Alia Atkinson uncorked a 30.76 to top the women’s 50-meter breaststroke field to earn the spotlight in the day two prelims of the 2015 FINA World Cup Hong Kong.
That’s not far off her third-ranked 30.11 from Worlds, and she should put up a swift time in finals. Liu Xiaoyu qualified a distant second behind her in 32.61 with Hosszu picking up a fifth-seeded 33.72.
Cate Campbell kicked off the night with the top seed in the women’s 100-meter free. She clocked in with a 55.56 and should have clear sailing in finals.
Katinka Hosszu, who who five gold medals yesterday, qualified second in 56.01. USA’s Madison Kennedy (56.06) and Missy Franklin (56.35) also will be battling for podium cash after qualifying third and fourth.
Emily Seebohm then led a loaded women’s 100-meter back finale with a 1:02.06. Franklin (1:02.12) and Hosszu (1:02.25) will also vie for podium points after qualifying second and third.
Li Shuang topped the women’s 200-meter fly prelims with a 2:15.77, while Hosszu took the second seed in 2:15.78. Zsuzsanna Jakabos qualified third in 2:18.16.
Hosszu then qualified third in the women’s 400-meter free with a 4:27.60 behind Hou Yawen (4:20.71) and Lisa Zaiser (4:23.12).
Jeanette Ottesen, the second-ranked swimmer in the world in the 50 fly (25.27), led the way in the event with a 26.42. Atkinson qualified second in 27.05 with Hang Yu Sze earning third in 27.49.
Cameron van der Burgh, the men’s points leader and second-ranked 100-meter breaststroker (58.49) in the world this year, led the way in the event in prelims with a 1:01.98. Akihiro Yamaguchi, the 200-meter breast world-record holder, qualified second in 1:02.34 with Matt Treloar turning in a third-seeded 1:02.84.
Other top seeds:
Dan Smith in the men’s 200-meter free, 1:51.34.
Nic Brown in the men’s 100-meter fly, 54.44.
Josh Beaver in the men’s 50-meter back, 25.76.
Tomas Elliot in the men’s 200-meter IM, 2:04.41.
Geoffrey Cheah in the men’s 50-meter free, 22.73.
Yuki Shirai in the men’s 200-meter back, 2:03.65
