FINA World Cup 2 - Day 2 Report
1998-11-29

EDMONTON - The evening opened with an upset win in the 100 freestyle. Antje Buschschulte (GER) touched first with 55.88, and Marianne Limpert (CAN) was second with 55.90 and Fraziska van Almsick (GER) challenged in the last few metres but finished third with 55.95. Buschschulte won the 50 and 200 backstroke on the first day and the 100 backstroke later tonight to be the most successful swimmer at the meet with four golds.

Then Ian "Thorpedo" Thrope (AUS) was in the very next event. It was a lead-from-the start 200 freestyle splitting 24.88, 51.51, 1:18.59 for a final time of 1:45.71 well ahead of Rick Say (CAN) in second with 1:47.84 and Brian Johns (CAN) third with 1:48.21.

Men's highlights:

Ryan Laurin (CAN) fullfilled a life-long dream. He broke the Canadian record in the 50 freestyle with a 22.15 prelim swim. At night he easily won the final with 22.45. A promising sprinter whose progress was interrupted by a car accident is now back on track.

Olympic champion Fred deBurghgraeve (BEL) was in great early season form, winning the 100 breaststroke in 59.80 and the 50 breast yesterday in 27.50, to give him 20 points and tie for the points race with Jens Kruppa (GER). In the prelims Kevin Kling (USA) finished fifth with 1:02.39 but suffered a spiral fracture of the left hand when he touched at the finish. He had to scratch and will be in a cast.

In the men's butterlfy Geoff Huegill (AUS) has the lead in the category points race with 37, winning the 50 (23.95) and 100 fly (52.16). Denis Silantiev (UKR) was second the in the 100 with 52.73 and Adam Pine (AUS) third with 53.38.

A major upset in the men's 200 I.M. as 16-year-old Brian Johns (CAN) 2:00.17 upset Robert Van Der Zant (AUS) 2:00.21. However the Australian has the category points lead with 37 after two competitions.

Women's highlights:

In the women 400 free Melissa Deary (USA) upset world record holder Claudia Poll (CRC) with a come from behind win. Deary's winning time was 4:09.88. Poll faded to 4:11.14 after a three second lead at the 200 for second, still somewhat off form. Rachel Harris (AUS) in finishing third with 4:12.09 moved in the category points lead with 35.

An all-Canadian sweep in the women's 200 breaststroke as Kristy Cameron touched first with 2:27.87, a personal best by two second and she's made a 20 second drop in the past two years.

HU Ning (CHN) won the 200 fly setting a hard pace (29.04, 1:01.70, 1:36.20) to finish with 2:11.32 and to take the lead in the category points with 32. Katrin Jake (GER) was second with 2:12.75 and Jessica Deglau (CAN) third 2:13.54.

Joann Malar (CAN) took off in the 400 I.M. with a half-a-pool lead touching in 4:38.92. It was her first win of the competition after a second in the 200 free (2:00.30), third in the 200 back (2:12.99) and another third in the 200 I.M.(2:14.36), a great display of her versatility.

Meet organization: On the first night the finals session lasted three and a half hours. This was tightened up considerably tonight to two and a hours. European world cups are usually around two hours long. Every event winner would be interviewed by the meet announcer and all the spectators would get to hear their comments on the race. Approximately 1200 paying customers attended the two final sessions.