Pan Pacific Championships, Irvine, California, day 3 finals:
Women's 400m Freestyle
Blair Evans and Kate Goldman (AUS) were determined to set the pace, Evans a clear edge at the 100m on 59.88. By the half-way mark, Americans Chloe Sutton and Allison Schmitt had edge level, Sutton getting her feet to the wall first, on 2:02.52, the four in a line. Over the third 100m, Sutton piled on the pressure and had a half-body lead going into the last 100m, on 3:04.49, Goldman closest but no more than a stroke up on Evans and Schmitt.
Goldman came back at the end but Sutton had the race sen up: gold in 4:05.19, Goldman silver in 4:05.84, Evans winning the battle for bronze in 4:06.36 to Schmitt's 4:06.73. Kate Ziegler, out of the final proper courtesy of the two-per-nation rule, won the consolation eight in 4:05.52. The race marked Sutton's first major title.
A tearful Sutton, grand priz winner in the States this year, told the crowd in her poolside interview: "I can't believe that just happened. I'm really so happy. I was hoping I could come in second to Allison ... she's on fire and is such a phenomenal athlelete. I was still fighting at end and had my eye on the Australians. When I touched the wall I was so happy.
She will now race the 10km on Sunday. What a leap. One that Rebecca Adlington (GBR), Olympic champion on a partial rest in Budapest last week and on 4:04.45 for the European crown, will never make: she says she "can't stand swimming in the sea ... I need to see where I'm going...".
Trans-Atlantic splits
2010:
- Adlington: 59.11; 2:01.53; 3:03.72; 4:04.45
- Etienne: 58.29; 2:00.03; 3:03.25; 4:05.40
- Sutton: 1:00.01; 2:02.52; 3:04.49; 4:05.1
- Goldman: 59.88; 2:02.79; 3:05.34; 4:05.84
- Ziegler: 1:00.26; 2:02.87; 3:05.17; 4:05.52
Best pre-shiny:
- Manaudou 06: 57.81; 1:59.11; 3:01.16; 4:02.13
- Pellegrini 08: 59.01; 1:59.60; 3:00.41; 4:01.53
Trans-Atlantic medals:
- Pan Pacs:
- Euro 1-3: 4:04.45; 4:05.20; 4:07.10
Records
Shiny suit era
- WR/ER: 3:59.15 Federica Pellegrini (ITA) Jul 2009
February 1 2008
- WR/ER: 4:02.13 Laure Manaudou (FRA) Aug 2006*
*- Pellegrini, wearing a textile bodysuit in March 2008, clocked 4:01.53
