World Cup Toronto, Day 2 Prelims: Hubert Kos Chasing 50 Back Triple
The first night of the World Aquatics World Cup stop in Toronto brought a pair of world records. Friday’s second day brings eight more swimmers questing for Triple Crowns, including both of the record holders from Thursday night.
Hubert Kos, fresh off the 200 back world record, is chasing the second prong of his backstroke triple-triple in the 50. Both Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass achieved their first triple crowns Thursday night and are chasing more. The full list of triple-crown chasers is here.
All the action from the second morning session at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre:
Men’s 50 backstroke
Hubert Kos remains in strong form, setting the pace with a time of 22.90 seconds. That’s .01 quick than his winning time in Westmont last week, though he was 22.65 in Carmel.
He’s .12 ahead of Kacper Stokowski. Thomas Ceccon was third in 23.11, with Dylan Carter fourth. Jack Alexy found his way into the A final in eighth, giving the Americans two, with Gabriel Jett sixth.
Women’s 200 freestyle
Mollie O’Callaghan is chasing a triple crown, but she’ll have to fight an in-form countrywoman for it. The newly minted world record holder in this event was second in prelims in 1:54.15 to newly minted 400 free national record holder Lani Pallister, who went 1:53.99. Erika Fairweather was third in 1:54.19.
The event is thinner of Americans this week. Marrit Steenbergen claimed fourth place in 1:54.54, while Freya Colbert and Brittany Castelluzzo were also in the 1:54s.
Men’s 200 IM
Fresh off his 100 IM triple crown, Shaine Casas is in position to do the job in the 200. He went 1:53.38 to lead the field. He’s chasing the American mark he set in Carmel at 1:49.43.
Japan’s Tomoyuki Matsushita was second in prelims at 1:53.39, just .01 back of Casas. Kieran Smith was third in 1:54.01, while Finlay Knox carries the home-country hopes in fourth in 1:54.13.
Women’s 100 backstroke
The world will be treated to another battle between Regan Smith and Kaylee McKeown, and the ones so far on this tour have been legendary. Smith led the way in prelims with a time of 55.38. She’s chasing the world record she evened last week in Westmont at 54.02, as well as a triple crown in this event.
McKeown is chasing Smith, her time of 56.11 in prelims getting her a center lane. Katharine Berkoff was third in prelims at 56.45, while Kylie Masse in her hometown finished fourth in 56.63.
The final is stacked. Ryan White is sixth, Ingrid Wilm seventh and Taylor Ruck eighth. Hannah Fredericks of Australia bested all of them in fifth at 56.75.
Men’s 50 breaststroke
One of the rare up-for-grabs races this week will be that way again on Friday night, with three swimmers clustered at the top. Finn Brooks led the way in prelims, the American going 25.80. A tenth back was two-time 200 breast winner Caspar Corbeau. Adam Peaty is lurking in third in 26.17.
Fourth place went to Michael Andrew of the United States in 26.50. Americans Luke Barr and Brian Benzing were fifth and seventh, respectively, bookending Shin Ohashi of Japan.
Women’s 50 butterfly
Gretchen Walsh’s domination continues apace. The American sprinter went 24.19 in prelims, not far off the world record of 23.72 she set in Carmel. She’s chasing a triple crown in this event.
Alexandria Perkins was the closest challenger in the morning in 24.95. Roos Vanotterdijk finished third in 25.48, with Canadian Taylor Ruck fourth.
The A final includes American Phoebe Bacon in sixth. Like Ruck, she was in a quick turnaround from the 100 back. Kasia Wasick, the 50 free triple champ, was seventh.
Men’s 100 freestyle
Jack Alexy is on the hunt for a triple in the 100 free, but it won’t be easy. The American was third in prelims, with a time of 46.26. That was exactly a half-second behind countryman Chris Guiliano, who set the pace.
The eyes will be on Josh Liendo, though. He’s in great form, having set the 100 fly world record Thursday night in his hometown pool. He finished second in 45.79 in prelims.
Fourth was a tie between Matt Richards and Patrick Dinu in 46.27. Luke Hobson is in the A final in 46.91, good for seventh. Canadian Ruslan Gaziev got into the A final in sixth, while Lamar Taylor of the Bahamas rounds out the group.
Women’s 100 breaststroke
Kate Douglass is chasing the second leg of her triple-triple, and she’s in position to do it with a 1:03.88 from prelims. That was .08 quicker than Mona McSharry. Satomi Suzuki is third in 1:04.65. Canada has a podium threat in Sophie Angus, who finished fourth in 1:04.86.
One miss of the finals came via Alex Walsh, who finished ninth. She’ll be chasing a third win in the 200 individual medley on Saturday.
Men’s 200 butterfly
Ilya Kharun, fresh off a World Cup record, is seeking his third title in his signature event. He went 1:52.22 to lead the way in prelims. He’s trailed by a pair of Americans in Gabriel Jett in 1:53.04 and Trenton Julian in 1:53.33. Alberto Razzetti of Italy was fourth in 1:53.79.
