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Manaudou & Morozov Head-To-Head

Dec 13, 2012  - Craig Lord

Istanbul, World Short-Course Championships, Day 2 semi-finals: 

Men's 50m freestyle

In the first semi, Olympic champion Florent Manaudou (FRA) clocked 20.92 to set the pace and claim lane 4 for the final. At the helm of the second line-up, Vladimir Morozov (RUS) replied with a 20.95 that sets up a thrilling clash for tomorrow. In the mix: George Bovell (TRI) on 21.09, Anthony Ervin (USA), on 21.17. 

The other qualifiers: Andrii Govorov (UKR) 21.27, Josh Schneider (USA), 21.28, Marco Orsi (ITA) 21.37 and teammate Federico Bocchia, 21.41.

Women's 100m freestyle

Olympic champion of 2008 Britta Steffen (GER) had the edge 53.09 to 53.13 over Tang Yi (CHN) in the first semi, with Angie Bainbridge (AUS) on 53.30 and Daniela Schreiber (GER) on 53.41, before Megan Romano (USA) cracked out 52.86 at the helm of the second line-up, with teammate Jessica Hardy on 53.41. The cut: 53.42.

The other qualifiers: Michelle Coleman and Louise Hansson (both SWE), locking out heats leader Marieke Guehrer (AUS).

Women's 50m butterfly

Jeanette Ottesen (DEN) booked lane 4 for the final in 25.62, Christine Magnuson (USA) and Lu Ying (CHN) both 0.03sec away. The other qualifiers: Thomas; Dowgiert; Donahue; Jiao; Aljand.

Noemie Thomas set a Canadian record of 25.76 in heats and matched it in her semi. "To repeat that exactly is pretty good. Maybe I would have liked to go a little bit better," Thomas said. "I felt like my start, I was one stroke over what I usually do in the first 25 (metres) of my race. If I just lengthen out my strokes in the first 25, then I think I can get down to (a faster time)."

Istanbul marks Thomas's senior international debut.  Not a bad start to take down Victoria Poon’s three-year-old Canadian record of 25.87. "I’m pretty excited about the finals," said the 16-year-old. "The goal coming in was just to have fun and see where I was at in my training. I’ve been to the junior worlds and everything and it’s similar but in its own ways [the senior meet] is different."

Women's 100m medley

After watching Ruta Meiluyte (LTU) go 59.15, the woman she pipped for gold in the 50 breaststroke, Alia Atkinson (JAM) answered with a 58.94 blast from lane 1 ion the second semi. Those two are split by China's Zhao Jing in 59.12 heading into the final. Other qualifiers: Hosszu; Herasimenia; Allen; Jakabos; Michalak