Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Vladimir Morozov Speed Up First Day of FINA World Cup in Doha
The third stop of the FINA World Cup got under way on Thursday in Doha with Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Vladimir Morozov on sizzling form in their respective 50 freestyle races.
Matthew Sates won gold and silver in the 400 free and 200IM and Arno Kamminga claimed his third 100m breaststroke title in as many races with Fabian Schwingenschlogl setting a German record of 56.63.
Of note, though, were the small numbers of entrants with just four women lining up in the 200 breaststroke and 50 back and only five heats being contested in the morning heats session.
Women’s 400 Free
Seven women took to the blocks with Leah Neale of Australia and European long-course champion Simona Quadarella occupying the centre lanes.
But it was Madi Wilson who claimed the victory, coming from second at 350 – 0.41 behind Quadarella – to stop the clock at 4:03.58.
Quadarella (4:03.74) and Leah Neale (4:05.66) were second and third respectively.
Men’s 400 Free
Matthew Sates has been a standout of the World Cup series with world junior records in the 200IM and 200 free at the first stop-off in Berlin.
At the Budapest meet exactly a fortnight ago, the South African lowered the WJR 400 free mark to 3:37.92, stopping the clock first ahead of Danas Rapsys.
The pair lined up in the centre lanes and it was the Lithuanian who led at 300m when Sates accelerated with a 26.68 burst to reach the 350m mark with a 0.45 lead.
Rapsys came back in 25.94 but could not make up the deficit with the teenager wining in 3:38.64 to 3:38.88.
Kregor Zirk was third in 3:42.35.
Women’s 50 Backstroke
Only four women contested the event but Kira Toussaint made sure all eyes were on her as she blasted 25.93, just 0.33 off her own world record.
Holly Barratt was next home in 26.47.
Men’s 200 Backstroke
Pieter Coetze went 27.45 over the final 50 to move from second at 150 to take the touch in 1:52.09.
Behind him Yakov Toumarkin and Lee Juho tied for second in 1:52.98.
Women’s 200 Butterfly
Zsuzsanna Jakabos overhauled leader Maria Ugolkova at 150 to take the win in 2:06.23, 0.24 ahead of the Swiss swimmer who clocked 2:06.47.
Katja Fain was next home in a field of five in 2:09.90.
Men’s 100 Butterfly
Tom Shields has been on scorching form during the World Cup series, winning the 100 fly in Berlin and Budapest.
Out in 22.90 – the only sub-23 first 50 of the field – the American was never threatened to take his third win in as many races in 49.46.
Szebasztian Szabo was next home in 49.92 with clear water between him and Louis Croenen, who came from fifth at halfway to take third by 0.01 in 51.54.
Women’s 200 Breaststroke
Just four women lined up for the eight-lap race which was won by Yulia Efimova, who came from third at halfway to blast a 35.99 third 50 and take the win in 2:22.19.
Emily Visagie was next home in 2:23.20, doing just enough to hold off the fast-finishing Back Suyeon who was 0.02 behind in 2:23.22.
Men’s 100 Breaststroke
Double Olympic silver medallist Arno Kamminga reached Doha with two World Cup golds under his belt over four lengths.
The Netherlands swimmer topped the heats in 57.04 but it was Fabian Schwingenschlogl who led by 0.04 at halfway.
Kamminga, though, forged ahead and a second 50 of 29.56 propelled him to first as he stopped the clock in 56.35 with the German second in 56.63, a new national record.
Anton Chupkov came from fifth at 50 to take third in 57.56.
Women’s 50 Free
This promised to be one of the highlights of the session with Ranomi Kromowidjojo having led the heats in 23.86 ahead of Emma McKeon (24.09).
McKeon has been one of the top performers of the series, clocking the No. 2 time in history in the 100-metre freestyle in Budapest with 50.58.
And the race didn’t disappoint with the first three women all going sub-24.
Kromowidjojo led the way in 23.46, 0.08 ahead of McKeon who clocked 23.54 with her fellow Australian Madi Wilson following up her victory over 400 free with third in 23.90.
Men’s 50 Free
Vladimir Morozov blasted to a sub-21 victory in 20.89 ahead of Kyle Chalmers (21.02) and Jesse Puts (21.13).
Women’s 100IM
Maria Ugolkova led the way in 58.82, just 0.01 outside the Swiss record she set in Budapest.
Michelle Coleman of Sweden was next home in 59.18 with Belgium’s Fanny Lecluyse third in 1:00.09.
Men’s 100IM
The heats hinted at a thrilling tussle to come and so it turned out.
Hwang Sunwoo led at halfway, 0.10 ahead of Daiya Seto and Yakov Toumarkin, with Matthew Sates a further 0.15 adrift.
Seto though accelerated and split 27.81 for the second half of the race to take top spot in 51.56.
A second 50 of 27.84 propelled Sates to second in 51.74 with Hwang third in 52.30.