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Hosszu Hikes Up The Gold Count

Oct 13, 2012  - Craig Lord

Katinka Hosszu (HUN) continued her winning ways after a golden run at the first two rounds of the cup. After victory in the 800m freestyle, she added triumph in the 200m freestyle, then the 200m medley before finally having to settle for a silver in her fourth final on day 1 at the Stockholm round of the FINA/Arena World Cup.

In the 800m freestyle, the 23-year-old former 400m medley world champion pulled away from former 800m world champion Lotte Friis (DEN) in the closing 150m for an 8:24.48 to 8:25.96 victory. The bronze went to the winner's teammate, Zsuzsanna Jakabos, in 8:31.96.

In the 200m freestyle, the same two Hungarians finished top two, Hosszu on 1:55.30, Jakabos on 1:56.31, Hannah Miley (GBR) a close third on 1:56.58, 0.07sec ahead of Australian Jessica Morrison.

A 2:08.13 effort in the 200m medley granted Hosszu her third win of the session, the shared silver going to Sophie Allen (GBR) in 2:09.05, Jakabos making the podium for a third time on the day alongside the first Brit home, Miley locked out in 2:09.94.

Hosszu finally had too settle for silver: at the end of the session, over 200m backstroke, Melissa Ingram (NZL) stole the Hungarian's thunder with a 2:04.84 victory. Hosszu took her fourth win over Jakabos 2:07.44 to 2:08.71, the Hungarians soaking up podium visits with each passing race.

Hosszu has $27,500 in earnings so far this season, almost twice as much as any other swimmer on the tour.

In other action:

The men's 100m free went to Tomasso D'Orsogna (AUS) in 47.05, his teammates Kenneth To,47.24,  and Kyle Richardson, 47.33, following on ahead of the last man inside 48, Anthony Ervin (USA), on 47.50.

There was more good news for the Aussie men's team, Robert Hurley leading the 100m backstroke in 50.38, 0.04sec up on Stanislav Donets (RUS), Ashley Delaney third in 51.35.

Hurley was back in a couple of races later to take the 400m freestyle in 3:43.75, world record holder Paul Biedermann (GER) on 3:45.14 for second 0.75sec ahead of Brazil's Marcos Oliveira. 

Biedermann's girlfriend Britta Steffen, fourth at London 2012 over 50m free, took the dash in 24.08, 0.16sec ahead of local favourite and world long-course champion Therese Alshammar (SWE) third place going to Jessica Hardy (USA) in 24.41. Alshammar (SWE) proved a class apart in the 100m butterfly, a 56.68 win granting her an advantage of well over a second, while another who made the 50m freestyle final also enjoyed her own victory in the session.

Olympic 100m breaststroke champion Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), on 25.03 for 5th in the freestyle dash, got inside 1:07 and 1:06 for the first time in her life to take the London 2012 crown. In Stockholm today, the England-based 15-year-old clocked 1:05.02 for victory in the breaststroke final 0.37sec ahead of Jennie Johansson (SWE). The bronze went to Rie Kaneto (JPN) in 1:05.44.

Daiya Seto (JPN) got the touch over European champion Laszlo Cseh (HUN) 4:00.85 to 4:01.01 in the 400m medley. Cseh led to the half-way mark before Seto edged ahead of breaststroke. The Hungarian fought back on the last two laps of freestyle but Seto held on. In another race, third place went to Gal nevo (ISR) in 4:08.32.

Seto was back in action a couple of races later to take second in the 200m butterfly in 1:52.12, victory going to Japan teammate Kazuya Kaneda in 1:51.95. Thomas Shields (USA) took third in 1:52.80.

Seto was not done yet: he took another second place, behind Marco Koch (GER) in the 200m breaststroke, 2:06.09 to 2:06.65, third place going to Neil Versfeld (RSA) in 2:07.63.

George Bovell (TRI) claimed the 100m medley in 51.56, Australians To and Richardson next home in 51.75 and 52.78 respectively.