World Championships, Day 6 Prelims: Jack Alexy Second in Chaotic 50 Free Prelims
The splash and dash is never predictable. In a World Championships that has had a fair few things not go to plan, the men’s 50 freestyle was exceptionally chaotic.
American Jack Alexy tied for the second seed in prelims Friday at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, with Olympic medalists Cameron McEvoy and Ben Proud in the top eight.
But 100 and 200 free champ David Popovici scratched, as did Maxime Grousset on the back end of the infernal 100 fly/50 free double. Kyle Chalmers tied for 20th to miss the semis. Josh Liendo, who also did the double, was just 30th. And it requires a swim-off involving American Santo Condorelli to settle the field.
Friday’s prelims session, the sixth of the meet in Singapore, includes the first swim for Claire Curzan at this meet, plus the appetizer between Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh in the 800 free.
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Men’s 100 butterfly
The United States’ Singapore nightmare continues apace.
Shaine Casas, out in 19th place, going 51.66. That’s a full second slower than he was at trials. Casas’ first 50 on Thursday (24.00) was nearly slower than his first 50 to start the 200 IM (24.16), in which he earned silver. That swim, he said, was “a long-time coming.” It’s been a short time in relishing.
Thomas Heilman, out in 26th place in 52.02. He had been 50.70 at trials, as he missed another international semifinal, to say nothing of the finals.
Casas put himself in a bad position by finishing fifth in Heat 7. Heilman was an obviously inadequate seventh in Heat 6. That left them on the chopping block thanks to a fast Heat 8.
Noe Ponti got the top seed, winning Heat 6 in 50.68. But five of the top nine came from the final heat, led by Ilya Kharun in 50.70 and Andrei Minakov in 50.93. Heat 7 winner Matthew Temple went 50.97.
Also through from the eighth heat are Josh Liendo (fifth in 51.04), Jesse Coleman of Australia (seventh in 51.20) and Diogo Ribeiro of Portugal (ninth in 51.34). Maxime Grousset made the final, tying with Thomas Ceccon for 11th in 51.36.
Women’s 200 backstroke
Kaylee McKeown, the world record holder and Olympic champion, was quickest in prelims with a time of 2:08.01. All the heads of state are present, with Claire Curzan, in her first swim of the meet, safely third in 2:08.58, and Regan Smith fifth in 2:08.65.
Hungary’s Dora Molnar is second, having been in the same heat as McKeown, with a 2:08.53. Peng Xuwei of China outtouched Smith in Hat 5 by .06. Anastasiya Shkurdai was sixth. Canada’ Ingrid Wilm was 14th, a spot behind Carmen Weiler Sastre of Spain. Katie Shanahan of Great Britain was 10th.
Men’s 50 freestyle
With all the major names in the 50 free, the top seed in the semifinals is … Serbia’s Andrej Barna. He went a best time of 21.44, so it’s deserving.
Tied for second were Jack Alexy and Egor Kornev of the Neutral Athletes in 21.52. Cameron McEvoy, the Paris Olympic champion, was fourth in 21.53, with Olympic silver medalist Ben Proud eighth in 21.71. Both Italians made it back, with Leonardo Deplano fifth and Lorenzo Zazzeri tied for 14th with Ireland’s Thomas Fannon. Gui Caribe was seventh in 21.67, a spot behind Israel’s Meiron Cheruti. Hong Kong’s Ian Ho made it back, as did South Korea’s Ji Yuchan from outside the circle-seeded heats.
A swim-off is required between Israel’s Martin Kartavi and Santo Condorelli of the U.S., who finished even in 21.91. It was one of five ties in the top 20, plus a four-way tie for 22nd. Condorelli would win the swim-off in 21.83.
Among those missing out: Kyle Chalmers, who tied with Lamar Taylor for 20th in 22.05; Neutral Athlete Kliment Kolesnikov, 18th in 21.95; Diogo Ribeiro, 26th after swimming the 100 fly; and Josh Liendo, tied for 30th in 22.22, also coming off the 100 fly.
Among those scratching the race: David Popovici, the 100 free and 200 free champ, and Maxime Grousset, who made the 100 fly semifinals to start the session.
Women’s 50 butterfly
Gretchen Walsh, one of the Americans affected by illness, hasn’t swum since winning the 100 fly on Monday. She looked her usual self in the water Friday, going 25.22 to set the fastest time in the women’s 50 fly.
She was .19 seconds ahead of Alexandria Perkins of Australia, who led three straight finishers from Heat 7 of 9. Silvia DiPietro was third overall in 25.49, with Arina Surkova tied for fourth with Kate Douglass, who was in Walsh’s heat. Heat 8 winner Sarah Junevik of Sweden was sixth, ahead off Rikako Ikee of Japan, who tied with Tamara Potocka of Slovakia.
Roos Vanotterdijk made it back in 14th, a spot ahead of Taylor Ruck. Louise Hansson missed out in 18th, as did Maaike de Waard in 21st.
Men’s 800 free relay
Great Britain doesn’t have a medal at the 2025 World Championships. If ever there was to be a drought-breaker, it would be the event in which they are the reigning Olympic champ.
The quartet of Jack McMillan, James Guy, Evan Jones and Tom Dean went 7:03.98 to set the pace, with Matt Richards held in reserve. Guy’s 1:44.92 stands out, as does a 1:45.28 from McMillan.
The second heat of two was the quickest, producing the top four times. Australia was second in 7:04.32, with 1:45s from Charlie Hawke and Max Giuliani. South Korea was third in 7:04.68, with a 1:45.72 from Kim Young-boem off the front and Hwang Sun-Woo coming home in 1:46.11. Italy was fourth in 7:05.17, Carlos D’Ambrosio leading the way.
The U.S. looked good in the first heat, less so after the second. Chris Guiliano, Rex Maurer, Henry McFadden and Gabriel Jett went 7:06.09, just ahead of China and Israel. McFadden swam his way into the final in 1:45.51. Jett likely shut it down early to conserve. Luke Hobson is waiting in the wings. So too might be Carson Foster, part of the silver-winning squad in Paris.
France edged Germany for the final spot by .66 seconds.
Women’s 800 freestyle
The battle is set between Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh, but it won’t be just the two of them.
Ledecky led prelims with a time of 8:14.62. She was comfortably ahead of Lani Pallister of Australia, who went 8:17.06. McIntosh, in the prior heat, was easily third in 8:19.88. She edged Simona Quadarella’s 8:20.47 in that heat, with Isabel Gose sneaking between them from the last heat.
Erika Fairweather was sixth, followed by Li Binjie into another final and Ichika Kajimoto of Japan eighth.
Not in the final is the second Chinese swimmer Yeng Peiqi in ninth, nor Anastasiia Kirpichnikova in 11th nor Claire Weinstein, who went 8:38.70 for 17th.
