World Championships, Day Two Men’s Semifinals: Luke Hobson and David Popovici Set for 200 Free Duel; Matt Richards Out
There won’t be much margin for error in the pair of men’s semifinals that are part of the Night Two program at the World Championships in Singapore. The 100-meter backstroke prelims saw nine individuals dip below the 53-second barrier, and that group did not include reigning Olympic champion Thomas Ceccon (Italy) and former world titlist Xu Jiayu (China). Both athletes advanced to the semifinals, but will have to be much faster at night to lock down a lane for the final.
Meanwhile, the 200 freestyle was led by Romanian ace David Popovici and American Luke Hobson, who entered the World Champs as the favorites for gold. Great Britain’s Matt Richards was third-fastest in the morning prelims.
Here’s how the Night Two semifinals unfolded:
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Men’s 100 Backstroke
To this point in his career, Hungarian Hubert Kos has been best known for his prowess in the 200 backstroke, where he’s been crowned both an Olympic and world champion. Now, the University of Texas standout is chasing a global title in the 100 backstroke. The 22-year-old earned the top seed for the final of the 100 back behind a national record of 52.21, an effort that was .05 clear of Russia’s Kliment Kolesnikov (52.26).
Since the Olympics in Paris, Kos has elevated his status in the 100 backstroke, evident in a 52-low effort earlier this year at the Hungarian Nationals. In the semifinals, he was out in 25.30 and came home in 26.91, his back half an indicator of his 200 backstroke skill. If Kos is anywhere near the front of the field in the final, the Hungarian will be a tough out down the stretch.
South African Pieter Coetze qualified third for the final in 52.29 and is coming off a gold medal in the 100 backstroke at the World University Games in Berlin, where he produced the fastest time of the world this year, a swim of 51.99. He was followed in fourth by Olympic champion Thomas Ceccon (52.35).
Men’s 200 Freestyle
A duel in the final of the 200 freestyle between American Luke Hobson and Romania’s David Popovici is set up, as both men won their semifinals on Monday night. Hobson prevailed in the first semi, as he raced to a time of 1:44.80, which was slightly quicker than the 1:44.84 of Korea’s Hwang Sunwoo. Third in that semifinal was Poland’s Kamil Sieradzki at 1:45.00.
In the second semifinal, Popovici delivered a comfortable performance of 1:45.02 to win, and showed that he has much remaining for the final. Popovici is the reigning Olympic champion and has had a superb season on the road to Singapore.
Last summer, Popovici emerged on top in a blanket finish at the Olympic Games, with Hobson taking the bronze medal. In between for the silver medal was Great Britain’s Matt Richards, but Richards will not be in the final at the World Champs. With a time of 1:45.85, Richards was 12th.
