ruta Meilutyte posted a 1:07.72 in the women's 100 breast, finishing second to only Rebecca Soni (1:06.88) in the early world rankings. She jumped ahead of Sarah Katsoulis (1:08.18) in the process. Meilutyte claimed her second victory of the meet with a 31.85 in the women's 50 breast after posting a 31.76 during prelims. Her prelims effort pushed her into the top five in the early rankings.
Giacomo Perez Dortona moved to third in the early rankings with a 28.29 in the men's 50 breast. Lennart Stekelenburg (28.19) and Brenton Rickard (28.28) have the top two times thus far.
Florent Manaudou earned an early top-10 ranking in the men's 50 free with a 22.38, while Jasper Aerents took second in 22.42. Bernard picked up third in 22.47.
Hugues Duboscq claimed the men's 200 breast title in 2:17.20, while Thomas Dahlia finished second in 2:17.87. Duboscq doubled up with a 1:02.48 to win the men's 100 breast on day two. Perez Dortona finished second in 1:02.72.
Romain Sassot picked up a top 10 spot in the early rankings with a 24.23 to win the men's 50 fly. He returned in the men's 100 fly to win in 53.51.
Sebastien Rouault cruised to victory in the men's 400 IM with a time of 4:24.55, while Jordan Coelho topped the men's 200 fly in 2:00.00. Additionally, Damien Joly won the men's 1500 free in 15:28.69.
Aurore Mongel captured the women's 100 fly title in 1:00.76. She earned her second triumph with a 2:11.68 in the women's 200 fly. Cloe Credeville clocked a 29.33 during prelims of the women's 50 back before winning in finals with a 29.68. Alexianne Castel touched out Credeville, 1:01.67 to 1:01.80, for the women's 100 back victory.
Camille Gheorghiu posted a 2:15.89 to lead the women's 200 back prelims before topping the finale in 2:16.38, while Adeline Martin won the women's 400 IM in 4:52.59. Meanwhile, Tanja Smid of Slovenia clocked a 2:30.83 to win the women's 200 breast.