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Lochte Back For More The Morning After

Dec 15, 2012  - Craig Lord

Istanbul, World Short-Course Championships, Day 4 heats:

The morning after blasting through the 1:50 barrier over 200m medley, Ryan Lochte (USA) gave warning that the 100m medley world mark is in danger as he led the way to the semis in 51.75. Lochte's teammate Olivia Smoliga, the 100m champion, set an American record of 26.75 in the backstroke dash after watching China's unseeded Zhao Jing (unseeded only because she had bio entry time to submit this season) clock 26.69 in heat 1, that effort the second best in the world this year.

A summary of the morning action in Istanbul:

Women's 50m backstroke

After China's Zhao Jing clocked 26.69 in heat 1, Smoliga's 26.75 took down Natalie Coughlin's US mark of 26.98 from a year ago. Rachel Goh (AUS), whose 26.66 season best leads the world ranks so far this year, progressed in 26.86, with Poland's Aleksandra Urbanczyk in 26.95. The cut for semis: 27.56. 

Men's 100m freestyle 

Russia's Evgeny Lagunov clocked 47.34 for top seed in semis, with Luca Dotto (ITA) on 47.43, Matt Grevers (USA) on 47.51 and Vlad (Morozov) the Impaler of Olympic dash kings on 20.55 for the 50m crown yesterday, on 47.58, having gone a world textile-suit best of 45.52 on day one leading off the Russian relay. All the rest in between American Jimmy Feigen's 47.63 and a 48.08 form Japan's Kenji Kobase.

Women's 100m butterfly

Olympic champion over 200m at a home Games in 2008, Liu Zige pipped Noemie Thomas, Canadian 16-year-old record setter in the dash yesterday, by 57.31 to 57.32 at the helm of qualifiers, 200m bronze medallist Jemma Lowe (GBR) third-fastest through in 57.53. All the rest between AmericanClaire Donahue's 57.58 and a 58.54 for Russian Veronika Popova.

Men's 100m medley

Lochte, Lochte, Lochte - 51.75 in heats, the world mark standing at 50.76 to Peter Mankoc (SLO) in shiny suit since 2009, Lochte the world textile best holds at 50.81. Mankoc is in the semis again this year. The cut: a distant 54.43, relative to the man at the helm.

Women's 50m freestyle

Aliaksandra Herasimenia (BLR), who served time out for a doping violation in the past decade, led the way on 24.27 this morning, the closest to her Britain's Francesca Halsall, 24.41, with Christine Magnuson (USA) on 24.42 and 100m champion and 2008 double Olympic champion Britta Steffen (GER) on 24.50. The cut: 25.00. Among those who will not race beyond heats by choice: Mie Nielsen (DEN), Jessica Hardy (USA) and Olympic 100m breaststroke champion Ruta Meilutyte (LTU).

Women's 200m medley

Katinka Hosszu (HUN) laid down the gauntlet for the final tonight in 2:07.07, with Olympic champion Ye Shiwen on 2:08.09, Zsuzsanna Jakabos (HUN) on 2:08.48 and Britain's 400m champion ahead of Ye, Hannah Miley, on 2:08.86. The cut: 2:10.42.

Men's 50m breaststroke

Former Norway teammate of the late Alex Dale Oen, Alex Hetland clocked 26.60 at the helm of qualifiers, the door close by 100m champion Fabio Scozzoli (ITA) at 27.21. 

Women's 4x100m freestyle

USA, 3:34.27, Australia, 3:35.26, and Denmark, 3:35.98, will occupy the centre lanes, with Brazil, China, Russia, Britain and Japan in the mix.

Finals (just 5 tonight - and 12 tomorrow) from 7pm local time.