Sarah Sjostrom and Zhang Yufei Set Up Showdown on Second Day of World Cup Prelims in Berlin
Following a swift opening day of the World Aquatics World Cup in Berlin, the stage is set for continued speed during Saturday’s finals session. In the women’s 50-meter butterfly, the gold and silver medalists from last summer’s World Championships will duel for the title. Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom, the reigning world champ, earned the second seed for the final, going 25.69. That effort was bettered by only China’s Zhang Yufei, the silver medalist from Worlds who went 25.44 for the top seed.
Coming off a triumph on Friday in the 400 freestyle, New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather delivered a prelims marks of 1:57.12 in the 200 freestyle, but will be challenged at night by Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey, who touched in 1:58.79. Meanwhile, Aussie ace Kaylee McKeown fired off a 59.61 time in the 100 backstroke, the only sub-minute outing of the morning. McKeown swept the backstroke events at the World Championships and won the 50 back in Berlin.
On the men’s side, China’s Qin Haiyang continued his breaststroke blitz with a World Cup record of 26.30 in the 50 breaststroke. Qin equaled his Asian standard in the 100 breaststroke on Friday and is not far off his Asian mark of 26.20 over one lap. He was followed into the final by Dutchman Arno Kamminga (27.14) and world-record holder Adam Peaty of Great Britain, who went 27.17.
Here is a look at the top seeds in all events ahead of Friday night’s finals.
Men’s 50 Backstroke: Michael Andrew – 24.71
Women’s 200 Freestyle: Erika Fairweather – 1:57.12
Men’s 200 IM: Matthew Sates – 2:00.24
Women’s 100 Backstroke: Kaylee McKeown – 59.61
Men’s 50 Breaststroke: Qin Haiyang – 26.30
Women’s 50 Butterfly: Zhang Yufei – 25.44
Men’s 100 Freestyle: Dylan Carter – 48.68
Women’s 100 Breaststroke: Eneli Jefimova – 1:06.98
Men’s 200 Butterfly – Richard Marton – 1:58.53