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Americans Townley Haas and Andrew Seliskar had two completely different race strategies in the 200 free final on Thursday night in Tokyo at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. Haas was out quick while Seliskar held back the first 100. Seliskar pulled even at the 150 and even had the lead over the last 25 but Haas used a final burst of speed the last 15 meters and won the gold with a 1:45.56. Seliskar was second at 1:45.74.
Haas is now tied for third in the world rankings with Australia’s Kyle Chalmers from the Commonwealth Games as he did not make it to the final here in Japan.
Seliskar was slightly slower than he was at US Nationals (1:45.70) so he will stay in fifth in the world rankings. Japan’s Katsuhiro Matsumoto finished in third at 1:45.92.
Seliskar and Haas will likely swim the 200 free individually at Worlds next year with their swims at this meet.
Brazil’s Fernando Scheffer was in second with a 50 to go but faded to fourth with a 1:46.12.
Australia’s Alexander Graham (1:46.50), Japan’s Naito Ehara (1:46.90), Australia’s Clyde Lewis (1:46.94) and Brazil’s Luiz Melo (1:47.43) also competed in the final.
Blake Pieroni (1:46.68) won the B-Final ahead of Zach Apple (1:46.78) and Australian Mack Horton (1:47.90).
2018 World Rankings:
- Danas Rapsys, LTU, 1:45.12
- Duncan Scott, GBR, 1:45.34
- Townley Haas, USA, 1:45.56
- Kyle Chalmers, AUS, 1:45.56
- Andrew Seliskar, USA, 1:45.70
- Mack Horton, AUS, 1:45.89
- Katsuhiro Matsumoto, JPN, 1:45.92
- Blake Pieroni, USA, 1:45.93
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