Sequel World Cup 3 Beijing, China - Day 2
1998-02-28
Nick Thierry

World Record In Women's 100 Indvidual Medley

BEIJING- On the second night the first event, the women's 100 free was a great opening to an exiciting session. Held at 8pm in the evening and a live television audience in the many millions, Sandra Volker (GER) moved into the lead at the start and had a clear view of the field swimming lane two. She was challenged throughout the race by Chao Na (CHN) who felt just a stroke short at the finish. Volker's winning time was 54.41, and Chao a close second with 54.88. Nian Yun (CHN) was third with 55.53.

Volker now has 40 points after sweeping the 50-100 free at the last two world cups, and the absolute leadership in this category.

The men's 200 freestyle was marred at the start as William Kirby (AUS) the top qualifier false-started out of the race. A no false start rule is in effect at this competition. However three other Australians remained in the now reduced field of seven. Raymond Hass (AUS) took the lead early and increased throughout the distance winning by just over a body length in 1:47.62. Deng Qingsong (CHN) moved into second after the mid-point and was loudly cheered as he touched second with 1:48.44 just ahead of the Anthony Matkovich (AUS) with 1:48.78.

There were two women's breaststroke events, the 50 was held first with Svetlana Bondarenko (UKR) the clear winner with 31.51 over Sylvia Gerasch (GER) with 31.65 and also Han Xue (CHN) with the same time of 31.65 as they tied. In third Xu Shan (CHN) with 31.91. In the 200 Mi Tong (CHN) was an easy winner with 2:26.95 over Federica Biscia (ITA) in second wwith 2:29.50 and Karine Bremond (FRA) third with 2:32.06. Bondarenko scratched from the final as she has the points lead in this category with 47.

The men's 100 breaststroke was Andrei Korneev's (RUS) from the start, but he was strongly pushed by Zhu Yi (CHN) all the way. Korneev's winning times was 1:00.09 and Zhu in second, half a body behind touched with 1:00.46. Alexander Goukov (BLR) was third with 1:00.93.

Wang Danna (CHN) took the women's 400 IM with a 4:45.06. Cui Ziyi (CHN) fought to get second, as Laura Porchianello (ITA) moved into that spot after her strong breaststroke leg, but Cui was too strong in the free leg, to touch in second with 4:47.42 and Porchianello third with 4:48.83.

In the men's 100 butterfly Geoff Hiegill (AUS) had an easy win with 52.08 over Denis Silantiev (UKR) with 52.41 and Zhang Qiang (CHN) in third with 53.91. Huegill now has 52 points after competing in the first three world cup to lead the men's fly category.

An upset of sort in the women's 100 backstroke as Lu Donghua (CHN) won the event with 1:00.68 and Tomoko Hagiwara (JPN) touched second with 1:01.07. Sandra Volker (GER) managed a third with 1:01.39, tired after her efforts. She retains the backstroke category lead with 35 points.

In the first of the two men's backstroke events Tomislav Karlo (CRO) won by almost a body length with 24.87 over Geoff Huegill (AUS) with 25.55 and Tian Bin (CHN) with 25.88. Huegill just climbed out from a winning effort in the 100 fly. In the 200 backstrone at the end of the evening's program Rogerio Romero (BRA) was the winner with 1:57.80 in a close fought race with Raymond Hass (AUS) who was in contantion for six of the eight lengths, his time was 1:59.11, just ahead of Shu Xin (CHN) with 1:59.18.

Tomislav Karlo has the backstroke category lead with 35 points.

Hu Ning (CHN) made it a sweep of the longer fly events. She won the 200 in 2:09.12, leading throughout the eight lengths of the race. She won the 100 yesterday. Katrin Jake (GER) was second in 2:11.22 and Yoko Nakanishi (JPN) third with 2:11.95.

The men's 200 IM was Christian Keller's (GER) even though he nearly misjudged the prelims as he was in lane seven. He had not difficulty in the final, leading on all four strokes and touching in 1:58.96. Xia Xufeng (CHN) was second in 2:00.52 and Darren Wigg (GBR) third with 2:04.49. Keller leads the IM points total with 40.

Julia Greville (AUS) won the 400 free in a repeat of her 200 free swim from last night. She led the race by almost two body lengths at the mid point. Her final time was 4:11.88. Shen Dan (CHN) was back at the 200 and made her move on the leader falling short with 4:12.99 for sevond. Sarah Collings (GBR) was third with 4:13.38. Greville leads the points total in the distance category with 35 and Collings is second with 29.

In the men's 50 freestyle, Alexander Popov (RUS) in another text-book display of top flight sprinting won by an arm length with 21.90 over Lorenzo Vismara (ITA) 22.34 and Geoff Huegill (AUS) in 22.54. Popov nows leads the sprint free category with 57 points.

In the men's 800 freestyle Jorg Hoffmann (GER) swan in the lead with no challengers. He evntually won by half the pool length with 7:46.73. Wang Guojun (CHN) was second with 8:00.17and Zheng Shibin (CHN) third with 8:00.33. Hoffmann now leads the men's distance free category with 37 points.

The best came almost at the end as unheralded Hu Xiaowen (CHN), 18, from Liaoning, established the first FINA recognized world record for the women's 100 IM with 1:00.60, bettering the existing world best of 1:01.03 by Louise Karlsson, SWE from 1992. Hu's record is pending FINA ratification after her mandatory drug test. The Chinese swept the medals with Han Xue in second with 1:02.81 and Sun Guiling third with 1:03.21. Hu won the 200 IM yesterday with 2:11.81 and has been a breaststroker in previous years with modest times of 1:11.14 for the long course 100 last year and 1:11.74 three years ago.