Pan American Games, Day 3 Prelims: U.S.-Brazil Sprint Duels Set
Through two days of the Pan American Games, Brazil has had the upper hand on the United States in relays. The sprinters taking part in those relays will battle it out for individual honors Monday.
American and Brazilian sprinters hold the top four spots in both the men’s and women’s 100 freestyle events, which will kick off the third night of finals at Centro Aquatico in Santiago, Chile, Monday.
Recapping the morning prelims action:
Women’s 100 Freestyle
On Sunday, it was Brazil’s Stephanie Balduccini who bested the U.S.’s Amy Fulmer on the anchor leg of the mixed 400 free relay to earn Brazil the gold.
Monday morning, Fulmer took the top time in prelims of the 100 in 54.78. Balduccini was third in 54.96, behind Ana Vieira’s 54.89. Fourth was Catie DeLoof of the U.S. in 55.52.
Don’t count out the Canadians. Maggie MacNeil grabbed the fifth seed in 55.73. Three-hundredths behind was Mary-Sophie Harvey, the 200 free champ.
Men’s 100 Freestyle
Jonny Kulow led the way in prelims at 48.49 to secure a middle lane. He was .14 seconds up on Gui Caribe, .15 up on Marcelo Chierighini and .16 up on Brooks Curry. Expect a crowded final.
Fifth is Andres Dupont of Mexico, with countryman Jorge Iga also in the mix.
Women’s 200 Breaststroke
Kelsey Wog led the way in prelims with a time of 2:25.96. The Canadian Olympian was .04 up on Brazil’s Gabrielle Assis da Silva. Third was Sydney Pickrem in 2:28.35, with the Canadians certainly eying a chance to get two on the podium.
The Americans will face an uphill battle to get in on the medals. Anna Keating was a distant fifth in 2:30.66. Emma Weber finished seventh in 2:31.65.
Men’s 200 Breaststroke
Jake Foster is looking to sweep the breaststroke golds and put himself in a strong position to do so. He set the top time of 2:13.25. That was .15 up on Brayden Taivassalo of Canada. Foster’s countryman and the 100 breast silver medalist, Noah Nichols, is sixth in 2:16.05. Roberto Bonilla of Guatemala is third in 2:14.83, just ahead of Mexican veteran Andres Puente Busamante.
Women’s 100 Backstroke
The Americans are sitting 1-2 after prelims and well ahead of the pack. Josephine Fuller clocked the top time of 1:00.17. Kennedy Noble followed her at 1:00.29, followed by a clean 1.5 seconds back to Canada’s Madelyn Gatrall. It appears to be the Americans’ race to lose.
Men’s 100 Backstroke
Canada secured the top seed via Blake Tierney, who went 54.68 to lead the pack to the wall. The U.S.’s Adam Chaney was second in 54.71, and Guilherme Basseto of Brazil was only .04 back of that in what promises to be a crowded final.
Six tenths separate the top seven finishers. Chris O’Connor of the U.S. is fourth in 54.96, followed by Argentina’s Ulises Saravia, Gabriel Fantoni of Brazil and Colombia’s Omar Pinzon.
Mixed 400 Medley Relay
The United States cruised to the top seed in the mixed medley relay by more than a second and a half. Jack Aikins, Arsenio Bustos, Olivia Bray and Kayla Wilson went 3:51.75 to garner the center lane. Second is Canada in 3:53.39, with Blake Tierney, James Dergousoff, Katerine Savard and Brooklyn Douthwright. Only Brazil (3:55.72) and Colombia (3:58.46) broke four minutes.