The second cluster of the 2016 FINA/Airweave World Cup kickstarted with a stop in Beijing to continue the short course meter racing.
Russia’s Vladimir Morozov continued to show dominance in the men’s 100 free with a first place seed of 47.96, however was unable to claim the top seed in the men’s 100 IM returning as fourth with a 53.96. Morozov currently holds the WR in the 100 IM with a dynamic 50.30 from the Berlin stop of the series.
The king of short course breaststroke, Cameron van der Burgh, was absent in the men’s 50 breaststroke leaving the event open for Morozov to claim the top seed with a 26.99.
Katinka Hosszu of Hungary claimed the top seed in multiple events on day one beginning with a top showing in the women’s 200 free (1:55.66). Hosszu added the 100 fly (56.95), 200 IM (2:10.25), a second place seed in the 200 back (2:06.81), and a sixth place seed in the 50 back (27.63).
Ukraine’s Daryna Zevina returns as the top qualifier in the women’s 200 back, posting a qualifying time of 2:05.46.
The women’s 100 breaststroke was highlighted by a field of talent led by the USA’s Katie Meili (1:05.39). Meili will be joined in the final by Japan’s Rie Kaneto (1:05.47), the USA’s Breeja Larson (1:05.82), Russia’s Yuliya Efimova (1:06.27), and Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson (1:06.27).
Australia’s Bobby Hurley posted the top time in the men’s 100 back at a 50.89 to return as the top seed.
Daiya Seto of Japan swam ahead of the competition in prelims of the men’s 200 fly, claiming the top seed with a 1:56.89.
Three men posted sub 2:09 times in prelims of the men’s 200 breaststroke setting the stage for some tight racing. The USA’s Josh Prenot leads the way with a 2:08.02, followed closely by Germany’s Marco Koch (2:08.42) and China’s Yan Zibei (2:08.57).
China’s Zhu Menghui and Denmark’s Jeanette Ottesen posted close times in prelims of the women’s 50 free to return as the top two seeds with times of 24.30 and 24.53 respectively.
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Žiga Mesec