Rizhao, China, is the setting for long-course nationals in China this week, and we think we may have some times to report, though three sources have reported different times for the podium placers (as much as 0.5sec out in some cases, while two 400IM times vary by up to 6sec!), so, bizarrely, we can only report what we think might have happened. The real reports must wait until the jury returns an official verdict...
So much for China being a member of the worldwide swim community. FINA lists no rankings for the nationals in China as yet (it is usually many weeks and sometimes months before Chinese results appear), while the control of results leaves much to be desired, the women's 200m free ranks listing Tang Yi twice as 13th and 15th best this year as if those two swims belonged to two different swimmers. One is listed as 1992 born, the other as 1993 born. To our knowledge, that's the same girl. It is now more than a decade since FINA called on the CSA (Chinese federation) to be a part of world swimming through closer engagement and involvement in the international community. A healthy flow of results from nationals into the world rankings would be a good of showing commitment.
Among best efforts in Rizhao was that of Jiao Liaoyang - who is making hay while Liu Zige is away building for Shanghai 2011 world titles - in the 100m butterfly crown, the crown coming her way in 57.73.
Zhu Qianwei, a member of the world-title winning 4x200m relay in Rome last year, clock 1:56.95 to take the 200m free crown in the 5th best time of 2010 so far. Silver went to Tang Yi, on 1:57.64, bronze to Liu Jing, in 1:57.95. Pang Jiaying missed the final.
Chen Yin took the 200m butterfly for men in 1:55.44, 6th best in the world so far this year; Wang Chengxiang carved out a personal record of 4:13.09, up from a previous 4:18.48 best effort, in the 400m medley, ahead of Huang Chaosheng, on 4:14.75.
Podium placers at a glance BUT NOTE - the times are not reliable, with three sources quoting different figures
Men
200m butterfly:
- Chen Yin 1:55.44
- Zuo Ziqiao 1:58.54
- Xu Hang 1:59.33
400m medley:
- Wang Chengxiang 4:13.09
- Huang Chaosheng 4:14.75
- Li Xiang 4:17.27
Women
200m freestyle:
- Zhu Qianwei 1:56.95
- Tang Yi 1:57.83
- Liu Jing 1:57.95
50m breaststroke:
- Wang Randi 31.30
- Ji Liping 31.31
- Zhao Jin 31.34
100m butterfly:
- Jiao Liaoyang 57.73
- Lu Ying 58.98
- Ling Shūyuan 59.16
4x100 medley relay:
- Shanghai 4:05.31
- Jiangsu 4:06.99
- Liberation Army 4:07.58
